Child support · US guidelines · 2026

Child support calculator by state

Every US state sets child support with its own guideline formula, so the same two parents can owe very different amounts across a state line. For a parent earning $5,000 a month paying for one child to a parent on $3,500, the guideline amount ranges from $693 to $1,016 a month across the states covered here. Pick a state for its formula, tables and official calculator.

State rules checked against each state's statute and guidelines on 26 September 2026.

States covered

more coming

Headline example

$5,000

payer gross a month

Other parent

$3,500

gross a month

Children

in the example

Guideline child support by state, same incomes

Paying parent $5,000 a month gross, receiving parent $3,500, no add-ons, children living mainly with the receiving parent.

State	Model	1 child	2 children	Parenting time in formula
California	Statewide uniform guideline formula (income and time-share)	$1,016	$1,625	Yes
Florida	Income shares (both parents’ net incomes combined)	$715	$1,111	Yes
Illinois	Income shares (750 ILCS 5/505)	$753	$1,128	Yes
Indiana	Income shares, weekly (Indiana Child Support Guidelines)	$693	$1,040	Yes
Texas	Percentage of the paying parent’s net resources	$840	$1,050	No

Guides and definitions

Long term capital gains tax: 2026 rates, brackets and examples (Guide)
Child tax credit 2026: amount, income limits and who qualifies (Guide)
Earned income tax credit: who qualifies and how much you get (Guide)
Child Tax Credit (The Child Tax Credit cuts US federal tax by up to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17, with up to $1,700 refundable.)
FICA (FICA is the US payroll tax for Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000).)
Marginal tax rate (Your marginal tax rate is the share of your next pound or dollar of income that goes in tax and deductions.)
Standard deduction (The standard deduction is the fixed amount US taxpayers subtract from income before federal tax: $16,100 single, $32,200 joint for 2026.)
State Disability Insurance (SDI) (State Disability Insurance is a payroll deduction that funds short-term disability and paid family leave; California takes 1.3% of all wages in 2026.)

Estimate child support for your state

Every state

California ($1,016 a month, one child)
Florida ($715 a month, one child)
Illinois ($753 a month, one child)
Indiana ($693 a month, one child)
Texas ($840 a month, one child)

US child support calculator · Estimate child support for your state

Common questions

Why is child support different in each state?

Federal law requires every state to have guidelines, but leaves the formula to the state. Most use an income shares model that combines both incomes; some, like Texas, take a percentage of the paying parent's net income; a few adjust heavily for parenting time.

Which income counts?

Nearly all sources: wages, self-employment, bonuses, overtime, and often benefits. States then take off tax and certain deductions to reach net or adjusted income. Courts can also assign income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.

Can we agree our own amount?

Parents can agree, but a court has to approve any order and will usually compare it with the guideline amount. Agreements well below the guideline need a good reason on the record.

Sources and assumptions

Guideline estimates with net income estimated from gross; no add-ons; the court decides the actual order.

Not legal advice.