Get a rough idea of monthly child support based on income and number of children. This free child support calculator is an educational estimate only — actual amounts are set by your state or country’s official guidelines and a court.
This model applies a flat percentage of the paying parent’s net income. Many states use more detailed “income shares” formulas that also factor in both parents’ incomes, custody time, health care and childcare.
For an accurate figure, use your state or country’s official child support calculator and consult a family law attorney.
How the Child Support Calculator Works
This tool gives a rough educational estimate of monthly child support by applying a simplified flat percentage of the paying parent's net monthly income, scaled up for each additional child. It is not tied to any specific state or country's official guidelines — actual child support orders are set by a court and often depend on both parents' incomes, custody time, and other factors this simplified model does not capture.
Formula: Estimated Monthly Support = Paying Parent's Net Monthly Income × Guideline Percentage, where the percentage used by this calculator rises with the number of children (17% for 1 child, up to 34% for 5 or more).
- Paying parent's net monthly income — the paying parent's take-home monthly income after taxes
- Number of children — how many children are covered by the estimate, selected from 1 to 5+
- Guideline percentage — the illustrative flat percentage this calculator applies to net income based on the number of children selected
Example Scenarios
| Net Monthly Income | Children | Estimated Monthly Support |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | 1 | $510 |
| $4,000 | 2 | $1,000 |
| $5,000 | 3 | $1,450 |
| $3,500 | 4 | $1,085 |
| $6,000 | 5+ | $2,040 |
Child Support Calculator FAQ
Is this calculator's estimate legally binding?
No. This is an educational, simplified estimate only. Actual child support amounts are determined by your state or country's official guidelines and ultimately set by a court, which can weigh factors this tool does not.Why do many states use different formulas than a flat percentage?
Many jurisdictions use an "income shares" model that combines both parents' incomes, rather than applying a single percentage to only the paying parent's income. That approach aims to approximate what the child would have received if the parents still lived together.What is the "income shares" model mentioned in the calculator?
It's a common approach where both parents' incomes are combined to estimate a total child-rearing cost, which is then split between the parents roughly in proportion to what each earns. This calculator uses a simpler single-parent percentage model instead.Does this calculator account for custody or parenting time split?
No. Many real guideline formulas adjust the support amount based on how many overnights or how much time each parent has with the children, but this simplified estimate does not factor in custody arrangements at all.Does it include healthcare or childcare costs?
No. This estimate only applies a percentage to net income. Actual child support orders often add separate provisions for health insurance premiums, uninsured medical costs, and childcare expenses on top of the base support amount.Where can I find my state or country's official child support calculation?
Most states and many countries publish an official child support guidelines calculator or worksheet through their family court or child support agency website. A family law attorney can also help you apply your jurisdiction's actual formula to your situation.Related Calculators
Since child support depends heavily on income, you may also want to break down a salary into per-period income figures, estimate net pay after taxes and deductions, or check how support payments affect your overall debt-to-income ratio.