Plan your leave around your due date. Enter how many weeks you want off before the birth and how much paid leave, PTO and unpaid time you have, and see your leave start, return-to-work date, a phase-by-phase schedule and how it lines up with FMLA's 12 weeks.
Last updated:
Baby
Fill in once your baby arrives to update the plan.
weeks
Your leave
weeks
%
Short-term disability often pays 50–70%.
days
days
weeks
Options
$
Adds an income estimate for the leave.
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Maternity Leave Calculator
Enter your due date and how many weeks you plan to stop working before it.
Add your paid leave weeks and the percent of pay they replace (for example 60% for short-term disability).
Enter PTO days and unpaid weeks, and choose whether PTO comes before or after paid leave.
Optionally add your weekly pay to estimate income during leave, and tick Return on a Monday if you prefer.
Press Calculate leave dates, then update the actual birth date after your baby arrives.
How the maternity leave dates are worked out
Leave start:due date − weeks before × 7 days. If the baby is born earlier, leave starts on the birth date.
PTO in weeks:PTO days ÷ workdays per week (10 days at 5 days a week = 2 weeks).
Total leave:paid weeks + PTO weeks + unpaid weeks, rounded to whole days.
Return to work: the first workday after leave start + total days − 1, optionally moved to the next Monday.
FMLA end:leave start + 12 weeks − 1 day, assuming FMLA runs at the same time as paid leave and PTO.
Common US leave sources compared
Source
Typical length
Pay
Job protected?
FMLA
Up to 12 workweeks
Unpaid (paid time can run alongside)
Yes, if eligible
Short-term disability
About 6 weeks (vaginal) or 8 weeks (cesarean)
Often 50–70% of salary
No, on its own
State paid family leave
Varies by state, often 8–12 weeks of bonding leave
Partial wage replacement
Depends on the state
Employer paid parental leave
Set by company policy
Often full pay
Per company policy
PTO / vacation
Whatever you have saved
Full pay
Per company policy
Lengths are typical examples, not guarantees. Federal FMLA rules apply nationwide; disability and state programs differ, so check your plan documents and your state's program.
Tips for planning your leave
Tell HR early. FMLA asks for 30 days' notice when leave is foreseeable, and disability claims often need forms from your doctor.
Ask how leave types stack. Some employers require PTO to be used first or run everything concurrently with FMLA.
Plan for the unexpected. Babies rarely arrive on the due date; leave a buffer and update the actual birth date here when the time comes.
Budget for unpaid weeks. Enter your weekly pay to see how much income the leave replaces.
Consider a gradual return. Some employers allow intermittent leave or a reduced schedule for the first weeks back.
Frequently asked questions
How long is maternity leave in the US?
There is no federal paid maternity leave for most private-sector workers. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for the birth of a child. Many people combine that with employer paid leave, short-term disability, a state paid family leave program and PTO.
Who is eligible for FMLA?
You generally qualify if you have worked for the employer for at least 12 months, worked at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months, and work at a location where the employer has 50 or more employees within 75 miles. Public agencies and schools are covered regardless of size.
When should I start maternity leave?
Many people work until 1 or 2 weeks before the due date, and some work until labor starts to save leave for after the birth. Your doctor may recommend starting earlier for medical reasons. Only a small share of babies arrive exactly on the due date, so plan a little flexibility.
How is the return-to-work date calculated?
The leave start is the due date minus your weeks off before birth (or the birth date if the baby comes first). The total leave is paid weeks + PTO days ÷ workdays per week + unpaid weeks, converted to days. The return date is the first workday after the last day of leave.
Does paid leave run at the same time as FMLA?
Usually yes. Employers can require FMLA to run concurrently with paid leave, short-term disability and PTO, so the 12 protected weeks start when your leave starts, not after your paid time ends. The calculator shows the date FMLA protection ends and warns if your leave is longer.
How long does short-term disability cover after giving birth?
Many short-term disability plans treat about 6 weeks after a vaginal birth and about 8 weeks after a cesarean as the standard recovery period, often paying 50 to 70% of your salary after a short waiting period. Check your own plan for its exact rules.
Can I use PTO during maternity leave?
Often yes, and some employers require you to use accrued PTO during FMLA leave. Using PTO keeps your full pay for those days. Enter your PTO in days and the calculator converts it to weeks using your workdays per week.
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.