NDIS Price & Margin Calculator for Providers
Calculate your NDIS maximum claimable amount, SCHADS worker pay, and provider margin. Compare 2025-26 and 2026-27 pricing, weekday/weekend/public holiday rates, and regional loadings. Includes travel and cancellation fees.
Select Support Item
Shift Details
Additional Charges (Optional)
Worker Pay Details (SCHADS Award)
Search and select a support item above to see your calculation
Try searching for "self-care", "therapy", or "nursing"
These are maximum price limits published by the NDIA in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2026-27, not recommended prices. Providers may charge below the limit — the ACCC has warned that telling participants they must pay the maximum may be misleading. SCHADS rates are minimum award wages under MA000100, not advice. Actual pay depends on classification, employment type, and agreements. The on-costs estimate uses 12% superannuation (ATO Super Guarantee) + 3.5% for workers compensation and payroll tax — actual on-costs vary significantly by state, insurer, and business structure (e.g., small providers under the payroll tax threshold pay less). This is general information only — consult the Fair Work Ombudsman, the NDIA pricing page, or a qualified professional for specific guidance. Pricing data as at July 2026.
Key Takeaways
- NDIS price limits are maximum amounts a registered provider can claim — not mandated prices
- The NDIS standard weekday daytime rate for 2026-27 is $73.58/hr (up from $70.23/hr in 2025-26, +4.8%)
- SCHADS Award Level 2.1 casual rate from 1 July 2026 is $45.28/hr (weekday daytime, includes 25% loading)
- Provider margin = NDIS claimable amount minus worker pay (including on-costs like superannuation)
- Remote and very remote areas receive approximately 40% and 50% loadings respectively
- Saturday rates are ~140% of the weekday rate, Sunday ~180%, and public holidays ~220%
- Superannuation is 12% from 1 July 2025 (under the ATO Super Guarantee schedule)
- Providers can claim 100% of the agreed fee for short-notice cancellations under NDIS rules
How to Use This NDIS Price Calculator
This calculator helps NDIS providers estimate the maximum amount they can claim from a participant's plan, compare it against what they'll pay their support worker, and see their potential margin. It's designed for registered NDIS providers, plan managers, and support coordinators who need to understand pricing and worker costs. Here's how to use it:
- Select the pricing year — toggle between 2025-26 (current) and 2026-27 (effective 1 July 2026)
- Search for your NDIS support item — type the support item name or number (e.g., "self-care", "therapy", or "01_011") in the search box and select from the results. You can filter by item type (direct service, travel, cancellation, telehealth, etc.)
- Set the shift details — select the day type (weekday daytime, weekday evening, weekday night, Saturday, Sunday, public holiday), enter the number of hours, and choose your region (standard, remote, or very remote)
- Add optional charges — include provider travel (enter kilometres) and short-notice cancellation fees if applicable
- Enter worker pay details — select the SCHADS classification level (Level 1.1 through Level 6.1) and employment type (permanent or casual). Check the on-costs box to include superannuation, workers compensation, and payroll tax
- Review the results — the calculator shows the NDIS maximum claimable, worker pay (with breakdown), and your provider margin as a dollar amount and percentage
- Share or download — copy a shareable link to send to colleagues, or enter your email to receive a PDF report
The calculator also shows a year-over-year price comparison so you can see how NDIS price limits have changed between 2025-26 and 2026-27 for the selected support item and region.
Understanding NDIS Price Limits
The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL) — previously called the NDIS Price Guide — sets out the maximum prices that registered NDIS providers can charge for supports delivered to participants. These price limits are determined by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) following an annual pricing review, which takes into account the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review and the cost of delivering supports.
Price limits apply differently depending on how a participant's plan is managed:
- Agency-managed (NDIA-managed): Providers must be NDIS-registered and cannot charge more than the price limit. The NDIA pays the provider directly from the participant's plan.
- Plan-managed: A plan manager pays providers on behalf of the participant. Providers cannot charge more than the price limit, but do not need to be NDIS-registered.
- Self-managed: Participants manage their own funding and pay providers directly. Participants can negotiate prices above the price limit with unregistered providers, though this is uncommon.
The ACCC has warned that telling participants they must pay the maximum price limit may be misleading. Providers may charge below the limit, and actual prices should be agreed with participants in service agreements before supports are delivered.
What Are On-Costs and Why Do They Matter?
When calculating your provider margin, it's critical to include on-costs — the additional employment expenses on top of the worker's base pay. Many new providers underestimate these costs and end up with a much smaller margin than expected. The main on-costs are:
- Superannuation guarantee: 12% from 1 July 2025 (for both 2025-26 and 2026-27, per ATO). Paid on top of the worker's base pay for all employees earning more than $450/month.
- Workers compensation insurance: typically 1.5-3% of wages, varies by state and your insurer's risk rating of your business. Disability support is generally classified as a higher-risk industry.
- Payroll tax: varies by state (4.5-6.85% of wages above the threshold). Some smaller providers may be exempt depending on their total wages and state threshold.
- Other costs: training, uniforms, police checks, professional development, and recruitment costs (typically 1-2% of wages)
This calculator includes an optional on-costs estimate (superannuation + 3.5% for workers comp and payroll tax). Actual on-costs vary by state, insurer, and business structure — we recommend consulting an accountant for a precise calculation for your business.
NDIS Pricing 2025-26 vs 2026-27: What Changed
The NDIA released the 2026-27 Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits following the Annual Pricing Review and the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review decision. The 2026 Annual Wage Review awarded a 4.75% increase to all modern award minimum rates, including the SCHADS Award. Here are the key changes for support worker items:
| Support Item | 2025-26 ($/hr) | 2026-27 ($/hr) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard - Weekday Daytime | $70.23 | $73.58 | +$3.35 (+4.8%) |
| Standard - Weekday Evening | $77.37 | $81.07 | +$3.70 (+4.8%) |
| Standard - Weekday Night | $78.79 | $82.57 | +$3.78 (+4.8%) |
| Standard - Saturday | $98.80 | $103.54 | +$4.74 (+4.8%) |
| Standard - Sunday | $127.39 | $133.50 | +$6.11 (+4.8%) |
| Standard - Public Holiday | $155.97 | $163.46 | +$7.49 (+4.8%) |
| High Intensity - Weekday Daytime | $75.95 | $79.60 | +$3.65 (+4.8%) |
| High Intensity - Saturday | $106.87 | $112.01 | +$5.14 (+4.8%) |
| High Intensity - Sunday | $137.83 | $144.42 | +$6.59 (+4.8%) |
| High Intensity - Public Holiday | $168.78 | $176.84 | +$8.06 (+4.8%) |
Source: NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2025-26 and 2026-27, published by the NDIA. Prices shown are national (standard region, MMM 1-5). Remote (MMM 6) and very remote (MMM 7) areas have higher loadings — use the calculator to see prices for your region.
SCHADS vs NDIS: Understanding Your Margin
The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS Award, MA000100) sets the minimum wages for disability support workers in Australia. The NDIS price limits cap what you can charge participants. The difference is your margin — but you need to account for on-costs and overheads to understand your true profitability.
Here's a worked example for a standard weekday daytime shift (2 hours) using a casual Level 2.1 worker in 2026-27, in a standard (non-remote) region:
| Component | Rate | 2-Hour Shift |
|---|---|---|
| NDIS maximum claimable | $73.58/hr | $147.16 |
| Worker base pay (casual L2.1) | $45.28/hr | $90.56 |
| Superannuation (12%) | ~$5.43/hr | $10.87 |
| Other on-costs (WC + payroll tax, ~3.5%) | ~$1.58/hr | $3.17 |
| Total worker cost | ~$52.30/hr | $104.60 |
| Provider margin (before overheads) | ~$21.28/hr | $42.56 (28.9%) |
Note: This is an illustrative example only. Actual margins vary based on worker level, shift type, region, on-costs, and business overheads. The margin must cover coordination, training, insurance, administration, rent, software, and other business costs. Some providers also offer above-award pay to attract and retain quality workers, which reduces margin further.
What Does the Margin Need to Cover?
Your provider margin isn't pure profit. It needs to cover all business overheads, including:
- Coordination and scheduling: rostering staff, managing shifts, handling cancellations
- Recruitment and onboarding: advertising, interviewing, police checks, reference checks, inductions
- Training and professional development: mandatory training (manual handling, first aid, infection control), ongoing CPD
- Insurance: professional indemnity, public liability, workers compensation
- Administration: invoicing, plan management, compliance, NDIS reporting
- Technology and software: rostering systems, CRM, accounting software, NDIS portal access
- Office and equipment: rent, utilities, phones, computers, uniforms
- Compliance and quality: NDIS Commission audits, quality assurance, incident management
- Travel and vehicle costs: if not separately claimed from the participant's plan
After all overheads, a well-run NDIS provider might retain 5-15% as net profit. Understanding your true margin per shift is critical for sustainable pricing and business planning.
Common NDIS Support Items and Their Price Limits (2026-27)
These are the most commonly used NDIS support items for disability support providers, showing the national maximum price limits effective from 1 July 2026. Use the calculator above to see prices for remote and very remote areas, and to calculate your margin:
| Item Number | Support Item Name | National ($/hr) | Remote ($/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01_011_0107_1_1 | Self-Care Standard - Weekday Daytime | $73.58 | $103.01 |
| 01_015_0107_1_1 | Self-Care Standard - Weekday Evening | $81.07 | $113.50 |
| 01_002_0107_1_1 | Self-Care Standard - Weekday Night | $82.57 | $115.60 |
| 01_013_0107_1_1 | Self-Care Standard - Saturday | $103.54 | $144.96 |
| 01_014_0107_1_1 | Self-Care Standard - Sunday | $133.50 | $186.90 |
| 01_012_0107_1_1 | Self-Care Standard - Public Holiday | $163.46 | $228.84 |
| 01_400_0104_1_1 | Self-Care High Intensity - Weekday Daytime | $79.60 | $111.44 |
| 01_402_0104_1_1 | Self-Care High Intensity - Saturday | $112.01 | $156.81 |
| 01_403_0104_1_1 | Self-Care High Intensity - Sunday | $144.42 | $202.19 |
| 01_004_0107_1_1 | Personal Domestic Activities | $61.16 | $85.62 |
| 01_020_0120_1_1 | House Cleaning | $60.10 | $84.14 |
| 01_010_0107_1_1 | Sleepover (per night) | $311.79 | $436.51 |
| 01_606_0114_1_1 | Health Supports by Registered Nurse - Weekday | $128.05 | $179.27 |
| 01_701_0128_1_3 | Therapy - Psychologist | $252.99 | $354.19 |
| 01_661_0128_1_3 | Therapy - Occupational Therapist | $193.99 | $271.59 |
| 01_721_0128_1_3 | Therapy - Physiotherapist | $183.99 | $257.59 |
| 01_665_0128_1_3 | Therapy - Speech Pathologist | $193.99 | $271.59 |
| 01_760_0128_3_3 | Therapy - Dietitian | $178.99 | $250.59 |
Source: NDIS Support Catalogue 2026-27, published by the NDIA. Prices shown are national maximum price limits. Remote (MMM 6) prices shown for reference — very remote (MMM 7) prices are approximately 50% above national. Use the calculator for exact prices for your region.
SCHADS Award Pay Rates 2026-27 (MA000100)
The SCHADS Award sets minimum wages for disability support workers. The following table shows the key classification levels and their hourly rates from 1 July 2026 (following the 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase). Casual rates include the 25% casual loading:
| Level | Permanent ($/hr) | Casual ($/hr) | Saturday (Casual) | Sunday (Casual) | Public Holiday (Casual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1.1 | $27.55 | $34.44 | $48.21 | $61.99 | $75.76 |
| Level 2.1 | $36.22 | $45.28 | $63.39 | $81.50 | $99.61 |
| Level 2.2 | $37.36 | $46.70 | $65.38 | $84.06 | $102.74 |
| Level 2.3 | $38.50 | $48.13 | $67.38 | $86.63 | $105.88 |
| Level 3.1 | $40.49 | $50.61 | $70.86 | $91.10 | $111.35 |
| Level 4.1 | $46.70 | $58.38 | $81.73 | $105.08 | $128.44 |
| Level 5.1 | $53.43 | $66.79 | $93.51 | $120.22 | $146.94 |
| Level 6.1 | $58.37 | $72.96 | $102.14 | $131.33 | $160.51 |
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide for MA000100, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Rates include the Equal Remuneration Order (ERO) component. Saturday rates are 150% of base, Sunday 200%, public holidays 250%. Casual rates include 25% loading in lieu of paid leave. Use the calculator to see all pay points and calculate margins.
Provider Travel and Cancellation Fees Under NDIS
In addition to direct service delivery, NDIS providers can claim for travel and short-notice cancellations under specific rules. This calculator includes optional calculations for both:
Provider Travel
Providers can claim for the time spent travelling to and from a participant's home, subject to rules that vary by support type and region. The main approaches are:
- Provider travel (worker travel): typically claimed at 50% of the direct service rate for the first 60 minutes, then 100% thereafter. Some supports allow per-kilometre claims instead.
- Participant transport: some supports include transport of the participant in the worker's vehicle, claimed per kilometre.
- Remote travel: special rules apply in remote and very remote areas, with higher limits.
To use the travel calculator, check "Include provider travel" and enter the kilometres. The calculator will find the appropriate travel support item for your selected service.
Short-Notice Cancellations
Under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements, providers can claim 100% of the agreed fee for short-notice cancellations:
- For supports of 8 hours or less: if the participant cancels less than 7 clear days before the scheduled support
- For supports of less than 8 hours: if the participant cancels less than 2 clear days before
The cancellation fee is charged from the participant's NDIS plan, not paid out-of-pocket by the participant. Providers should document cancellations and charge the appropriate cancellation support item. Check "Include short-notice cancellation fee" in the calculator to see the cancellation amount.
How This NDIS Calculator Compares to Other Tools
There are several NDIS pricing tools available online. Here's how our calculator compares to the most popular alternatives:
| Feature | MedHireHub | Tendaroo | Vana Care | NDIS Price Guide (daar) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of support items | 770+ | ~200 | ~100 | 770+ |
| Both 2025-26 and 2026-27 pricing | Yes | No | No | No |
| Year-over-year comparison | Yes | No | No | Yes (limited) |
| SCHADS worker pay calculation | Yes (all levels) | Yes | No | No |
| Provider margin calculation | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| On-costs (super, WC, payroll tax) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Provider travel calculation | Yes | No | No | No |
| Cancellation fee calculation | Yes | No | No | No |
| Remote & very remote loadings | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Searchable support items | Yes (type to search) | Dropdown | Dropdown | Search |
| Shareable calculation links | Yes | No | No | No |
| PDF report download | Yes | No | No | No |
| Free, no signup required | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile-optimised | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Comparison based on publicly available features as at July 2026. We've aimed to build the most comprehensive free NDIS pricing tool for providers. If we've missed a feature or made an error, please contact us and we'll fix it.
Steps to Consider When Pricing Your NDIS Services
Setting the right price for your NDIS services involves balancing what you can claim, what you pay your workers, and what covers your business overheads. Here are some steps to consider:
- Check the price limit for the specific support item and day type using the calculator above
- Calculate your total worker cost including base pay, penalties, and on-costs (superannuation, workers comp, payroll tax)
- Factor in overheads such as coordination, training, insurance, administration, and travel time
- Consider your service agreement — prices must be agreed with the participant before delivering support
- Review annually — both NDIS price limits and SCHADS rates change on 1 July each year following the Annual Wage Review
- Consider regional loadings if you operate in remote or very remote areas (MMM 6 or 7)
- Account for cancellations — even with the cancellation policy, last-minute changes affect your roster and costs
- Consider above-award pay — paying above the SCHADS minimum can help attract and retain quality workers, but reduces your margin
This is general information only, not legal or financial advice. Consider consulting a qualified workplace advisor, accountant, or the NDIS Commission for guidance specific to your business.
Who Is This Calculator For?
This NDIS Price & Margin Calculator is designed for:
- Registered NDIS providers who want to understand their pricing and margins across different support types, shift times, and regions
- Plan managers who need to verify provider invoices against NDIS price limits
- Support coordinators who help participants understand what they can expect to pay for supports
- New providers considering entering the NDIS market and wanting to understand the economics
- Existing providers reviewing their pricing strategy for the 2026-27 price changes
- Disability support workers who want to understand their award entitlements and how they relate to NDIS pricing
- Participants and families who want to understand what providers can charge and why