Childcare Cost Comparison Worksheet

Who this is for

Compare childcare quotes on the same footing. Each provider quotes differently, by the hour, the day or the week, with extras and one-off fees; this sheet turns them all into a weekly, annual and per-hour cost for the hours you actually need.

Parents choosing between a nursery, a childminder, a nanny, family help or a mix, and anyone returning to work who needs to know what childcare will really cost.

What this helps you track

• The hours of care you need, set once for every option
• Each quote converted to a weekly cost, extras and travel included
• The annual cost of each option, with one-off fees added
• A per-hour figure that makes different quote styles comparable
• The gap between the cheapest and dearest option

How to use it

1. Enter the child's name, the days per week and hours per day you need, and the weeks per year care will run.
2. Give each option a row and choose whether its rate is quoted per hour, per day or per week.
3. Enter the quoted rate, weekly extras such as meals or late fees, your weekly travel cost and any one-off fees such as registration.
4. The weekly, annual and per-hour columns are worked out in the browser and workbook; on paper, use the note under the table.
5. Check the summary for the cheapest and dearest annual cost, then weigh the difference against what else matters to you.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser
• Excel / Google Sheets workbook

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The workbook uses plain formulas only — SUM, IF, COUNTIF and the like — so it opens in Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets without anything breaking, and every calculated cell is grey so you can see which figures it worked out.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

What should I put in weeks per year?

The number of weeks you will actually pay for. Some providers charge all year and some term time only, so use the figure from their terms. If options differ, run the sheet twice.

How do I enter a quote that is per session?

Choose per day and enter the session price, then set the days per week to the number of sessions. Note the arrangement in the option name so you remember.

Where do funded hours or employer schemes go?

The sheet does not know what support applies to you. Take any support off the quoted rate or the weekly extras yourself, using the figures from the scheme, and note it against the option.

Why show a cost per hour?

Because a cheaper weekly price can hide fewer hours. The per-hour column divides each weekly cost by the hours you need, so you can see which option charges least for the same care.