Calculator · 02

Elterngeld Calculator 2026

Calculate your monthly Elterngeld – Basis or ElterngeldPlus.

67 %

Replacement rate

1.800 €

Maximum

300 €

Minimum

What is Elterngeld?

Elterngeld is a state benefit for parents who stay home or reduce their working hours after the birth of their child. It amounts to 67 % of average net income from the 12 months before birth — minimum €300, maximum €1,800 per month.

As an alternative to basic Elterngeld, parents can choose ElterngeldPlus: half the monthly amount but twice the duration. This is particularly attractive for parents who wish to return to work part-time.

Calculate Elterngeld

Input

Monthly gross salary€3,000

500 €7.000 €

Tax class

With partner months? (2-month bonus)

Elterngeld mode

Result

Fill in the inputs and click "Calculate".

— In practice

Pre-computed family cases

Concrete family scenarios with 2026 figures — click on a family to open the calculator with the matching inputs pre-filled.

Familie Schneider

Cologne

Married couple (tax class III), €4,000 gross, 1 first child

Basic Elterngeld/month

1.731 €

Net ≈ €2,663 · 65 % replacement (net > €1,200) · 12 + 2 partner months duration.

→ Open with these inputs

Familie Becker

Hamburg

Single parent (tax class II), €2,000 gross, 1 child

Basic Elterngeld/month

892 €

Net ≈ €1,331 · 67 % replacement · 12 months without partner.

→ Open with these inputs

Familie Yilmaz

Berlin

Couple (tax class IV), €3,000 gross, ElterngeldPlus for flexibility

ElterngeldPlus/month

739 €

ElterngeldPlus halves the monthly amount but doubles duration to 24-28 months — ideal for part-time return.

→ Open with these inputs

Familie Hoffmann

Munich

Couple (tax class III), €5,500 gross — testing max amount

Basic Elterngeld/month

1.800 €

Net ≈ €3,660 · 65 % would be €2,379 — but capped at maximum €1,800/month.

→ Open with these inputs

Familie Wagner

Düsseldorf

Mini-jobber (tax class I), €538 gross, 1 child

Basic Elterngeld/month

300 €

Despite low pre-birth net, the minimum amount of €300/month (§ 2 BEEG) applies — floor for all eligible recipients.

→ Open with these inputs

Familie Demir

Frankfurt

Couple (tax class IV), €3,500 gross, twins expected

Elterngeld + multiples bonus

~ 1.815 €

Basic ≈ €1,515 + multiples supplement €300 per additional child (§ 2a BEEG). Triplets: +€600.

→ Open with these inputs

Elterngeld Timeline 2026 — Basis vs Plus

2026: Basic Elterngeld 12+2 months, ElterngeldPlus 24+4 months with halved monthly amount. Maternity allowance is offset against Elterngeld (8 weeks post-birth). Legal basis: §§ 2, 4, 4a BEEG.

FAQ — 09

Frequently asked questions about Elterngeld

Q.01How is Elterngeld calculated?

Elterngeld is calculated at 67% of the average monthly net income from the last 12 months before birth. If net income exceeds 1,200 EUR, the rate drops to 65%. The minimum is 300 EUR, the maximum is 1,800 EUR per month.

Q.02What is ElterngeldPlus?

ElterngeldPlus is an alternative to Basiselterngeld. You receive half the base amount, but for twice as long. This is particularly attractive if you want to work part-time after birth, since part-time income reduces Elterngeld.

Q.03What are the partner months?

The partner months (also called fathers' months) are 2 additional months of Elterngeld that can only be claimed if the other parent takes over primary care for at least 2 months. This gives a total of 14 months of Basiselterngeld.

Q.04When must Elterngeld be applied for?

Elterngeld should be applied for as early as possible, but at the latest 3 months after birth, as it is only granted retrospectively for 3 months. The application is submitted to the Elterngeldstelle of your federal state.

Q.05How does the 175,000 € income cap work?

Since 1 April 2024, Elterngeld is no longer paid if the taxable income (zvE) of the calendar year before birth exceeds 175,000 € — for couples and single parents alike. The reference is the zvE shown on the latest tax assessment. The 175,000 € threshold remains in force for 2026.

Q.06How is Elterngeld calculated for the self-employed?

For the self-employed, the basis is the profit of the last completed financial year before birth (typically from the EÜR or balance sheet on the tax assessment) — not the last 12 months. This can be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on whether the prior year was strong or weak.

Q.07What is the multiples and sibling bonus?

For multiples, you receive +300 € (Basis) or +150 € (Plus) per additional sibling. The sibling bonus (10%, min. 75 €/37.50 €) applies to families with at least two children under 3 or three children under 6.

Q.08What happens if I work part-time during Elterngeld?

Up to 32 hours per week are allowed. Part-time earnings during the reference period are offset against Elterngeld (Differenzelterngeld). ElterngeldPlus is often more advantageous, since the monthly amount is halved but the duration doubled.

Q.09When does Elterngeld have to be repaid?

Clawback can occur when earned income is not declared during the reference period, when wage-replacement benefits (sick pay, unemployment benefit) are received, when paternity is contested, or when separation ends shared custody. The limitation period is four years.

— Calculation examples

Family A

Couple, tax class III, €4,000 gross

→Net approx. €2,663
→Replacement 65 %: €1,731
→+ 2 partner months = 14 months

€1,731 / month

Family B

Single parent, tax class II, €2,000 gross

→Net approx. €1,330
→Replacement 67 %: €891
→Duration: 12 months

€891 / month

Family C

Couple, tax class V, €1,000 gross

→Net approx. €497
→Below minimum threshold
→Minimum amount applies

€300 / month

— Explainer

What is Elterngeld and how is it calculated?

Elterngeld is a federal wage-replacement benefit designed to cushion parents financially after the birth of a child. It replaces a portion of lost earnings so parents can focus on care during the first phase of the child's life without bearing the full salary loss. The legal basis is the Bundeselterngeld- und Elternzeitgesetz (BEEG).

Two variants exist: Basiselterngeld (classic, higher monthly amount, shorter duration) and ElterngeldPlus (half the monthly amount, double duration, combinable with part-time work). Both can be freely combined — switching between time-out and part-time return is straightforward.

The basic amount is calculated from the average net income of the 12 calendar months before birth. The replacement rate is 67% for net incomes between 1,000 € and 1,200 €. Above that range it drops to 65%, below it rises up to 100%. The minimum is 300 €, the maximum 1,800 € per month.

Since 1 April 2024, entitlement lapses entirely if the previous year's taxable income exceeds 175,000 € — for couples and single parents alike. This threshold remains in 2026. For the self-employed, the profit of the last completed financial year is decisive — not the last 12 months.

— Calculation

Elterngeld is calculated in stages: determine the reference income, apply the replacement rate, check the min/max boundaries, then add any bonuses.

Reference period	12 months before birth Self-employed: last completed financial year
Reference net income	Average net per month After tax and social contributions, before parental/maternity leave
Replacement rate	67% (standard) 65% if net > 1,200 €; up to 100% if net < 1,000 €
Minimum	300 € / month Also paid if no income before birth
Maximum	1,800 € / month At net income from ~2,770 €
Income cap	175,000 € zvE prior year Above: no entitlement (§ 1 (8) BEEG)
Multiples bonus	+300 € (Basis) / +150 € (Plus) Per additional multiple
Sibling bonus	+10% (min. 75 € / 37.50 €) If ≥ 2 children under 3 or ≥ 3 under 6
Basic duration	12 months (+ 2 partner months) Max. 14 months if both parents participate
Plus duration	Up to 28 months Half amount, double duration

Actual Elterngeld may differ from this estimate as the Elterngeldstelle determines reference income from your pay slips. Tax-class switches must take effect 7 months before the birth month to be recognised.

— Edge cases

Self-employed

Profit of the last completed financial year before birth (EÜR or balance sheet on the tax assessment) is decisive. Loss carryforwards are not taken into account. Mixed sources (e.g. employment + self-employment) lead to a mixed reference base.

§ 2d BEEG

Multiples and the multiples bonus

Each additional multiple adds 300 € (Basis) or 150 € (Plus) to the monthly amount. Triplets therefore receive 2 × 300 = 600 € on top of the Basis. The multiples bonus is not capped by the 1,800 € maximum.

§ 2a (4) BEEG

Sibling bonus

Families with ≥ 2 children under 3 or ≥ 3 children under 6 receive a 10% uplift, minimum 75 € (Basis) / 37.50 € (Plus). Runs as long as the conditions are met — typically ends when the older sibling turns 3 (or 6).

§ 2a (1) BEEG

Premature birth extension

If the child is born before the 37th week, the Basis entitlement is extended by up to 4 months depending on the prematurity week. Applies to births from 1 September 2021, expanded in 2024.

§ 4 (5) BEEG

Partnership bonus

If both parents work in parallel between 24 and 32 hours per week, four extra ElterngeldPlus months are granted as Partnership bonus — can be taken in blocks (min. 2, max. 4 months) and does not require marriage.

§ 4b BEEG

Maternity-pay offset

Mutterschaftsgeld (health insurance + employer top-up) and protected-period pay are offset day-by-day against Elterngeld. In practice, the mother receives only the difference above Mutterschaftsgeld in the first 8 weeks after birth.

§ 3 BEEG

— How to apply for Elterngeld

Apply at the Elterngeldstelle of the federal state where you live — earliest after birth, latest 3 months after, otherwise the retroactive payment ceiling cuts payments for earlier months.

01
Find your federal state's Elterngeldstelle
Bavaria: ZBFS. Berlin: district youth-welfare office. NRW: county/city administration. Use familienportal.de or your state's website to locate the responsible office.
02
Collect birth certificate and proofs
Birth certificate (original or certified copy), pay slips for the last 12 months, tax assessment if self-employed, Mutterschaftsgeld certificate from the health insurer, certificate of cover period.
03
Decide on a benefit pattern
How many Basis months, how many Plus months, in what split between parents? The application binds the chosen months — changes are only possible until first payment. Run a calculator scenario first.
04
Fill in the form
Online (in most states via ElterngeldDigital) or PDF. Both parents must sign, even when only one draws Elterngeld. For married couples, the tax-class combination is checked.
05
Submit with supporting documents
Online upload or postal mail. Submission triggers the 3-month retroactive cap, so file early — don't wait until every document is perfect.
06
Decision and possible objection
Processing usually takes 4–8 weeks. For a rejection or too-low award: written objection within 1 month of notice. Frequent errors include forgotten bonuses, wrong tax class, missed multiples uplift.

— Common mistakes

Switching tax class too late
A switch to the more favourable tax class III must take effect 7 months before the birth month — otherwise the old class is used. This can cost several hundred euros per month.
Forgetting Mutterschaftsgeld offset
Anyone budgeting Mutterschaftsgeld on top of Elterngeld is in for a surprise: in the first 8 weeks after birth, the mother effectively only sees the top-up above Mutterschaftsgeld. Plan financing accordingly.
Not applying for the partnership bonus
If both parents work 24–32 hours in parallel, four extra Plus months are available. If not actively requested in the application, the bonus often remains unused.
Filing the application too late
Only 3 months are paid retroactively. Filing 5 months after birth costs 2 months × up to 1,800 € = 3,600 €.
Wrong base when prior part-time
Anyone in part-time before birth can sometimes exclude reduction months (illness, employment ban, etc.) and reach further back. Ignoring this artificially lowers the base.
Combining Plus with full-time
Plus only makes sense with part-time work (above 0, max. 32 hrs/week). For full-time return after birth, take fewer Basis months instead of choosing Plus.

— Nächste Schritte

Finder

Elterngeldstelle Ihres Bundeslandes →

Jedes Bundesland hat eine eigene Elterngeldstelle — hier finden Sie die richtige

Info

ElterngeldPlus-Rechner (offiziell) →

Offizieller Rechner des BMFSFJ auf familienportal.de

Info

Partnerschaftsbonus: Voraussetzungen und Antrag →

Informationen zum Partnerschaftsbonus (4 zusätzliche ElterngeldPlus-Monate)

— Sources & legal basis

§
BEEG – Bundeselterngeld- und Elternzeitgesetz§§ 1–27 BEEG
§
familienportal.de – ElterngeldOfficial federal portal
§
BMFSFJ – Elterngeld & ElterngeldPlusIncome cap €175,000 from 01.04.2025

Note: This calculation is an estimate based on simplified net factors per tax class. Binding information is provided by the Elterngeldstelle of your federal state.

As of: January 2026

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— Editorial

Elena Maurer

Editor-in-Chief

Elena leads the editorial team at familienleistungen-rechner.de. She researches and updates the calculators and guides based on official legislation and federal authorities. Her goal: making complex social benefits understandable and accessible for families.

Fact-checked by:Redaktion Faktencheck — Source Verification & Editorial Quality Assurance

Last reviewed:15 January 2026

Researched and editorially reviewed. Not legal advice within the meaning of § 2 RDG.

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