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A LITTLE CLARITY BEFORE A BIG DECISION

What will childcare actually cost you?

The government pays part of your childcare fee through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Enter your family income and the centre’s daily fee, and this works out what you’d pay each week after the subsidy.
Start with an example. Make it yours.
No quote yet? We’ve filled in a $150 a day example. Change it to your centre’s fee. Nothing you enter is saved or sent.
Guide only. Don’t rely on this estimate alone when booking care or making work and budget decisions.

01 Your family

For CCS-eligible children aged 5 or younger, not yet at school, in approved centre-based day care. Add all eligible children, eldest first.
Annual family income ($)
Use your family’s adjusted taxable income estimate for the financial year. This can differ from salary alone.
Subsidised hours per fortnight

Why 72 or 100 hours?

Since 5 January 2026, eligible families can receive subsidy for at least 72 hours per child each fortnight. The old lower activity tiers no longer apply.
100 hours generally applies if you and your partner, if you have one, each do more than 48 hours of recognised participation per fortnight, or a valid exemption applies. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can also receive 100 hours.
These are hours that may be subsidised, not free care. Your income affects the percentage covered. Three 10-hour days a week use 60 hours a fortnight; four use 80.
Use the entitlement shown in your Centrelink account. This calculator applies the same allowance to every child. If their allowances differ, check your estimate with Services Australia.
Check recognised participation and exemptions ↗

02 Your childcare

Child 1 · eldest eligible child
Child 1 daily fee ($)
Child 1 session hours
Use the hours charged for a session, not just time your child attends.
Child 1 days per week
CCS withholding (%)
Usually 5%. Change this if Centrelink uses a different amount for you.
EXAMPLE WEEKLY ESTIMATE
Guide only — confirm your subsidy and centre’s fees before relying on this amount.
$75.07
out of pocket per week
Average across a fortnight, including withholding.
Fees before CCS
$450.00
CCS paid to your centre
−$374.93
$19.73 of estimated weekly CCS is withheld by Centrelink. This may be adjusted when your payments are balanced.
Child 1: 87.70% estimated CCS
60 hours booked per fortnight; 60 within the selected allowance.

What about another day?

Weekly family cost if every child attends this many days. Your fees and session lengths stay the same.
2 days a week
$50.04
3 days a week
$75.07
4 days a week
$150.08
5 days a week
$300.08
Extra days can exceed your subsidised hours, so costs may rise faster.

Before you rely on this estimate

This independent planning tool is a guide, not financial advice, a quote, an eligibility assessment or a Centrelink decision. We cannot guarantee your actual subsidy or bill. Don’t use this result as your only basis for booking care, changing work hours or setting your budget.
1. Confirm your entitlement.
Check each child’s CCS percentage, subsidised hours and withholding in Centrelink, or ask Services Australia. The official estimator also gives an estimate, not an approval.
2. Ask the centre for a written quote.
Confirm the daily fee before CCS, charged session length, any extra charges and how absences, holidays and discounts affect your bill.
3. Allow for changes.
Income, family circumstances, fees and government rules can change. Centrelink balances CCS against actual income; an estimate that is too low can lead to an overpayment you must repay.
We assume identical bookings each week, one service per child and no other care using the allowance. This version covers children aged 5 or younger who have not started school, in centre-based day care. It does not calculate school-age care, family day care, In Home Care, Additional CCS, state preschool funding, other discounts, debt deductions or special family arrangements. Actual invoices and rounding may differ.
Check the official Starting Blocks estimator ↗
2026–27 rates checked 20 October 2026 · hours guidance reviewed 21 October 2026. Services Australia determines your entitlement.
Income and withholding ↗Higher sibling subsidy ↗Hourly caps and session hours ↗Participation and exemptions ↗Subsidised hours ↗