Arkansas child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
Arkansas guidelines effective October 6, 2022. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, Arkansas's guideline amount is $846 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Arkansas uses the income shares model; its current guidelines took effect October 6, 2022.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate your Arkansas guideline amount
Guideline child support
Choose your state and enter both incomes to see the guideline amount.
Arkansas child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $345 | $521 | $686 | $845 |
| 2 children | $501 | $744 | $967 | $1,180 |
| 3 children | $602 | $891 | $1,154 | $1,404 |
| 4 children | $673 | $996 | $1,289 | $1,568 |
| 5 children | $740 | $1,095 | $1,418 | $1,725 |
How Arkansas calculates child support
Arkansas uses the income shares model: the Family Support Chart gives the basic obligation for the parents' combined monthly gross income and number of children, and each parent is responsible for their share.
Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes. Court-ordered support paid for other children is deducted. Spousal support paid to the other parent is deducted from the payer's income and added to the recipient's.
With about equal time, the smaller share of the chart amount is deducted from the larger and the add-on expenses are then settled, so the result can run either way. From 141 overnights a year with the paying parent a court may lower support, but there is no formula, so this estimate doesn't adjust for it.
The chart builds in a self-support reserve of $900 a month. When the chart amount for the paying parent's own income falls in the chart's shaded area, support is figured on that parent's income alone, without add-on expenses. Below $900 of gross income a month the presumptive minimum order is $125 a month.
The children's health insurance premiums, extraordinary medical expenses and work-related child care are added and divided by income; the paying parent gets credit for the ones they pay.
Court-ordered support paid for other children is deducted from income. Other children living in a parent's home can be a reason for the court to deviate, but they aren't part of the calculation.
The chart runs to $30,000 of combined income a month. Above that the top amount applies, and the court may set more to meet the children’s needs.
Each parent's percentage is rounded to two decimal places, shares to the cent, and the final amount down to the whole dollar.
Parenting time in Arkansas
With about equal time, the smaller share of the chart amount is deducted from the larger and the add-on expenses are then settled, so the result can run either way. From 141 overnights a year with the paying parent a court may lower support, but there is no formula, so this estimate doesn't adjust for it.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $846 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $846 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $846 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $846 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $282 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in Arkansas
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $360 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $2,068 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
The chart builds in a self-support reserve of $900 a month. When the chart amount for the paying parent's own income falls in the chart's shaded area, support is figured on that parent's income alone, without add-on expenses. Below $900 of gross income a month the presumptive minimum order is $125 a month.
The chart runs to $30,000 of combined income a month. Above that the top amount applies, and the court may set more to meet the children’s needs.
Child support by number of children in Arkansas
- 1 child$592 a month
- 2 children$846 a month
- 3 children$1,011 a month
- 4 children$1,129 a month
- 5 children$1,242 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-312(a); Ark. Sup. Ct. Admin. Order No. 10 (Child Support Guidelines), as amended by 2022 Ark. 185
- Arkansas child support guidelines
- Child Support Worksheet (Administrative Order No. 10, Forms Addendum)
- Official Arkansas child support calculator
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Child Support Enforcement
- Changing a Arkansas child support order
Guidelines effective October 6, 2022. Verified against the official Arkansas sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Arkansas?
Arkansas uses the income shares model: the Family Support Chart gives the basic obligation for the parents' combined monthly gross income and number of children, and each parent is responsible for their share. Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes. Court-ordered support paid for other children is deducted. Spousal support paid to the other parent is deducted from the payer's income and added to the recipient's.
What is the child support for one child in Arkansas on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, Arkansas's guideline amount for one child is about $521 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in Arkansas?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $282 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). With about equal time, the smaller share of the chart amount is deducted from the larger and the add-on expenses are then settled, so the result can run either way. From 141 overnights a year with the paying parent a court may lower support, but there is no formula, so this estimate doesn't adjust for it.
What is the minimum child support in Arkansas?
The chart builds in a self-support reserve of $900 a month. When the chart amount for the paying parent's own income falls in the chart's shaded area, support is figured on that parent's income alone, without add-on expenses. Below $900 of gross income a month the presumptive minimum order is $125 a month.
When does child support end in Arkansas?
In Arkansas, support ends automatically when the child turns 18, unless the child is still in high school; then it ends at high school graduation or at the end of the school year after the child turns 19, whichever comes first. It also ends if the child is emancipated, marries or dies, or is adopted. A court may continue support for an adult child whose disability affects the ability to live independently (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 9-14-237 and 9-12-312). We didn't locate an official source on support for college.