California Maternity Leave Calculator
Your paid leave timeline from the EDD: pregnancy disability before and after the birth, then Paid Family Leave to bond with your baby.
A typical California maternity leave is up to 4 weeks before your due date and 6 weeks after birth (8 after a C-section) on State Disability Insurance, then up to 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave to bond. Both pay 70%–90% of your wages, up to $1,765 a week.
Enter your due date and your highest quarter of wages in the past 18 months (the EDD uses this to set your weekly benefit).
Maternity Leave Calculator
Estimated Total Paid Leave Benefits
| Leave | Dates | Length | Benefits |
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How this is calculated
Pregnancy disability (SDI). The EDD usually pays Disability Insurance from up to 4 weeks before your expected delivery date until 6 weeks after a vaginal birth or 8 weeks after a C-section. Your doctor can certify a longer period for complications. The first 7 days are an unpaid waiting period.
Bonding (Paid Family Leave). When disability ends, the EDD sends a bonding claim form with your last payment. PFL pays up to 8 weeks within the first year after birth, with no waiting period and the same weekly amount. Partners can claim their own PFL.
Weekly amount. Your average weekly wage is your highest quarter's wages ÷ 13. You get 90% of it if it is below 70% of the state average weekly wage ($1,252.30), otherwise 70%, up to $1,765 a week. This is the same formula as our SDI benefit calculator.
Pay vs. job protection. SDI and PFL replace wages. They do not hold your job. Job protection comes from Pregnancy Disability Leave (up to 4 months while you are disabled) and the California Family Rights Act (up to 12 weeks to bond), both for employers with 5 or more employees.
The calculator assumes delivery on the due date. Your actual dates follow your real delivery date and doctor's certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is maternity leave in California?
Paid leave is typically up to 4 weeks before your due date and 6 weeks after a vaginal delivery (8 after a C-section) on State Disability Insurance, followed by up to 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave to bond, about 18 weeks in total (20 after a C-section). Job-protected leave can be up to 4 months of Pregnancy Disability Leave plus 12 weeks of CFRA at employers with 5 or more employees.
How much is maternity leave pay in California?
SDI and Paid Family Leave pay 70% to 90% of your average weekly wage, based on your highest quarter of earnings in the base period, up to a weekly maximum ($1,765 in 2026). Lower earners get the 90% rate.
Can the other parent take Paid Family Leave in California?
Yes. Any parent, including fathers, partners, and adoptive or foster parents, can take up to 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave to bond with a new child within the first year, as long as they paid into SDI.
Is my job protected during maternity leave in California?
If your employer has 5 or more employees, yes: Pregnancy Disability Leave covers up to 4 months while you are disabled by pregnancy or childbirth, and CFRA covers up to 12 weeks of bonding leave if you meet its eligibility rules. SDI and PFL are the pay; PDL and CFRA are the job protection.
Can I get more disability time for pregnancy complications?
Yes. If your doctor certifies that you are disabled for longer, before or after delivery, SDI can continue for the certified period, up to the program maximum.
This tool provides an educational estimate only. Your actual dates, weekly benefit and eligibility are determined by the EDD from your claim and your doctor's certification. Job protection depends on your employer and eligibility; ask HR or the Civil Rights Department.