About the Canada EI Calculator
This Canada EI calculator estimates how much Employment Insurance you could receive each week and for how long. Choose regular benefits (after a job loss), maternity benefits or standard or extended parental benefits, enter your average weekly insurable earnings, your insurable hours in the last 52 weeks and your region’s unemployment rate, and it applies Service Canada’s 2026 rules.
Regular benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings over your best 14 to 22 weeks, for 14 to 45 weeks depending on your hours and local unemployment. Maternity benefits pay 55% for up to 15 weeks; standard parental pays 55% for up to 35 weeks and extended parental pays 33% for up to 61 weeks (more weeks if parents share).
For 2026 the maximum insurable earnings are $68,900, so the most you can receive is $729 a week at 55% or $437 at 33%. EI benefits are taxable. The family supplement for low-income families, earnings while on claim, Quebec’s separate parental plan (QPIP) and seasonal-worker extensions are not included — use the result as a planning estimate before you apply.
With the default inputs, the estimated weekly benefit (before tax) is $550.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the canada ei calculator
- 1Choose regular, maternity, standard parental or extended parental benefits.
- 2Enter your average weekly insurable earnings in your best-paid weeks.
- 3Enter your insurable hours from the last 52 weeks (from your Records of Employment).
- 4For regular benefits, enter your region’s unemployment rate.
- 5Read your weekly amount, weeks payable and total.
Formula and method
Service Canada averages your insurable earnings over your best weeks — 22 weeks where unemployment is 6% or less, falling to 14 weeks where it is above 13%. Regular, maternity and standard parental benefits pay 55% of that average, up to $729 a week in 2026; extended parental pays 33%, up to $437. Earnings above $68,900 a year ($1,325 a week) are not insurable.
Regular benefits need 420 to 700 insurable hours depending on the regional unemployment rate, and the number of weeks comes from Schedule I of the Employment Insurance Act: 14 weeks at 700 hours in a low-unemployment region, plus a week for every 70 hours (every 35 hours above 1,400) and two weeks for each extra percentage point of unemployment, up to 45. Maternity and parental benefits need 600 hours.
- rate
- 55% (regular, maternity, standard parental) or 33% (extended parental)
- cap
- $729 or $437 per week in 2026
Worked examples
Regular benefits: $1,000/week, 1,400 hours, 7.5% unemployment
55% of $1,000 is $550 a week. At 7.1%–8% unemployment you need 630 hours and your best 20 weeks are averaged. Schedule I gives 24 weeks for 1,400 hours plus 4 weeks for the unemployment band: 28 weeks, or $15,400 in total.
Standard parental, high earner
Weekly earnings above $1,325 are not insurable, so the benefit is the $729 maximum. Standard parental benefits run up to 35 weeks for one parent: $25,515 before tax.
Extended parental at $900 a week
Extended parental pays 33% of $900 = $297 a week for up to 61 weeks, or $18,117 — spread over a longer leave than the 35-week standard option.
Regular benefits in a low-unemployment region with too few hours
Where unemployment is 6% or less you need 700 insurable hours. With 650 hours you do not qualify for regular benefits yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum EI payment in 2026?+
With maximum insurable earnings of $68,900 in 2026, the most you can receive is $729 a week for regular, maternity or standard parental benefits (55%) and $437 a week for extended parental benefits (33%).
How many weeks of EI can I get?+
Regular benefits last 14 to 45 weeks depending on your insurable hours and your region’s unemployment rate. Maternity benefits last up to 15 weeks, standard parental up to 35 weeks and extended parental up to 61 weeks per parent.
How many hours do I need to qualify for EI?+
For regular benefits you need 420 to 700 insurable hours in the last 52 weeks, depending on regional unemployment (700 where it is 6% or less). Maternity and parental benefits require 600 insurable hours.
How is EI calculated?+
Service Canada adds your insurable earnings in your best 14 to 22 weeks (depending on local unemployment), divides by that number of weeks and pays 55% of the result, up to the weekly maximum. Extended parental uses 33%.
Should I choose standard or extended parental benefits?+
Both pay roughly the same total. Standard pays 55% for up to 35 weeks; extended pays 33% for up to 61 weeks. Choose based on how long you plan to be off — the choice cannot be changed once payments start.
Is EI taxable?+
Yes. EI benefits are taxable income and Service Canada deducts tax at source. If your net income is high you may also have to repay part of regular benefits at tax time.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.
Sources
- Service Canada — EI regular benefits: how much you could receive
- Service Canada — EI regular benefits: eligibility
- Service Canada — EI maternity and parental benefits: how much
- Service Canada — EI maternity and parental benefits: eligibility
- Employment Insurance Act — Schedule I (Table of Weeks of Benefits)