Child support calculator by state
Each state sets child support with its own formula. Pick your state to see an estimate built from that state's law, with every step shown.
What these calculators do
Every state has a child support guideline: a formula in its law that turns the parents' incomes, the number of children and, in many states, parenting time into a monthly amount. Courts and state agencies start from that formula.
Our calculators follow each state's formula step by step, from its statute and its official schedule or tax tables, and show each step so you can check it against the source. How we calculate explains the details for each state.
| From the state's own law | Each page cites the statute, schedule and effective date it uses. |
|---|---|
| Tested | Each calculator is tested against the state's own worked examples where the state publishes them. |
| Private | Your numbers stay in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us. |
| An estimate | The court or the state agency sets the actual amount, and every state allows it to differ from the guideline in some cases. |
| Not legal advice | For your case, contact your state child support agency or a lawyer licensed in your state. |
Questions people ask
Is the calculator's result what the court will order?
Not necessarily. The result is what the state's guideline formula gives for the numbers you enter. The court or the state child support agency decides the actual amount. It may count income, expenses or parenting time differently, and every state lets it order a different amount when following the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case.
Why does each state need its own calculator?
Because each state writes its own guideline. Most use an "income shares" schedule that splits a table amount between the parents by income; some take a percentage of the paying parent's income; a few use other formulas. Even states that use the same model have different tables, income definitions and rules for shared parenting time.
What information do I need?
Usually each parent's income, the number of children the order is for and, in many states, how many overnights the children spend with each parent in a year. Some states also add child care and health insurance costs. Each calculator asks only for what its state's formula uses.
Do you store what I type?
No. The calculators run in your browser, and nothing you type is sent to us. If you use Share this result, the numbers go into the link itself, so anyone you send it to can see them.
Updated November 8, 2026. Each state calculator lists its own sources and the date its rules were last checked. Not affiliated with any state agency or court.