Brexit Cost Calculator (UK)
Calculate the total economic cost of Brexit since the 2016 referendum including lost GDP growth, divorce bill, and government spending. See what the money could have bought.
About This Calculator
The Brexit Cost Calculator estimates the total economic impact of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union following the June 23, 2016 referendum. It combines lost GDP growth with direct costs to give you a comprehensive picture of the financial consequences of Brexit, updated to the present day.
The calculation uses the annual lost GDP estimate of £70 billion per year (based on Bloomberg Economics post-2020 projections) multiplied by the number of years since the referendum, plus direct costs including the EU divorce bill (£39 billion), government spending on Brexit preparations (£6.3 billion), referendum administration costs (£129 million), and additional election costs (£297 million). The result shows both the total cost and what that money could alternatively have been spent on, from building hospitals and schools to hiring nurses and planting trees.
Regional context
This calculator focuses on the United Kingdom, where the Brexit referendum and subsequent withdrawal from the European Union occurred. All figures are presented in pounds sterling (GBP). The economic costs cited draw from analysis by the Centre for European Reform, Bloomberg Economics, and UK government spending reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the total cost of Brexit calculated?
The total cost is calculated by multiplying the estimated annual lost GDP growth (default £70 billion per year post-2020) by the number of years since the June 2016 referendum, plus direct costs including the EU divorce bill (£39 billion), government spending on Brexit preparation (£6.3 billion), referendum cost (£129 million), and election costs (£297 million).
What is the £70 billion annual cost based on?
The £70 billion annual cost is based on Bloomberg Economics estimates of lost UK GDP growth post-2020 due to Brexit uncertainty and trade barriers. Before 2020, the Centre for European Reform estimated losses of £440 million per week. These figures represent unrealised economic output, not direct government spending.
What does the EU divorce bill refer to?
The EU divorce bill (officially the financial settlement) is the UK's payment to cover its share of EU budget commitments and liabilities made while it was a member state. The agreed amount was approximately £39 billion, covering outstanding EU budget obligations, pensions, and contingent liabilities.
How much has the UK government spent on Brexit preparations?
The UK government spent approximately £6.3 billion on Brexit preparations as of August 2019, covering staffing, IT systems, border infrastructure, contingency planning, and public information campaigns. This figure has increased since then with ongoing customs and regulatory alignment costs.
Can I adjust the annual cost estimate?
Yes, you can enter any annual cost estimate in billions of pounds to run your own scenario. The default of £70 billion reflects post-2020 estimates, but economists have proposed figures ranging from £30 billion to over £100 billion depending on the modelling assumptions and trade deal outcomes.
Is the Brexit cost calculator free to use?
Yes, the Brexit Cost Calculator is completely free to use with no registration required. Your inputs are saved in the URL so you can share your calculation with others instantly.
How does the cost compare to UK public services spending?
The cost of Brexit is substantial compared to public service budgets. For example, the NHS annual budget is roughly £190 billion, so even one year of Brexit costs represents over a third of NHS spending. Our calculator shows equivalents like how many hospitals could be built or nurses employed for this money.