The Canada Education Savings Grant: how much you get and the $7,200 limit
Quick summary
The Canada Education Savings Grant adds 20% to the first $2,500 you put in an RESP each year, which is up to $500 a year, with a $7,200 lifetime limit for each child. Lower income families can get an extra grant. Grants are available on contributions up to the end of the year the child turns 17. See how an RESP grows in our RESP growth calculator.
Checked November 4, 2026. Main source: CRA: Canada Education Savings Grant (modified Oct. 29, 2026). See all 1 source.
Key facts
- Basic grant
- 20% of the first $2,500 put in each year, up to $500
- Source: CRA, modified Oct. 29, 2026
- With unused room
- The yearly maximum can rise to $1,000
- Source: CRA, modified Oct. 29, 2026
- Lifetime limit
- $7,200 per beneficiary
- Source: CRA, modified Oct. 29, 2026
- Extra grant, income under $58,523
- Extra 20% on the first $500, yearly maximum $600
- Source: CRA, modified Oct. 29, 2026
- Last year for grants
- The calendar year the child turns 17
- Source: CRA, modified Oct. 29, 2026
The basic grant
The CRA says the grant is 20% of your yearly RESP contributions, applied to the first $2,500, for a maximum of $500 per child each year. If there is unused grant room from earlier years, the yearly maximum can rise to $1,000. The lifetime limit is $7,200.
How much do you need to put in? Worked examples
| What you do | Grant you get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Put in $2,500 in a year | $500 | 20% of the first $2,500 |
| Put in $1,000 in a year | $200 | 20% of $1,000 |
| Put in $5,000 in a year with $500 of unused room from an earlier year | Up to $1,000 | The yearly maximum can rise to $1,000 |
| Reach the $7,200 lifetime limit | $7,200 | At 20%, that takes $36,000 of contributions. At $2,500 a year it takes 15 years, and the last grant is smaller |
This is our arithmetic from the CRA's rates and limits, to show the idea. It is not a forecast. Check the grant room for your child with your RESP provider.
The extra grant for lower incomes (2026 limits)
| Adjusted family net income | Extra grant | Yearly maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Below $58,523 | Extra 20% on the first $500 ($100) | $600 |
| $59,523 to $114,750 | Extra 10% on the first $500 ($50) | $550 |
| Above $117,045 | None | $500 |
The CRA's ranges leave small gaps, between $58,523 and $59,523 and between $114,750 and $117,045. The page does not say which amount applies there, so check with your RESP provider.
Unused room and age rules
- Each Canadian resident child under 18 builds up unused grant room: $400 a year for 1998 to 2006 and $500 a year from 2007.
- Unused room can be carried forward, if the rules for 16 and 17 year olds are met.
- For a 16 or 17 year old, you need at least $2,000 put in and not withdrawn before the end of the year they turned 15, or at least $100 in each of four years before then.
If the child does not study
The CRA says if the child does not go to post-secondary school, the grant is returned to the government.
What we could not confirm
- How the grant works for withdrawals. The page we read only says it can be paid out as educational assistance payments.
- Provincial education savings grants. This page is about the federal grant.
Questions people ask
How much is the Canada Education Savings Grant?
20% of the first $2,500 put in each year, up to $500 a year, with a $7,200 lifetime limit per child, says the CRA.
Can I get more than $500 in one year?
Yes, if there is unused grant room from earlier years, the yearly maximum can rise to $1,000. Lower income families can also get an extra grant.
How much do I need to put in to get the full $500?
$2,500 in the year. The grant is 20% of the first $2,500 you put in, so $2,500 earns $500.
How much do I need to put in to reach the $7,200 limit?
At 20%, $36,000 of contributions earns $7,200. That is our math from the CRA's rate and limit.
What happens to the grant if my child does not go to school?
The CRA says the grant is returned to the government if the child does not go to post-secondary school.
Until what age can I get the grant?
On contributions made up to the end of the calendar year the child turns 17, with extra rules for 16 and 17 year olds.