Part of the topic: 👶 Family & children
Elterngeld calculator (German parental allowance)
Enter your average monthly gross income from the 12 months before the birth. The calculator derives the standardised “Elterngeld net” the way the Elterngeldstelle does and estimates Basiselterngeld and ElterngeldPlus.
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How to use it
- Enter the average gross monthly income of the 12 calendar months before the birth (without bonuses).
- Choose tax class, church membership and your insurance status.
- Optional: add part-time income after the birth, a sibling bonus or twins – and compare Basis and Plus.
How Elterngeld is calculated
The Elterngeldstelle does not use the net pay on your payslip but a standardised “Elterngeld net”: from the gross income of the twelve calendar months before the birth it deducts one twelfth of the employee lump sum (€102.50), wage tax, solidarity surcharge and, if applicable, 8% church tax based on your tax class, plus a flat 21% for social insurance. One-off payments such as Christmas bonuses don't count.
You receive 65 to 100% of that net, depending on its level. Maternity-protection months and months with Elterngeld for an older child are skipped when choosing the twelve months.
Basis or Plus – which is better?
Without income after the birth, Basis and Plus add up to roughly the same total; Plus spreads the money over twice the time. If you work part-time, ElterngeldPlus is usually clearly better because part-time income reduces Basiselterngeld heavily.
If both parents work 24–32 hours a week at the same time, you get two to four additional partnership-bonus months.
Worked example
€3,000 gross before birth, tax class I, no church tax, one baby, no part-time work: relevant net €1,969.50, 65% rate – €1,280.18 basic parental allowance per month or €640.09 ElterngeldPlus.
Last checked: October 2026 · Based on: §§ 2–2c, 4 Federal Parental Allowance Act (BEEG). Found a mistake? Use the form below – we fix confirmed errors and update the date.
Frequently asked questions
How much Elterngeld will I get?
Usually 65–67% of the standardised net income you lose, at least €300 and at most €1,800 a month (Basiselterngeld). With low incomes the rate rises to up to 100%.
What is the difference between Basiselterngeld and ElterngeldPlus?
ElterngeldPlus is at most half of the Basiselterngeld but is paid for twice as long. It is especially worthwhile if you work part-time after the birth, because the income reduces it less.
Is there an income limit?
Yes. For births since 1 April 2025 there is no entitlement if the taxable income in the calendar year before the birth exceeded €175,000 – for couples and single parents.
Is Elterngeld taxed?
Elterngeld is tax-free but subject to the progression clause: it increases the tax rate on your other income, so a back-payment in the tax return is possible.