Raising a child can be incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s watching them take their first steps or dropping them off at university, there are many moments throughout a child’s life that fill parents with joy. But have you ever wondered just how much it costs to bring up a child from birth to adulthood, and how much parents should expect to spend on their different needs?
We’ve taken a look at the costs of raising a child from birth to all the way to the age of 18. Our study included essential expenses like food and transportation, as well as additional spending on things like pocket money and leisure activities. Using these numbers, we have calculated the average weekly and yearly costs associated with raising a child, as well as the total expenses from birth to adulthood. Please note that these figures are based on averages and may fluctuate due to inflation over time.
Every family has different lifestyles and work patterns, so we have also accounted for the varying costs of raising a child based on parents paying for either part-time or full-time childcare in our calculations.
Many parents will also continue to help their children out financially when they are adults. With this in mind, we’ve predicted how much parents might need to contribute towards their child’s living costs at university, taking into account future inflation, as well as what the average 10% and 20% house deposit could be by 2040.
The average cost to raise a child in the UK is £212,961
After determining the expenses associated with raising a child, our research found that the total average cost of raising a child in the UK, from birth up to the age of 18, is £212,961.*
This figure reflects household spending on essential items such as food, transport, and clothing. It also includes additional costs for things like driving lessons, pocket money and hobbies or sports. While we’ve tried to provide a good representation of the potential costs, it’s important to note that these may fluctuate due to changes in inflation.
The table below shows the weekly, yearly and total costs for each item for one child over the course of their childhood:
| Age (years) | Item | Weekly per child | Yearly per child | No of years | Total cost** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-2 | Cost of nappies | £8.82 | £458.50 | 2 | £917.00 |
| 0-4 | Cost of childcare/nursery (full-time) | £659.10 (average for children aged 0-4) | £34,272.94 (average for children aged 0-4) | 5 | £54,451.28 |
| 0-4 | Cost of childcare/nursery (part-time) | £344.54 (average for children aged 0-4) | £17,915.82 (average for children aged 0-4) | 5 | £28,467.40 |
| 4-12 | Cost of after-school club (full-time) | £69.14 | £2,696.46 | 7 | £18,875.22 |
| 4-12 | Cost of after-school club (part-time) | £41.48 | £1,617.88 | 7 | £11,325.13 |
| 4-12 | Price of holiday childcare (full-time) | £174.91 | £2,273.83 | 7 | £15,916.81 |
| 4-12 | Price of holiday childcare (part-time) | £174.91 | £1,136.92 | 7 | £7,958.41 |
| 0-18 | Food and non-alcoholic beverages | £27.61 | £1,435.65 | 18 | £25,841.74 |
| 0-18 | Housing, fuel and power | £45.96 | £2,389.74 | 18 | £43,015.30 |
| 0-18 | Transport | £34.43 | £1,790.61 | 18 | £32,230.96 |
| 0-18 | Recreation and culture | £28.43 | £1,478.61 | 18 | £26,614.96 |
| 0-18 | Clothing and footwear | £7.30 | £379.83 | 18 | £6,836.87 |
| 5-16 | Pocket money | £53.17 (average across 12 years) | £2,764.84 (average across 12 years) | 12 | £2,764.84 |
| 4-11 | Primary school uniform | £6.79 | £352.86 | 7 | £2,470.02 |
| 11-16 | Secondary school uniform | £9.26 | £481.77 | 5 | £2,408.85 |
| 17 | Cost to learn to drive (includes cost of provisional licence, driving lessons and driving theory and practical tests) | £26.21 | £1,363.00 | 1 | £1,363.00 |
*This figure is the average estimated cost for parents bringing up a child for both part time workers and full time workers. The difference between these two costs is the amount spent on childcare throughout the child’s life. This is explored further within this article.
** Please note that total cost is reflective of data from current sources and parents will need to make provisions for rising costs.
Looking at the total cost of household necessities (food, housing costs, transport, clothing, school uniform and nappies), the cost of basics for children up until the age of 18 could amount to around £113,720.
From an early age, the cost of raising children can be a shock to new parents. Our research has found that parents will spend around £9 a week on nappies on average, which equates to around £459 per year, or a total of £917 for the two years in total that children typically wear them.
With learning to drive being vital in the path to adulthood, we’ve also included the overall costs of funding your child’s learning once they turn 17. We’ve calculated that this amounts to £1,363 which includes the cost of a provisional licence, driving lessons (45 lessons which is the average amount needed to pass), as well as one driving theory and practical test.
On top of the necessities when it comes to the cost of raising a child, we’ve also looked at spending on culture and recreation, such as museum visits and holidays, as well as weekly pocket money. Our research shows that parents will spend £1,479 on culture and recreation every year per child, or £26,615 over the course of their childhood, as well as £2,765 on pocket money in total throughout one child’s entire 18 years.
The cost of raising a child has increased since last year, with necessities costing 14% more overall
Perhaps unsurprisingly, compared to our study on the cost to raise a child in 2023, everyday costs on household necessities, including food, housing costs, transport, clothing, school uniform and nappies, have risen. Comparing the costs of these items in 2023 compared to 2024, the total over the course of a child’s lifetime has risen by 14%.
Last year, we calculated that the cost of household spending on food and drink per person totalled £1,348 per year, rising this year to £1,436 per person, an increase of 7%. Looking at housing costs, which includes fuel and power costs, households were spending £1,900 per person in the household every year in 2023, rising sharply to £2,390 in 2024 which is an increase of 26%. Other everyday costs such as nappies have also risen by 11%.
With housing and utility costs constantly increasing, prospective parents may need to consider how rising costs in the future could impact their finances when thinking about starting a family.
However, there is assistance out there for new parents, including child benefit payments for parents with children under the age of 16 (or under the age of 20 if they’re still in full-time education). This allowance pays £25.60 per week for your first child and £16.95 per week for children after that, and could be a significant help with the everyday costs of having a child.
If you’re having your first child, or multiple in one go such as twins, and you or your partner receive benefits such as income support or universal credit, you could also be entitled to the Sure Start Maternity Grant, a one-off payment of £500 to help with costs. While this grant isn’t available for Scottish residents, those who live in Scotland can apply for a Pregnancy and Baby Payment, which will support you with the costs when having a child–either while pregnant, or after the baby is born. For your first child, you could receive £754.65, followed by £377.35 for any child after that.
Full-time childcare costs could set parents back £89,243 from birth to 12 years old
Many parents will go back to work full-time at some point after having a child, whilst some will work part-time until their child is old enough to look after themselves. With households having different needs, we have looked at how much full-time working parents and part-time workers will need to raise their children depending on the level of childcare needed.
The NSPCC recommends that children up to the age of 12 should not be left alone at home. Therefore, for parents planning to go back to full-time work after having children, some form of childcare is required unless they are in school. For a child in early years, this might be nursery or a child-minder, and for children of school age, this includes after-school clubs and holiday childcare.
For full-time working parents, the cost of nursery and childcare for preschool-age children (from birth up until four years old) for 50 hours a week could cost a total average of £220 each week, amounting to £54,451 for the full five years.
Once they start school, children whose parents work full-time may also need to go to an after-school club. This works out at around £69 per week on average, or £2,696 per year when acknowledging the length of an average school term is 39 weeks. For parents needing childcare throughout the school holidays, this could total £15,917 for the 13 weeks that children are off school throughout each year.
The table below shows the weekly, yearly and total cost for full-time childcare for one child:
| Age | Item | Weekly cost per child | Yearly cost per child | Number of years | Total cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 | Full-time nursery/childcare (50 hours per week) | £277.56 | £14,433.12 | 2 | £28,866.24 |
| 2 | Full-time nursery/childcare (50 hours per week) | £271.05 | £14,094.60 | 1 | £14,094.60 |
| 3-4 | Full-time nursery/childcare (50 hours per week) | £110.49 | £5,745.22 | 2 | £11,490.44 |
| 5-11 | Cost of after school club (full-time) | £69.14 | £2,696.46 | 7 | £18,875.22 |
| 5-11 | Price of holiday childcare (full-time) | £174.91 | £2,273.83 | 7 | £15,916.81 |
* Please note that total cost is reflective of data from current sources and parents will need to make provisions for rising costs. Childcare costs are accurate for England, Scotland and Wales.
H2: Meanwhile, the total cost for part-time childcare is £47,751 from birth to 12 years old
Some parents will work part-time once they have children, especially during their child’ s early years. With the cost of childcare rising, working part-time means parents can help lower the amount needed to pay for childcare.
Our study shows that the average cost of part-time childcare (25 hours a week) for children from birth to five years old could cost £115 per week on average, amounting to £28,467 in total over the five years.
After-school clubs for school children during term time could cost part-time working parents approximately £1,618 annually, totalling around £11,325 by the time the child reaches 12. Additionally, part-time childcare during the summer holidays might cost parents about £1,137 per year, amounting to roughly £7,958 by the time the child turns 12 and can be left unsupervised.
Whilst childcare can be expensive and eat significantly into household income, parents who live in England can check to see if they’re eligible for financial support from the Government to help with costs. For example, if you’re a parent of a two year old and earn less than £15,400 a year, you are entitled to up to 15 hours a week of free childcare.
These benefits can differ slightly across different countries in the UK, so it’s worth checking what you’re entitled to based on where you live. For those who live in Scotland, parents of 3-5 year olds can receive up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare per year via their local council. Welsh residents can get 30 hours of childcare for 3-4 year old children per week, depending on how many hours of early education a local authority offers. Working parents in Northern Ireland can apply for various childcare benefits, such as Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit to support with raising their children.
The table below shows the weekly, yearly, and total cost for part-time childcare for one child:
| Age | Item | Weekly cost per child | Yearly cost per child | Number of years | Total cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 | Part-time nursery/childcare (25 hours per week) | £144.94 | £7,536.88 | 2 | £15,073.76 |
| 2 | Part-time nursery/childcare (25 hours per week) | £141.62 | £7,364.24 | 1 | £7,364.24 |
| 3-4 | Part-time nursery/childcare (25 hours per week) | £57.98 | £3,014.70 | 2 | £6,029.40 |
| 5-11 | Cost of after-school club (part-time) | £41.48 | £1,617.88 | 7 | £11,325.13 |
| 5-11 | Price of holiday childcare (part-time) | £174.91 | £1,136.92 | 7 | £7,958.41 |
* Please note that total cost is reflective of data from current sources and parents will need to make provisions for rising costs.
Parents could be spending £367 per month* to help with their child’s university living costs by 2040
The costs of raising a child often continue beyond their school years, as 50% of university students report that their main source of funding comes from their parents. Therefore, parents with children looking to go to university may want to start saving earlier to avoid being hit with large, unexpected costs further down the line.
The amount of financial support children need during university will vary depending on any bursaries or student loans they receive. Since maintenance loans are based on household income, Save the Student has different recommendations for parents when it comes to how much they might need to contribute towards their student-age children’s living costs. As of the 2024/25 academic year, this is £3,599 on average per year for students from England.
Taking into account future inflation predictions, we’ve predicted that by 2040, parents may need to contribute an average of £367 per month, totalling around £4,409 a year, to support their child throughout university. This estimate is based on projected yearly inflation rates, anticipating a rate of 1.68% in 2040.
This ranges greatly for parents on different salaries, however. If you earn £30,000 a year, you may be expected to pay £993 a year in 2040 towards your child’s living costs at university. For those earning £62,347 annually or more, this can increase to £7,340 a year due to the child receiving a much smaller maintenance loan from the government.
Those earning £25,000 or less aren’t expected to contribute financially to their child’s living costs at university, and can expect to lean more on larger maintenance loans and even bursaries from the university themselves.
*Please note that these figures are not included in the total cost of raising a child. Inflation rates may also differ depending on economic conditions, so this should only be taken as a guide. The data in this section is also only relevant to students in England. Maintenance loans may vary depending on your location in the UK outside of England.
A 20% house deposit could cost up to £75,306 by 2040*, causing more children to rely on the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’
Even after university, many children may still need a financial helping hand from their parents. In the last five years, over a third of first-time buyers rely on support from their parents to purchase their first home, so it can be beneficial for parents to start saving for the future as early as possible if they plan to help their children in this way.
Looking at average house prices across the UK, a 10% deposit would cost £27,669 in 2024, whilst a 20% deposit costs £55,337. 10% has become the standard for a house deposit, however many prefer to put down a larger amount to help with lowering interest rates and getting access to better mortgage deals.
By predicting future inflation rates, we have estimated that the average house price in the UK will be around £376,529 by 2040, meaning a 10% deposit would be around £37,653, and a 20% deposit would cost around £75,306 on average.
House prices also vary drastically across the UK, with a 20% deposit on a London home predicted to cost an average of £148,815 in 2040, whereas in the North East this is predicted to be around £42,419.
Whilst many parents opt to help their children financially when it comes to getting on the housing ladder, rising prices could make doing so increasingly difficult. If parents plan to support their children in this way, it can be beneficial to consider setting up a Junior ISA specifically for this purpose as early as possible. A Junior ISA allows parents to put aside up to £9,000 per year and earn interest on any savings whilst remaining tax-free, and the child wouldn’t be able to access this money until they turn 18.
*Please note that these figures are not included in the total cost of raising a child. Inflation rates may also differ depending on economic conditions, so this should only be taken as a guide.
Making your money go further when raising a child
While there are many additional costs associated with raising a child, we’ve analysed the basics, such as spending on food and clothing, along with common extras like pocket money and driving lessons, to estimate what parents can expect to pay over 18 years.
To help reduce these costs, here are some practical tips to help your money go further:
1. Keep track of your spending and try to stick to a budget
It might be easier said than done, but sticking to a realistic budget is one of the best ways to make sure your money is going as far as possible. You can track your spending on spreadsheets, expense tracking apps or physical financial planners which will help you see where your biggest expenses lie, as well as where you could potentially be saving money.
Make sure to set out a realistic budget each month and try to stick to this as much as possible. If you’re saving for something in particular, such as a holiday, you can use your financial planner to identify where you could potentially cut back for a few months to help with this.
2. Focus on long-term financial planning
To avoid being hit with large costs later down the line, try to make a plan for events throughout your child’s life you want to financially contribute towards. For example, setting up a fund should they decide to go to university, or saving a small amount of money each month into a savings pot for their first car when they turn 17.
If you’re unsure where to start, it could be worth speaking to a financial advisor to set up a realistic plan for how much you can save, and how often, to build up funds for the future.
3. Make the most of free activities and discounts
Whether it’s a trip to the park or picking out some new books at the local library, there are plenty of activities to enjoy with your children that don’t cost a penny. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for any events in your local area, such as free entry to museums or free playgroups to help keep their minds occupied.
It’s also worth monitoring your local supermarkets for seasonal sales and discounts, and stock up on the items you know you’ll need. Your wallet will thank you in the long run for doing some research on where you can cut costs and save.
4. Encourage positive money habits
Teaching your child about the value of money is an invaluable life lesson. Whether they’re saving up for a new toy or for their first car, understanding the importance of saving, budgeting and possibly earning their own money through a part-time job, will benefit them in the long run.
Consider opening a Junior ISA for your child that they can access after turning 18. Children can start managing their Junior ISA at 16, providing a great opportunity to learn about financial responsibility and preparing financially for the future.
Getting children involved in saving for items they want will not only help alleviate financial pressure, especially if it’s for bigger items such as a car, but will also help them understand the value of money and experience the sense of fulfilment once they’re able to afford what it is they’ve been saving for.
Sources & Methodology
Shepherds Friendly calculated the total cost of raising a child using the following metrics:
Cost of driving lessons – age 17
Cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages – from age 0-18
Cost of housing, fuel, and power – from age 0-18
Cost of transport – from age 0-18
Cost of recreation and culture from age 0-18
Cost of clothing and footwear from age 0-18
Cost of pocket money from age 4-17
Cost of school uniform from age 4-16
Cost of nappies – from age 0-2
Part-time childcare costs (25 hours) – from age 0-4. An average for childcare and nursery costs was found for the relevant age group.
Full-time childcare costs (50 hours) – from age 0-4. An average for childcare and nursery costs was found for the relevant age group.
Cost of an after-school club per week – calculated for 39 weeks, from age 4-12
Cost of holiday childcare – calculated for 13 weeks, from age 4-12
Other sources included:
Save the Student – the amount parents are recommended to give to their university age children depending on their salary
Hunnypot Nursery – the common age children go to nursery
Think Student – the average amount of school holiday
Gov.uk – average length of maternity leave
Bright World Guardianships – ages children in the UK are in primary school
Get the Right School – ages children in the UK are in secondary school
Verywell Family – average age children wear nappies
NSPCC – age in which children can be left unsupervised
