Annual leave during parental leave
Tell us when and for how long you take parental leave and how many days of annual leave you have. You will see how many days you keep each year.
The rule in one sentence
For each full calendar month of parental leave (Elternzeit), your employer may cut your annual leave by one twelfth. A full month runs from the 1st to the last day of the month. If parental leave starts on the 15th, that month does not count.
An example
Parental leave from 15 March 2026 to 14 March 2027, 30 days of annual leave. In 2026, April to December lie entirely within parental leave: 9 twelfths, so 22.5 days less, 7.5 days left. In 2027 it is January and February: 5 days less, 25 left.
Maternity leave and annual leave
Maternity leave (Mutterschutz) does not reduce your annual leave; it counts as time worked. Only parental leave may be cut. When your maternity leave ends is shown by the maternity leave calculator.
Part-time during parental leave
If you work part-time for your employer during parental leave, they may not cut your leave. How much part-time is possible without ElterngeldPlus going down is shown in part-time income with Plus.
Leftover leave, ending the job and the declaration
Leave from before parental leave does not expire because of parental leave; you take it afterwards, in the current or the next leave year. If your employment ends, leave not yet taken is paid out. The leave is only cut if your employer declares it. When to notify parental leave is shown by the parental leave calculator.
Common questions
Is annual leave cut during parental leave in Germany?
Only if your employer declares it. They may cut one twelfth for each full calendar month of parental leave, and not at all if you work part-time for them.
How much leave do I have with 2 months of parental leave?
It depends on the start. If parental leave starts on the 1st of a month, that is 2 full months: with 30 days of leave, 25 are left. If it starts mid-month, only one month is full: 27.5 days are left.
Does my leftover leave expire because of parental leave?
No. Leave from before parental leave is granted afterwards, in the current or the next leave year.
Is annual leave cut during maternity leave?
No. Maternity leave counts as time worked for annual leave. Leave from before it can be taken afterwards.
What happens to half days of leave?
They stay half days. The law does not provide for rounding for this cut.
What if I quit after parental leave?
If your employment ends during parental leave or does not continue afterwards, leave not yet taken is paid out. If your employer has not cut it by then, they cannot do so afterwards.
All calculators
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- Elterngeld tableBasic and Plus for €500 to €3,000 net, at a glance.
- Basic or Plus?Basic against Plus with part-time work, based on your numbers.
- Part-time income with PlusHow much part-time work before Plus goes down?
- Maternity pay calculatorHow much money during maternity leave, and who pays it.
- Kindergeld calculatorHow much child benefit and until when: 18, 21 or 25.
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- Months of life calculatorAll 32 months of life with dates, and which one is running now.
- Deadline calculatorEvery deadline from your due date, as a calendar file.
- How to apply for ElterngeldThe last day for your application (Antrag) and your documents.
- Maternity leave calculatorStart, end and money during maternity leave (Mutterschutz).
- Parental leave calculatorWhen to notify your employer, dismissal protection, how long.
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- Elterngeld for fathersPartner months: how many, when, at the same time or after.
- Single parentsAll 14 months and the bonus for you alone.
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- Twins and multiplesMultiple-birth supplement, maternity leave, Basic at the same time.
- Premature birthUp to 4 extra months of Basic, depending on weeks before the due date.
- Second childSibling bonus with its end date, and skipped months.