Estimate what a child costs each year and in total until age 18 (or any age you choose). Start from income-based averages or enter your own housing, food, childcare, education, transportation, healthcare and clothing costs, and add inflation to see future dollars.
Last updated:
Your family
Starting estimates are based on USDA averages, adjusted to about 2024 prices.
Per-child costs are higher in one-child homes and lower in larger families.
years
0 for a newborn or a baby on the way.
years
18 is standard; use 22 to include the college years at home.
%
Raises each future year's cost. Use 0 for today's dollars.
Your yearly costs per child (custom)
$/ yr
$/ yr
$/ yr
Daycare, after-school care, tuition, books, lessons.
$/ yr
$/ yr
Premiums share, copays, dental, glasses.
$/ yr
$/ yr
Enter your values to see the result.
Advertisement
Advertisement
How to use the Cost of Raising a Child Calculator
Pick an income level for starting estimates, or choose Custom to type in your own yearly costs per category.
Choose how many children live in the home, since per-child spending changes with family size.
Enter the child's current age and the age you want to count costs to (18 by default).
Set an inflation rate, or 0 to see everything in today's dollars.
Read the total, this year's cost and the monthly figure, then check the category and age tables.
How the estimate is calculated
The calculator adds up a yearly cost per child across seven categories, adjusts it for the number of children in the home, and then projects it forward year by year:
Cost in year k = yearly cost today × (1 + inflation)k
The total is the sum of those yearly costs from the child's current age up to the end age. With the middle-income starting estimate of about $17,130 a year and 2.5% inflation, the 18 years from birth add up to roughly $383,500 in future dollars, or about $308,000 in today's dollars.
Starting estimates by income level
Yearly cost per child in a two-child home, based on the USDA 2015 averages for married-couple families adjusted by about 1.32 for price inflation to 2024. Edit them in Custom mode to match your family.
Category
Share
Lower income
Middle income
Higher income
Housing
29%
$3,720
$4,970
$7,920
Food
18%
$2,310
$3,080
$4,910
Childcare & education
16%
$2,050
$2,740
$4,370
Transportation
15%
$1,920
$2,570
$4,090
Healthcare
9%
$1,150
$1,540
$2,460
Clothing
6%
$770
$1,030
$1,640
Other
7%
$900
$1,200
$1,910
Total per year
100%
$12,820
$17,130
$27,300
Category shares are the USDA middle-income shares applied to every level; lower-income families usually spend a larger share on housing and food, higher-income families more on childcare and education.
How costs change as children grow
Baby and toddler years: childcare is often the largest expense if both parents work; diapers, formula and gear add up in the first year.
School age: daycare costs usually drop, while food, activities, school supplies and after-school care rise.
Teen years: food, transportation (including car insurance for a new driver) and personal spending tend to be highest.
Plan for gaps: summer camps, braces, sports fees and a first phone are common costs that families forget to budget.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to raise a child to 18?
The most cited US estimate is from the USDA's Expenditures on Children by Families report: a middle-income married couple was projected to spend $233,610 in 2015 dollars to raise a child born in 2015 to age 18. Adjusted for price increases to about 2024 levels that is roughly $308,000, before future inflation.
Where do the starting estimates come from?
They take the USDA 2015 averages for lower, middle and higher income married-couple families (about $9,700, $13,000 and $20,700 per year), multiply by about 1.32 for consumer price inflation from 2015 to 2024, and split them using the USDA middle-income category shares. They are averages, so switch to Custom for your own numbers.
What is the biggest cost of raising a child?
Housing is the largest share, about 29% in the USDA estimates, followed by food (18%), childcare and education (16%) and transportation (15%). Healthcare, clothing and other items make up the rest. For families paying for full-time daycare, childcare can be the largest cost in the early years.
Do more children cost less per child?
Yes, on average. The USDA found that families with three or more children spend about 24% less per child than two-child families, while one-child families spend about 25% more, because of shared rooms, hand-me-downs and bulk buying. The calculator applies these adjustments.
Does the estimate include college?
No. The categories cover living costs at home through age 17. Set the end age to 22 to include more years at home, and use a college savings calculator to plan for tuition, which is a separate and often large cost.
Why add inflation?
Prices rise over time, so a child born today will cost more in future dollars than the same basket costs now. The calculator raises each future year's cost by your inflation rate and also shows the total in today's dollars for comparison.
How can I lower the cost of raising a child?
The biggest levers are housing and childcare: staying in your current home, using family help or dependent care accounts, and claiming tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Buying used clothing and gear and planning meals also help.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.