Estimate child support payments by state. Covers all 50 states with step-by-step formulas, custody adjustments, and payment projections.
Estimate Only — Not Legal Advice
This calculator provides estimates based on simplified state guidelines. Actual child support orders are determined by courts and may differ. Consult a family law attorney for legal advice.
Percentage of net resources; cap at $9,200/month net (2024)
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Child support is calculated using state-specific guidelines that consider parental income, number of children, custody arrangement, and additional expenses like health insurance and childcare. Most states use one of three models: Income Shares (41 states), Percentage of Income (6 states), or the Melson Formula (3 states). Our calculator applies the correct model based on your selected state and provides an instant estimate of monthly child support obligations.
Child support is a court-ordered payment from one parent to another to help cover the costs of raising a child after separation or divorce, including housing, food, clothing, education, healthcare, transportation, and extracurricular activities. The amount is determined by state guidelines and considers each parent's income, the number of children, custody arrangements, healthcare costs, and childcare expenses. Support typically continues until the child turns 18 (or 19 in some states) or graduates from high school.
Basic Formula
Monthly Support = Gross Income × State Percentage (by number of children)Every state has different child support guidelines. This calculator applies the correct formula for your state, whether it uses the Income Shares, Percentage of Income, or Melson model.
Know your estimated monthly obligation before going to court so you can budget accordingly and plan for your family's future financial needs.
See how income, number of children, custody type, health insurance, and childcare costs affect your support amount with step-by-step calculations.
See how shared vs. sole custody, varying income levels, and different numbers of children affect your estimated payment to understand the range of possible outcomes.
Go into custody negotiations and mediation sessions informed with realistic child support estimates based on your state's actual guidelines.
Recalculate your estimated obligation whenever income changes, children age out, or custody arrangements are modified to stay financially prepared.
Estimate your child support obligation during divorce proceedings to budget for post-divorce finances and negotiate settlements.
Understand how changing from sole to shared custody might affect your support payments when petitioning the court for modification.
Estimate how a job change, raise, or income reduction could affect your child support obligation before requesting a modification.
Prepare realistic expectations for mediation sessions by calculating estimated support amounts under different custody and income scenarios.
Plan long-term budgets by projecting total child support costs over the remaining years until your children turn 18.
At $52,000/year (~$4,333/month), estimated monthly child support is approximately $867 for one child under the Percentage of Income model (20% of gross in Texas-model states). For two children, the estimate rises to about $1,083 (25%). Income Shares states may vary based on both parents' incomes. Actual amounts depend on your state's formula, number of children, and custody arrangement.
Under the Percentage of Income model: approximately $1,000/month for 1 child (20%), $1,250 for 2 children (25%), and $1,500 for 3 children (30%). Income Shares states factor in both parents' earnings — your share could be lower if the other parent earns more. Use our calculator with your state selected for a more accurate estimate.
For the receiving parent: Child support is NOT counted as taxable income by the IRS. For the paying parent: payments are NOT tax-deductible. This is different from alimony or spousal support, which may have different tax implications depending on when the divorce was finalized.
Most states (41) use the Income Shares model: combine both parents' incomes, look up the basic support obligation in a state table, then divide proportionally based on each parent's income share. Six states (including Texas and Wisconsin) use a flat Percentage of Income from the non-custodial parent. Three states use the Melson Formula, which adds self-support reserves and standard-of-living adjustments.
Child support covers basic necessities including housing, food, clothing, education expenses, healthcare, transportation, and extracurricular activities. It is meant to maintain the child's standard of living from before the separation. Courts may order additional amounts for extraordinary expenses like private school or special medical needs.
Under the Percentage of Income model: approximately $1,667/month for 1 child, $2,083 for 2 children, and $2,500 for 3 children. High-income earners may face caps in some states — for example, Texas caps the calculation at $9,200/month net resources. Income Shares states use sliding-scale tables where the percentage decreases at higher income levels.
Paying child support alone does not give you the right to claim your child as a dependent. Tax dependency is typically based on custody time — the custodial parent (who has the child more than half the year) usually claims the child. However, the custodial parent can release the claim by signing IRS Form 8332, allowing the non-custodial parent to claim the child.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average child support payment is approximately $5,760 per year (~$480/month). However, amounts vary dramatically by state, income level, number of children, and custody arrangement. Higher-income parents in states like California or New York typically pay significantly more than the national average.