Updated for 2026 guidelines
Child Support Calculator & 2026 State Guidelines
Estimate child support with your state 2026 formula. Every number links to an official source, and every page shows the date we last checked it.
Reviewed by SupportDecode Editorial Team Page content reviewed Sources Methodology Update log
Estimate your child support
Texas guidelines are shown here. 51 states now have their own calculators: choose yours from the map and table below for state-specific math, sources, and worked examples.
Estimated monthly child support: $839.83
The paying parent pays this amount to the receiving parent each month.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly net resources (Sec. 154.062)Tex. Fam. Code ch. 154 (Child Support Guidelines; incl. 154.061, 154.062, 154.125, 154.126, 154.128-129) (Texas Legislature) | $4,199.17 |
| Guideline percentage (Sec. 154.125(b))1 child: 20% of net resourcesTex. Fam. Code ch. 154 (Child Support Guidelines; incl. 154.061, 154.062, 154.125, 154.126, 154.128-129) (Texas Legislature) | 20% of net resources |
| Presumptive monthly child supportTex. Fam. Code ch. 154 (Child Support Guidelines; incl. 154.061, 154.062, 154.125, 154.126, 154.128-129) (Texas Legislature) | $839.83 |
Assumptions
- Guideline amount only; medical and dental support are ordered in addition (Sec. 154.064) and are not included.
- Texas has no formulaic parenting-time (overnight) adjustment and no childcare add-on; deviations are discretionary under Sec. 154.123.
- Gross-to-net conversion uses the 2026 OAG employed-persons tax chart parameters: OASDI 6.2%, Medicare 1.45%, federal income tax for a single person with the standard deduction. OASDI stops at the 2026 wage base of $184,500 a year, as the official chart does.
Continue with this income in the PayDecode take-home calculator
PayDecode is a separate site. The link may not carry your numbers over; if its form opens blank, enter the income there again.
Estimate only. The court or state agency calculation controls.
Texas guidelines, effective 2026-01-01.
How states calculate child support
Every state has a written formula, called a guideline. Courts start from the guideline number. They can move away from it, but they have to explain why.
States use one of three basic models. Across the 51 jurisdictions (50 states and DC), 39 use income shares, 7 use a percentage of income, and 3 use the Melson formula. California follows its own statewide formula, and the District of Columbia uses a hybrid of two approaches.
Income shares states add both parents’ incomes together. They look up the amount the guideline says the children need. Then they split that amount between the parents in proportion to income.
Percentage of income states apply a set percentage to the paying parent’s income. The percentage usually rises with the number of children. Some of these states look at net income, others at gross.
Melson formula states set aside a basic living amount for each parent first. Support comes out of what is left. Only a few states use this model.
Federal law requires every state to review its guideline at least once every four years. That is why numbers on this site carry effective dates and review dates.
Child support rules by state
Switch between formula models and verification evidence, then select any state to see its rule summary, test evidence, and calculator. Every state remains available as a normal text link in the comparison table below the map.
Prefer the underlying data? Download the verification evidence as CSV. It is generated from the same registry that colors the map.
Why the calculator starts with your state
Child support guidelines are set at the state or District of Columbia level. A city or county can change where you file, which office keeps the payment ledger, and which local forms you use, but it does not create a separate city guideline formula. Start with the state connected to the order or case, then confirm local procedure with the court or child support agency.
Formula model
Compare income-shares, percentage-of-income, Melson, California's statewide formula, and the District of Columbia hybrid.
Compare all 51 jurisdictions →Verification evidence
See which test scenarios reproduce official calculators or published examples, and which ones still need an explicit official cross-check.
Open verification details →Rules beyond the base amount
Parenting-time adjustments, high-income treatment, and arrears interest vary by state even when two states use the same headline model.
2026 child support rules and verification by state
The example column applies one standardized scenario to each state formula:2 children, one parent earning$60,000.00 and $40,000.00 a year gross, and 50/50 custody.
| State | 2026 model | Standardized example (monthly) | Verification evidence | State page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Alaska | Percentage of income | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Arizona | Income shares | See state page | 6/10 match official calculators within the published verification tolerance1 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Arkansas | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| California | Guideline formula | See state pageCalifornia Fam. Code 4055 runs on net monthly disposable incomes (Fam. Code 4059); the data pack defines no gross-to-net conversion, so no honest estimate can be made from the scenario gross incomes. | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Colorado | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Connecticut | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Delaware | Melson formula | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| District of Columbia | Hybrid | See state page | 9/10 match official calculators within the published verification tolerance | Details |
| Florida | Income shares | See state pageFlorida guidelines run on statutory NET incomes (Fla. Stat. 61.30(3)-(5)); the data pack defines no gross-to-net conversion, so no honest estimate can be made from the scenario gross incomes. | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Georgia | Income shares | See state pageEngine declined to estimate: payerCourtOrderedDays must be between 0 and 182.5 | Source-derived scenarios9 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Hawaii | Melson formula | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Idaho | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Illinois | Income shares | $279.67 | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Indiana | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Iowa | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Kansas | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Kentucky | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Louisiana | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Maine | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Maryland | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Massachusetts | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Michigan | Income shares | See state pageThe 2025 Michigan Child Support Formula runs on NET incomes (MCSF ch. 2); the data pack defines no gross-to-net conversion, so no honest estimate can be made from the scenario gross incomes. | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Minnesota | Income shares | See state page | 8/10 match official calculators within the published verification tolerance2 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Mississippi | Percentage of income | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Missouri | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Montana | Melson formula | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Nebraska | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Nevada | Percentage of income | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| New Hampshire | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| New Jersey | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| New Mexico | Income shares | See state page | 9/10 match official calculators within the published verification tolerance | Details |
| New York | Percentage of income | $1,154.38 | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| North Carolina | Income shares | $260.38 | 10/10 match official calculators within the published verification tolerance | Details |
| North Dakota | Percentage of income | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Ohio | Income shares | $886.28 | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Oklahoma | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Oregon | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Pennsylvania | Income shares | See state pagePennsylvania guidelines run on monthly NET incomes (Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-2); the data pack defines no gross-to-net conversion, so no honest estimate can be made from the scenario gross incomes. | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Rhode Island | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| South Carolina | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| South Dakota | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Tennessee | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Texas | Percentage of income | $1,049.79 | 7/10 match official calculators within the published verification tolerance3 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Utah | Income shares | See state page | 9/10 match official calculators within the published verification tolerance1 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Vermont | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Virginia | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| Washington | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios10 still explicitly need an official cross-check | Details |
| West Virginia | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Wisconsin | Percentage of income | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
| Wyoming | Income shares | See state page | Source-derived scenarios | Details |
Model classifications for all 50 states and DC were reviewed against official sources. Detailed, source-backed calculator pages are available for all 51 jurisdictions. Where the example column says "See state page", that state formula needs inputs the standardized scenario does not define, so we do not guess a number. Each state page states its own verification status and limitations.
Deep-dive guides
The Texas $11,700 cap
Texas guideline percentages stop at the first $11,700 of monthly net resources, a cap that took effect September 1, 2025. See what that means for higher earners.
50/50 custody in Texas
Equal parenting time does not automatically change guideline support in Texas. The Texas FAQ explains what the statute says and what judges can adjust.
Guides for more states are added as each state research pack passes review.
How to use this estimate
This tool applies your state’s published guideline formula to the numbers you enter. It is a starting point, not a court order. Judges can adjust the guideline amount for reasons the formula does not capture.
Your inputs stay in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored by us.
For state detail, open your state’s page. Each one explains the formula in plain English, shows a worked example, and links the official statute and the official state calculator where one exists.
What this estimate includes
- Your state’s current guideline percentages or tables
- State caps and low-income rules where they apply
- Effective dates for every figure used
What it leaves out
- Judge discretion and case-specific deviations
- Retroactive support and past-due balances
- Fees, interest, and enforcement actions
Official sources
Official sources last verified: .
- 45 CFR 302.56 (state guideline requirements; quadrennial review)
HHS OCSS / eCFR Last checked
- 15 U.S.C. 1673 (CCPA garnishment limits: 50/55/60/65% for support)
U.S. Congress (text via Cornell LII mirror) Last checked
- DOL WHD Fact Sheet #30 (CCPA garnishment; rev. Dec. 2024)
U.S. Dept. of Labor WHD Last checked
- NCSL, Interest on Child Support Arrears (51-jurisdiction table)
NCSL (non-governmental) Last checked
Child support FAQs
How accurate is this calculator?
It follows each state’s published guideline formula and we test it against official worksheets and calculators. It is still an estimate. The court or state agency calculation controls, and judges can order a different amount than the guideline.
Which parent pays child support?
It depends on your state’s model and your custody arrangement. In many states the parent with less parenting time pays the other parent. In income shares states, both incomes shape the number. Your state page explains how your state decides.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support?
Not automatically. Many states still order support in equal-time arrangements when one parent earns more. Some states have a specific offset formula for shared custody, and others leave it to the judge. Check your state page for the exact rule.
What income counts for child support?
Most states count wages, salaries, self-employment income, bonuses, and many benefits. States differ on items like overtime, gifts, and new-spouse income. Each state page lists what that state’s statute includes and excludes.
How often do child support guidelines change?
Federal rules require each state to review its guideline at least once every four years. Caps, tables, and percentages also change between reviews. We record the effective date for every figure and note when we last verified it.
Can child support be taken straight from a paycheck?
Yes. Income withholding is the standard collection method. Federal law caps withholding at 50 to 65 percent of disposable earnings depending on your situation, and some states set lower caps. Our garnishment tool covers the limits.
Does unpaid child support grow with interest?
In many states, yes. Rates and compounding rules differ widely by state, and some states charge no interest at all. Our arrears tool applies your state’s rate and cites the statute behind it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This site provides estimates and citations to official sources. It does not give legal advice, and using it does not create an attorney-client relationship. A family law attorney or your state’s child support agency can advise on your specific case.
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