Canadian Parental Leave Calculator
How much will I make on parental leave in Canada?
On an $80,000 Ontario salary, estimated federal EI for maternity plus standard parental leave is $729.00 a week in 2026 — the published weekly maximum — or about $3,159.00 a month before tax. Over 50 counted weeks that is about $36,450.00. Eligibility still depends on insurable hours and a Service Canada claim. Québec uses QPIP, not federal EI.
- Example salary
- $80,000
- Example province
- Ontario
- Leave path
- Maternity + standard parental
- Estimated weekly EI
- $729.00
- Approximate monthly EI
- $3,159.00
- Counted weeks
- 50
- Estimated total EI
- $36,450.00
- 2026 weekly maximum (standard)
- $729.00
Tax year: 2026 Canada (federal EI; Ontario example) Last updated: September 7, 2026 Methodology
Source: EI maternity and parental benefits; EI maternity and parental benefits: How much you can receive; EI maternity and parental benefits: Eligibility
Estimate what your paycheque may look like during maternity or parental leave. The calculator uses 2026 federal EI rates for provinces and territories outside Québec, then compares that leave income with your regular take-home pay.
EI maternity and parental benefits, 2026. Last reviewed September 7, 2026.
Your estimated weekly benefit
$729.00
About $3,159.00 a month before tax, over 50 counted weeks. The 2026 weekly maximum was applied.
Monthly income during leave
$3,159.00
Income change vs working
$1,866.26 / 37.1%
Regular monthly take-home vs leave monthly income
Working · $5,025.26
On leave · $3,159.00
Current employment income
- Gross weekly
- $1,538.46
- Gross biweekly
- $3,076.92
- Gross monthly
- $6,666.67
- Estimated take-home (Biweekly)
- $2,319.35
Estimated EI benefit
- Weekly EI
- $729.00
- Parental rate / 2026 maximum
- 55% · $729.00
- EI over the counted leave
- $36,450.00
Leave comparison
| Path | Weekly EI | Monthly EI | Weeks | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $729.00 | $3,159.00 | 50 | $36,450.00 |
| Extended | $494.63 | $2,143.40 | 76 | $37,592.00 |
Standard pays more per week for a shorter period. Extended pays less per week for longer. Neither is universally better.
See the EI maternity and parental benefit rules
Estimates only. Actual EI benefits depend on your insurable earnings, eligibility, Service Canada calculations and individual circumstances. Employer top-ups are plan-specific. This is not a Service Canada or Government of Canada service.
How parental leave income is estimated
Federal EI maternity benefits pay 55% of average insurable weekly earnings for up to 15 weeks, and parental benefits pay either 55% (standard) or 33% (extended), each subject to a weekly maximum. This page does not treat salary as proof of eligibility. Service Canada still reviews insurable hours and your claim.
Standard vs extended parental benefits
Standard parental benefits pay more per week for a shorter period. Extended parental benefits pay less per week for longer. The financially better path depends on your expenses, top-up, and how long you want to be off work. This calculator does not pick a winner.
Employer top-ups
Some employers add a top-up so leave income reaches a share of regular salary, often for a set number of weeks. Plans differ. The default here is the common “top up to X%” interpretation. Enter your own percentage and duration, or leave top-up off.
Québec uses QPIP, not federal EI
Most Québec births and adoptions are paid through the Québec Parental Insurance Plan. This calculator does not apply federal EI rates to Québec or invent QPIP amounts. If you select Québec, you will see your regular take-home estimate and a link to the official RQAP service.
Household cash-flow during leave
If you enter a partner’s income and monthly expenses, the page estimates household income before and during leave and the amount your household may need to cover from savings. That is a planning figure, not financial advice.
Example: $80,000 in Ontario, maternity + standard parental
On an $80,000 salary, estimated federal EI is $729.00 a week (the 2026 weekly maximum) for 50 counted weeks, or about $36,450.00 before tax. Estimated regular monthly take-home while working is $5,025.26. Eligibility still depends on insurable hours and a Service Canada claim.
| Estimated weekly EI | $729.00 |
|---|---|
| Approximate monthly EI | $3,159.00 |
| Counted weeks | 50 |
| Estimated total EI | $36,450.00 |
| Regular monthly take-home | $5,025.26 |
| Monthly income during leave | $3,159.00 |
Methodology
Weekly EI is 55% or 33% of average insurable weekly earnings, capped at the published Service Canada maximum. Insurable earnings use the lesser of annual salary ÷ 52 and the yearly maximum insurable earnings ÷ 52. Regular take-home uses the same payroll engine as the Canadian paycheque calculator. See how calculations work.
Sources
- EI maternity and parental benefits — Program overview, eligibility, and claiming rules
- EI maternity and parental benefits: How much you can receive — 2026 benefit rates, weekly maxima, and standard vs extended weeks
- EI maternity and parental benefits: Eligibility — Insurable-hours and eligibility requirements
- Québec Parental Insurance Plan — Québec maternity, paternity, parental, and adoption benefits (QPIP)
Estimates only. Actual EI benefits depend on your insurable earnings, eligibility, Service Canada calculations, and individual circumstances. This is not a Service Canada or Government of Canada service. Government benefit amounts and eligibility can change. Verify your entitlement with the Government of Canada. Paycheque.app is not affiliated with the Government of Canada, Service Canada, CRA, or Etsy.
Frequently asked questions
How much will I make on parental leave in Canada?
On the $80,000 Ontario example, estimated federal EI is $729.00 a week, or $36,450.00 over 50 counted weeks before tax.
How much is that per month?
Approximate monthly EI on that example is $3,159.00 before tax. Regular estimated take-home while working is $5,025.26 a month.
How much will I make on maternity leave in Canada?
Federal EI maternity benefits are 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to the published weekly maximum, for up to 15 weeks. The amount is an estimate until Service Canada decides your claim.
What is the difference between 12-month and 18-month parental leave?
Standard parental benefits last up to 40 weeks shared (35 for one parent) at 55%. Extended parental benefits last up to 69 weeks shared (61 for one parent) at 33%. Maternity weeks, if claimed, are in addition to parental weeks.
Does this calculator confirm I am eligible?
No. Salary is used only to estimate insurable earnings. Eligibility depends on insurable hours, your work history, and Service Canada’s decision.
Are EI maternity and parental benefits taxable?
Yes. EI benefits are taxable income. This page shows estimated benefit amounts before tax unless a figure is labelled as regular employment take-home.
How does an employer top-up work?
A top-up is extra pay from your employer, often bringing combined EI plus top-up toward a percentage of regular salary for a limited number of weeks. Your employment contract or policy controls the amount.
How does parental leave work in Québec?
Québec maternity, paternity, parental, and adoption benefits are paid through QPIP, not federal EI. Use the official RQAP estimator rather than a federal EI estimate.