How Much Do Home Daycare Providers Make?
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Read this guidePart-Time Daycare Rates: How to Price Part-Time Spots
Part-time spots are hard to price. A child who comes three days a week still takes a full spot, so part-time rates need more thought than a simple slice of the full-time price.
Why part-time care costs more per day
A part-time child uses a licensed spot, the same as a full-time child. If a toddler comes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you usually cannot sell Tuesday and Thursday to another family who needs the exact opposite days. So the spot earns less, while your costs to hold it stay close to the same.
That is why smart providers charge part-time families a higher daily rate than the daily cost of full-time care. It is not a penalty. It is honest math. Parents get flexibility, and flexibility has a price because it limits how you can fill the rest of the week.
Good to know: Price the spot, not just the hours. A part-time spot is hard to pair with another child.
A simple way to price part-time days
Start with your full-time weekly rate. Divide it by your full-time days to find your full-time daily rate. Then add a premium of about 10 to 25 percent for part-time days, depending on how hard the schedule is to fill around.
For example, say full-time care is $250 a week for five days, or $50 a day. A three-day spot might cost $55 to $62 per day, or about $165 to $186 a week. The family pays less than full time, which is fair. You earn more per day than a full-time day pays, which covers the empty days you may not fill.
- Find your full-time daily rate
- Add a 10 to 25 percent part-time premium
- Set a minimum number of days per week, often two or three
- Charge for the booked days, even if the child is absent
Daily rates vs hourly rates
Most providers price part-time care by the day or by the week, not by the hour. Daily pricing is simple and steady. Parents book set days, and they pay for those days whether the child attends or not. That steadiness protects your income.
Hourly pricing fits drop-in care or very short schedules, like a few mornings a week. If you offer hourly care, set a minimum number of hours per booking and a clear end time. Without a minimum, a two-hour booking can block a spot that a full-day family wanted.
Schedules that work, and schedules that hurt
Set part-time schedules you can actually pair. Monday, Wednesday, Friday pairs with Tuesday and Thursday. Fixed days are far easier to fill than rotating days that change every week. Many providers only offer part-time spots on set day pairs for this reason.
Also think about your group. A part-time preschooler who joins set days blends in well. Rotating infant spots are much harder, because babies need steady routines and infant spots are few. It is fine to offer part-time only for some ages.
Put part-time rules in writing
Your contract should state the booked days, the rate, and the absence rule. Make clear that booked days cannot be swapped for other days without your approval, and that extra days, if you allow them, cost the daily rate and depend on space.
Also state what happens if a full-time family wants the spot. Many providers give part-time families first chance to move to full time before offering the spot to someone else. Written rules keep these talks fair and calm.
Try it free: use our Sibling Discount Calculator — it does this math for you in about a minute, right in your browser.
Common questions
Should part-time daycare cost half of full-time for half the days?
Usually no. A child who attends half the days still holds a full licensed spot that is hard to fill on the other days. Most providers charge a daily rate that is 10 to 25 percent higher than the full-time daily rate.
What is a good minimum for part-time enrollment?
Many providers require at least two or three set days per week. One day a week is hard to schedule around and hard for a child to settle into. Set days, like Tuesday and Thursday, also pair better with other part-time families.
Can part-time families switch days when they need to?
Only if your contract allows it and you have space. Most providers do not allow day swaps, because swaps break the pairing that makes part-time work. Extra days can be offered at the daily rate when a spot is open.
Keep reading
Average Home Daycare Rates: What Providers Charge in 2026
See typical home daycare rates by age group, learn why prices differ so much by state, and find out how to check the going rate in your own area.
Read this guideDaycare Late Fees and Late Pickup Charges: How Much to Charge
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Read this guideDisclaimer: HomeDaycareTools.com provides free calculators and general information for planning purposes only. Nothing on this site is tax, legal or financial advice. Tax rules, CACFP rates and licensing rules change — confirm your figures with IRS Publication 587, your CACFP sponsoring organization, your state licensing agency, or a qualified tax professional before filing or signing anything.