A quick income-shares estimate of monthly child support from both parents' incomes, the number of children, and parenting time — with a link to your state's official calculator to confirm.
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Read this first. Child support is set by each state's own legally binding formula — this tool only gives a simplified ballpark to orient you. Your state's official calculator (linked with your result below) and the court are the real authority. Don't make decisions on this estimate alone.
This estimate combines both incomes, applies a simplified share of income that families typically spend on children (about 17% for one child up to roughly 31% for three or more), splits that obligation by each parent's income share, and adjusts for parenting time. Real state formulas add health insurance, childcare, tax effects, and parenting-time thresholds that this does not. Verify with your state's calculator and an attorney.
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How child support is calculated
Most states use an income-shares model. The idea: a child should receive roughly the same proportion of parental income they'd have gotten if the family stayed together. The state combines both parents' incomes, looks up the expected spending on children at that income level in its official schedule, and then divides that obligation between the parents in proportion to their incomes. The parent with fewer overnights generally pays their share to the parent with more.
A few states (such as Texas and Wisconsin) instead use a percentage-of-income model that looks mainly at the paying parent's income and the number of children. Either way, the final number is adjusted for things like health-insurance premiums, childcare costs, and how parenting time is divided — which is why your state's official worksheet is the one that counts.
Use the estimate above to get oriented, then open your state's official calculator to confirm. For the property side of your divorce, see the asset division calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is child support calculated?
Most states use an income-shares model: combine both parents' incomes, estimate what the family would spend on the children, then divide that between the parents in proportion to income. The parent with less parenting time usually pays their share to the other. A few states use a percentage-of-income model based on the paying parent's income alone.
Why does my state's calculator give a different number?
This tool is a simplified ballpark. Your state's official calculator uses its own legally defined schedule, income definitions, and adjustments for health insurance, childcare, other children, and parenting-time thresholds. Treat the state calculator or court worksheet as authoritative.
Does custody or parenting time change support?
Yes. In most states the share of overnights affects the amount — more shared time generally lowers what the higher earner pays, though many states only adjust past a threshold (often 30–40% of overnights). This estimator scales by the paying parent's share of time as a rough approximation.
Is child support taxable?
No. Under federal law child support isn't deductible for the parent who pays it and isn't taxable income for the parent who receives it. That's different from alimony.