Guide
Preschool vs daycare: what is the difference?
Ages and hours
A daycare is built around a parent's workday. The typical licensed daycare opens at 7:00 AM and closes at 6:00 PM, and many take babies from about 6 weeks old. A preschool is built around a learning day for 3 to 5 year olds. Many run mornings only, or two to five days a week, and follow the school calendar.
Of the daycares that post a preschool-age rate on their website, 48.1% also post a part-time or half-day option (3,852 daycares). If you need full-day care, ask for the full-day schedule and price, not the morning program.
Most daycares run a preschool room
You often do not have to choose. In the state license records we hold, 83.3% of daycares licensed for preschool-age children also serve infants or toddlers. On the websites we read, 74.9% of daycares that describe a preschool program also describe infant or toddler care, and 26.7% describe part-time care.
What changes is the room. A good daycare preschool room has a daily plan for early reading, numbers, art, music and play, much like a stand-alone preschool, plus longer hours. Ask to see the plan for a typical week.
Cost
Care for a preschooler costs less than care for a baby, because states allow more children per adult. In the 2022 federal county survey, a full-time week at a center cost a median of $144 for a preschooler and $174 for an infant. Daycares that post rates in 2026 ask a median of $230 a week for a preschooler and $315 for an infant, $85 less.
A part-day preschool costs less again, but it may not cover your working hours. Add the cost of care for the rest of the day before you compare.
| Age | 2022 county survey, center | 2026 posted rates |
|---|---|---|
| Infant | $174 | $315 |
| Toddler | $153 | $280 |
| Preschool | $144 | $230 |
Median weekly price, full-time care.
Licensing
Daycares are licensed by the state child care agency. Part-day preschools, especially those run by schools or churches, are exempt from child care licensing in some states. If a preschool is not on the state's license list, ask who oversees it and how often anyone inspects it.
Checklist
How to choose
- Your hours. If you work full days, a daycare with a preschool room or a full-day preschool saves a second pickup.
- Your child's age. Under 3, you need daycare. From 3, compare a daycare preschool room with a stand-alone preschool.
- The daily plan. Ask to see a week's plan for the preschool room and how much time is free play, group time and outdoors.
- Calendar. Ask whether the program closes for school holidays and summer.
- Full price. Compare the full-day price, including meals and any after-care.
- License and record. Check the license and read the inspection visits on the daycare's page.
Next step
Next steps
FAQ
Questions
What age is preschool?
Preschool is usually for children about 3 to 5 years old, the years before kindergarten. Many daycares move children into a preschool room at about 3.
Is preschool cheaper than daycare?
Usually, because it is often part-day and for older children. A full-time week of center care cost a median of $144 for a preschooler against $174 for an infant in the 2022 county survey.
Can my child go to preschool at a daycare?
Yes. 83.3% of daycares licensed for preschool-age children also serve infants or toddlers, and most run a preschool room for children from about 3.
Is preschool the same as pre-K?
Not quite. Pre-K is the year just before kindergarten, usually for 4-year-olds, and many states fund it. Preschool covers ages 3 to 5.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices (2022); state child care license records; daycare websites read in 2026.