Child Care Subsidy Calculator

Use this free Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Calculator — also known as a childcare fees calculator — to estimate how much the Australian Government could contribute to your childcare costs and what you might pay out of pocket. Enter your family income, recognised activity hours, service type (LDC, FDC, OSHC, preschool/kindy), session length, and your provider’s fee to see your estimated CCS percentage, subsidised hours per fortnight, and a weekly out-of-pocket estimate. You can also try different days and session lengths to compare scenarios and plan the most cost-effective arrangement before you enrol. Results are estimates only and may differ from Services Australia’s final assessment.

Pair our childcare fees calculator with our plain-English CCS guide to understand the moving parts behind your result. The calculator factors in the activity test (which sets subsidised hours), hourly rate caps for each care type, and your service’s effective hourly fee. That means two centres with the same daily price can yield different out-of-pocket costs depending on session length and whether the hourly fee sits under or over the cap. It’s especially useful when you’re changing days, returning to work or study, working variable shifts, or revisiting your income estimate after a pay change. If your circumstances are unique, check whether Additional Child Care Subsidy could apply.

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Use the Child Care Subsidy Calculator

How to the Child Care Subsidy Calculator

1. Enter your combined family income (financial year). This sets your CCS percentage range.
2. Choose recognised activity hours (per fortnight) for you/your partner. The lower figure applies.
3. Select your care type (Long Day Care, Family Day Care, OSHC, or approved preschool program).
4. Add session details (hours per day, days per week, and your centre’s hourly fee or daily fee).
5. Review your estimate: CCS %, capped amount per hour, subsidised hours per fortnight, and an estimated weekly out-of-pocket total.

What your result shows

• Estimated CCS percentage – the share of your capped hourly fee the government may cover.
• Subsidised hours per fortnight – based on the activity test (the lower partner’s activity is used).
• Hourly rate cap check – the calculator compares your hourly fee to the relevant cap for your care type.
• Estimated weekly out-of-pocket – a plain-English view of what you might pay after CCS.
• Sensitivity insights – how changing session length or days may affect your result.

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Child Care Subsidy Calculator Inputs explained

• Family income: Use your best year-to-date estimate. Update it if your situation changes (pay rise, new role, reduced hours, etc.).
• Recognised activity hours: Paid work (including casual or self-employment), approved study/training, volunteering, or actively looking for work.
• Care type: Long Day Care (LDC), Family Day Care (FDC), Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), or an approved preschool/kindy program delivered by an approved provider.
• Session length and days: Some centres offer 9-, 10- or 12-hour sessions. Session length changes the effective hourly fee and how caps apply.
• Fee entry: Enter an hourly fee if you have it; otherwise enter a daily fee and session hours so the calculator can derive an hourly rate.

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Worked Examples (Illustrative Only)

Example 1: Two full-time workers, long day care

• Family income: $120,000
• Activity: Both full time → 100 subsidised hours/fortnight
• Fee: $130 per 10-hour session (effective $13/hour)
• Result (illustrative): High CCS%, hourly fee under the cap, strong reduction in out-of-pocket.

Example 2: One part-time worker, one volunteering; 9-hour sessions

• Family income: $85,000
• Activity: 40 hours + 10 hours volunteering → lower figure applies → 36 subsidised hours/fortnight
• Fee: $135 per 9-hour session (effective $15/hour)
• Result (illustrative): CCS applies up to the cap; the portion above the cap isn’t subsidised.

Example 3: Returning to study

• Family income: $65,000
• Activity: 20 hours of recognised study → 72 subsidised hours/fortnight
• Fee: $11/hour (below cap)
• Result (illustrative): A high CCS% applied to the full hourly fee, with a modest out-of-pocket.

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Important reminders (read this)

• Hourly caps vs daily fees: CCS is calculated against hourly caps, not daily totals.
• Subsidised hours: Set by the activity test, not by how long the centre is open.
• Confirmation matters: CCS applies only after your provider lodges an enrolment and you confirm it in your Centrelink account.
• Keep income updated: Services Australia completes an end-of-year balancing. Incorrect estimates can cause over- or under-payments.

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Common scenarios

• Variable shifts / part-time: Consider session options that align with your activity test hours to avoid running out of subsidised hours mid-fortnight.
• Returning to study: Update activity hours if your course load changes; you may be entitled to more hours.
• Grandparent primary carer: You may be eligible for Additional Child Care Subsidy (Grandparent), which can be more generous than standard CCS.
• Temporary financial hardship: Speak with your provider about ACCS (Temporary Financial Hardship).

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Child Care Subsidy Calculator – FAQs

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Next Steps and Helpful Tips

• Read the full Child Care Subsidy Guide (what CCS is, eligibility, activity test, caps, and scenarios).
• Explore the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) categories if you think you may qualify.
• Learn how to use the National Quality Framework to choose a high-quality service.
• Ready to compare options? Head to our Find Childcare directory.

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Transparency and Assumptions

• Figures are indicative; your provider’s billing cycle, public holidays, casual days, and mid-year fee changes can affect outcomes.
• Hourly rate caps and policy settings may change. We review this page regularly, but always rely on Services Australia for the latest rules.
• The calculator focuses on mainstream scenarios; complex cases (split care, shared care percentages, multiple services) may yield different results.