Family Size Cost Comparison

Compare estimated 18-year cost of raising 1, 2, or 3 children.

Base annual cost per child in year 1 ($)Years to age 18General inflation / yr (%)2nd child cost multiplier (%, default 80)3rd child cost multiplier (%, default 70)

1 child

$398,045

2 children — total

avg per child $358,241

$716,482

3 children — total

avg per child $331,705

$995,114

Excludes college. Adjust multipliers for your household — shared bedroom, hand-me-down clothes, and after-school-together lower per-child cost.

About this tool

The USDA's most recent estimate puts the cost of raising a child to age 18 at $233,610 (2015, adjusted to 2026 ≈ $310,000) — excluding college. But per-child cost drops significantly with additional siblings due to shared housing, hand-me-downs, and childcare-per-child efficiency. This calculator lets you tune those savings assumptions and see the total-family lifetime cost.

Formula & notes

Base first-child cost per year × 18, then apply diminishing per-child multipliers (default: 2nd child 0.80×, 3rd child 0.70×) to reflect shared resources. Adjustable inputs: annual base cost, education inflation, per-child efficiency percentages. All costs to age 18; college is separate — use the College Savings Target calculator for that.