Child Support Calculator by State
Child support is set by state guidelines, and the formulas differ substantially. Pick your state for a calculator built on its actual model, with the governing statute cited.
- AlabamaIncome Shares
- AlaskaPercentage of Income
- ArizonaIncome Shares
- ArkansasIncome Shares
- CaliforniaIncome Shares
- ColoradoIncome Shares
- ConnecticutIncome Shares
- DelawareMelson Formula
- District of ColumbiaIncome Shares
- FloridaIncome Shares
- GeorgiaIncome Shares
- HawaiiMelson Formula
- IdahoIncome Shares
- IllinoisIncome Shares
- IndianaIncome Shares
- IowaIncome Shares
- KansasIncome Shares
- KentuckyIncome Shares
- LouisianaIncome Shares
- MaineIncome Shares
- MarylandIncome Shares
- MassachusettsIncome Shares
- MichiganIncome Shares
- MinnesotaIncome Shares
- MississippiPercentage of Income
- MissouriIncome Shares
- MontanaMelson Formula
- NebraskaIncome Shares
- NevadaPercentage of Income
- New HampshireIncome Shares
- New JerseyIncome Shares
- New MexicoIncome Shares
- New YorkIncome Shares
- North CarolinaIncome Shares
- North DakotaPercentage of Income
- OhioIncome Shares
- OklahomaIncome Shares
- OregonIncome Shares
- PennsylvaniaIncome Shares
- Rhode IslandIncome Shares
- South CarolinaIncome Shares
- South DakotaIncome Shares
- TennesseeIncome Shares
- TexasPercentage of Income
- UtahIncome Shares
- VermontIncome Shares
- VirginiaIncome Shares
- WashingtonIncome Shares
- West VirginiaIncome Shares
- WisconsinPercentage of Income
- WyomingIncome Shares
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The three guideline models
Income shares (used by about 41 states): both parents' incomes are combined to determine a basic support obligation — meant to approximate what the children would have received in an intact household — and each parent owes their proportional share.
Percentage of income (a handful of states, including Texas and Wisconsin): support is a flat percentage of the paying parent's income that increases with the number of children. The receiving parent's income doesn't change the base figure.
Melson formula (Delaware, Hawaii, Montana): a refined income-shares approach that first protects a subsistence amount for each parent, covers the children's primary needs, then adds a standard-of-living adjustment.
Every state page explains its model, cites the statute, links the official state calculator where one exists, and adjusts for parenting time, health insurance, and childcare costs.
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