Child Support Calculator
Monthly child support estimates that follow your state's formula and parenting time rules.
How child support is set
Child support is money paid by one parent to the other to cover a child's everyday needs after separation, including housing, food, clothing, school costs, and a share of medical care. It belongs to the child, not the parent who receives it, and courts treat it as a priority. Nationally, the typical order works out to about $485 a month, or roughly $5,820 a year, but your state's rules and your own numbers can move that figure a long way in either direction.
Every state uses guidelines, and almost all of them follow one of three models. The Income Shares Model, used by most states, combines both parents' incomes and splits the support obligation in proportion to what each earns. The Percentage of Income Model bases the amount on the paying parent's income alone. The Melson Formula, used by a few states, first sets aside a basic self-support amount for each parent, then divides what is left. On top of the model, the numbers that matter most are each parent's income, the number of children, parenting time, and credits for health insurance and childcare.
This calculator applies your state's model to your inputs and gives an estimate, not a court order. The actual figure can shift once a judge reviews the details, and either parent can ask for a different amount in unusual situations. Choose your state to see which model it uses and what it means for your monthly number, then confirm the result with a family law attorney.
Tell us the basics
Use your gross (before-tax) monthly income. If you are paid annually, divide by 12.
Use their gross (before-tax) monthly income. If they are paid annually, divide by 12.
This estimate is for planning purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a licensed family law attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Child Support Calculator by State
Divorce laws, fees, and formulas change at every state line, so the same situation can cost very different amounts depending on where you file. Choose your state for an estimate built on its own rules.
Child Support - Frequently Asked Questions
How is child support calculated?
Your state applies a guideline formula built on one of three models. Most states use the Income Shares Model, which combines both parents' incomes and divides the obligation by each parent's share. Some use the Percentage of Income Model, based on the paying parent's income alone. A few use the Melson Formula, which reserves a self-support amount first. The formula then factors in the number of children, parenting time, and credits for health insurance and childcare.
What is the average child support payment?
Nationally, the typical child support order is about $485 per month, which comes to roughly $5,820 per year. That is only an average. Your amount depends on both parents' incomes, the number of children, the parenting schedule, and your state's specific guideline, so it can land well above or below that figure.
What income counts toward child support?
Most states start with gross income from nearly every source: wages, salary, tips, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, and often things like rental income, investment income, and certain benefits. Courts can also impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. Some states cap the combined income used in the formula, with judicial discretion above the cap.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support?
Not usually. Even with equal parenting time, support often still applies when one parent earns more than the other, because the goal is a consistent standard of living for the child in both homes. Shared custody does typically reduce the amount, since each parent covers more direct costs during their time. The size of that reduction depends on your state's formula.
How long does child support last?
In most states, support continues until the child turns 18 or finishes high school, whichever comes later. It can run longer when a child has a disability that prevents self-support, and some states let parents agree to extend it for college costs. Support for one child usually ends on that child's own timeline, even when younger siblings are still covered.
Can a child support order be changed?
Yes. Either parent can request a modification after a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant shift in income, a job loss, a change in the custody schedule, or a meaningful change in the child's needs. Many states require the recalculated amount to differ from the current order by a set percentage before they will change it.
This estimate is for planning purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a licensed family law attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.