Free nanny share tool

Free Nanny Share Cost Splitter

A nanny share cost splitter calculates how two families share the cost of one nanny by raising the nanny's hourly rate above what one family alone would pay and dividing the higher combined rate between the two families. The standard 2/3 rule pays the nanny about 33% more than the solo rate while each family pays only about two-thirds of what they would have paid for a solo nanny.

Enter the solo nanny rate, weekly hours, and how each family wants to split the cost to instantly see the nanny's combined rate, each family's hourly and annual cost, and how much each family saves versus hiring solo.

Three split methods

Compare the standard 2/3 rule, an equal 50/50 split, and a per-child split that scales with kids per family.

Custom share premium

Set how much the nanny earns above the solo rate (25% to 50%) so the share rate matches your local market.

Savings vs solo nanny

See the per-family annual savings compared to hiring a dedicated nanny at the same hours and rate.

Per-family FICA

Each family is a separate household employer; the calculator estimates their employer Social Security and Medicare share separately.

Set up the nanny share

Enter the solo nanny rate, weekly schedule, and each family's kids. Pick how you want to split the cost; the results update instantly.

Solo nanny hourly rateWhat one family alone would pay this nanny per hour.Hours per weekHours over 40 are paid at 1.5x the share rate and split using the same method.

Family A: number of childrenUsed for the per-child split method.Family B: number of childrenUsed for the per-child split method.

Splitting method

Share premium above solo rate

33%

The 2/3 rule pegs the premium at 33%; switch methods to customize.Work stateUsed for state-tax context. Federal employer FICA is the same in every state.

Planning calculator only. It does not produce official payroll, withhold federal income tax, or model SUTA, FUTA, or state-specific unemployment. For paychecks and net pay, pair this with the nanny paycheck calculator below.

Family A

1 child

Hourly cost: $16.67
Weekly cost: $666.67
Annual cost: $34,667
Annual savings vs solo: $17,333

Estimated employer FICA (annual)$2,652

Each family is a separate household employer for their share, so each owes 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare on the wages they pay.

Family B

1 child

Hourly cost: $16.67
Weekly cost: $666.67
Annual cost: $34,667
Annual savings vs solo: $17,333

Estimated employer FICA (annual)$2,652

Each family is a separate household employer for their share, so each owes 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare on the wages they pay.

Solo vs. nanny share comparison

A side-by-side view of what each family would pay solo versus what they pay in the share, plus the nanny's combined annual gross.

Solo nanny annual cost (per family)$52,000
Family A annual cost in share$34,667
Family B annual cost in share$34,667
Nanny combined annual gross$69,333

New York: each family also withholds employee state income tax from the nanny's portion of wages (estimated flat 5.8%). Use the nanny paycheck calculator to see net take-home pay.

How the nanny share splitter works

Four steps from solo nanny rate to a fair, fully split nanny share cost for both families.

Step 1

Enter the solo nanny rate

Start with the hourly wage one family alone would pay a nanny in your market. The nanny share rate will be calculated as a premium above this number.

Step 2

Set the nanny share premium

Pick how much more the nanny earns in a share than as a solo nanny. The standard premium is 33%, which lines up with the 2/3 rule and gives the nanny a meaningful raise for caring for two families' children.

Step 3

Add each family's children and pick a split method

Enter the number of kids each family is bringing. Choose the standard 2/3 rule, an equal 50/50 split, or a per-child split that scales with how many kids each family contributes.

Step 4

Review the breakdown

See the nanny's combined hourly, weekly, and annual gross earnings, plus each family's hourly cost, weekly cost, annual cost, and annual savings versus hiring a solo nanny.

Why the 2/3 rule is the standard

The 2/3 rule keeps everyone roughly whole. The nanny earns about 33% more for taking on a second family's children, while each family pays about 33% less than they would for a solo nanny. Compared to a 50% premium with an equal split, the 2/3 rule is more affordable for families; compared to no premium, it's more fair to the nanny.

Many high-cost cities trend toward a 40% to 50% premium when the second family adds an infant or a third child. Use the premium slider to model those scenarios and see how the per-hour math shifts.

Each family runs their own household payroll

In a nanny share, both families are separate household employers. Each family registers for their own EIN, withholds FICA from the nanny's portion of wages, pays employer Social Security and Medicare on the wages they pay, and issues a W-2 at year end. The nanny ends up with two W-2s (one from each family) and pays no self-employment tax.

That separation also means each family qualifies independently for the IRS $2,800 (2025) household employee threshold and any state-specific unemployment thresholds, which can simplify year-one nanny share setup.

Sample math: $25/hr solo at 40 hours/week

With a 33% share premium, the nanny's combined rate jumps to $33.25/hr, or roughly $33.33/hr at the canonical 1/3 premium. Over a 40-hour week the nanny grosses about $1,330. Under the standard 2/3 rule, each family pays $16.67/hr, $666.67/week, and roughly $34,667 per year, against the $52,000 they would have paid for a dedicated solo nanny. That is about $17,333 in annual savings per family.

The exact numbers in your scenario will shift with hours, premium, and split method. The calculator above stays in sync automatically.

Per-child split: when it makes sense

A per-child split is fairer when one family is bringing more kids than the other. For example, if family A has 1 child and family B has 2 children, family A pays one-third of the share rate and family B pays two-thirds. The nanny's pay does not change; the cost just moves to the family generating more of the workload.

When both families have the same number of kids, per-child and equal-split produce the same per-family cost. Use the calculator to test your specific kid counts.

Frequently asked questions

The questions families and nannies ask most often when setting up a nanny share.

What is a nanny share?

A nanny share is an arrangement where two families hire one nanny together to care for their children at the same time, usually rotating between the two homes. Both families pay a portion of the nanny's higher hourly rate, the nanny earns more than a solo job would pay, and each family pays less than they would for a dedicated nanny.

How do you split nanny share costs fairly?

The most common split is the 2/3 rule: the nanny's solo hourly rate goes up by about 33% to reflect the extra work of caring for two families' kids, and each family pays about two-thirds of the solo rate per hour. That means the nanny earns roughly 33% more than a solo job, while each family saves about 33% versus hiring their own nanny.

Is a nanny share cheaper than daycare?

Often yes, especially in higher-cost cities. A typical nanny share costs each family about 60% to 70% of a solo nanny rate, which can land near or below the price of a quality infant daycare seat in major metros. Costs vary by region, hours, and the nanny's experience, so always compare your specific share rate against local daycare tuition before committing.

Do both families pay nanny taxes in a nanny share?

Yes. Each family is treated as a separate household employer for their share of the nanny's wages. Both families file their own Schedule H, withhold their own employee FICA, pay their own employer-side Social Security, Medicare, FUTA, and applicable state unemployment, and issue their own W-2 reflecting only the wages they paid. The nanny ends up with two W-2s, one from each family.

What hourly rate should you pay a nanny share?

Take what one family alone would pay (the solo rate) and add a 25% to 50% premium, with 33% being the most common. So a $25/hr solo nanny in a share earns about $33.25/hr combined; each family pays about $16.63/hr under an equal split or about $16.50/hr under the 2/3 rule. Always pay above the solo rate so the nanny is compensated for the additional children.