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EI Calculator 2026: Estimate Your Weekly EI and Weeks

Enter your earnings, insurable hours and your region's unemployment rate to estimate your weekly EI regular benefit (55%, up to $729 in 2026) and how many weeks you could get, using Service Canada's published tables.

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This tool needs JavaScript. The full answers are written out below.

The formula, written out

  1. Average your insurable earnings over your best weeks (14 to 22, depending on your region).
  2. Multiply by 55%. The maximum is $729 a week in 2026.
  3. Your weeks (14 to 45) come from Service Canada's table of hours worked and regional unemployment rate.

Hours needed to qualify

Regional unemployment rateInsurable hours needed
6% and under700
6.1% to 7%665
7.1% to 8%630
8.1% to 9%595
9.1% to 10%560
10.1% to 11%525
11.1% to 12%490
12.1% to 13%455
More than 13%420

Hours worked in the last 52 weeks, or since your last claim started, whichever is shorter. More hours are needed if you received a notice of violation on an earlier claim.

Related

Employment Insurance (EI) 2026: Who Qualifies and How Much Employment Insurance pays up to 55% of your average insurable earnings, to a maximum of $729 a week in 2026, if you lose your job through no fault of your own or can't work because of illness, a new child or caring for someone. Most people need 420 to 700 insured work hours. How Much EI Will I Get? The 2026 EI Calculation Explained EI regular benefits pay 55% of your average weekly insurable earnings over your best 14 to 22 weeks, up to $729 a week in 2026. You get 14 to 45 weeks, depending on your hours and the local unemployment rate. Low-income families with children may get the family supplement, up to 80%. EI Eligibility: How Many Hours You Need to Qualify (2026) To qualify for EI regular benefits you need between 420 and 700 hours of insurable work in the last 52 weeks, depending on the unemployment rate where you live. You must have lost your job through no fault of your own, been without work and pay for 7 days, and be ready and looking for work.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the official EI estimator?

No. It is an independent estimate using Service Canada's published rules. Your exact amount is decided when your claim is processed.

Where do I find my region's unemployment rate?

Use Service Canada's EI economic region lookup by postal code, linked from this page.

Is my information sent anywhere?

No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing is stored or sent.

Sources

North Help Desk is an independent guide, not a government website. Rules, amounts and phone hours can change; always confirm on the official page before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.