California child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
California guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, California's guideline amount is $1,332 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
California uses the statewide guideline formula model; its current guidelines took effect January 1, 2026.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate your California guideline amount
Guideline child support
Choose your state and enter both incomes to see the guideline amount.
California child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $289 | $699 | $1,049 | $1,355 |
| 2 children | $445 | $1,096 | $1,655 | $2,144 |
| 3 children | $541 | $1,349 | $2,047 | $2,659 |
| 4 children | $618 | $1,546 | $2,350 | $3,053 |
| 5 children | $672 | $1,681 | $2,554 | $3,319 |
How California calculates child support
California uses one statewide formula: CS = K[HN − (H%)(TN)]. HN is the higher earner's net income, TN is both parents' net income and H% is the higher earner's share of parenting time. K is a share of combined income that depends on TN and the timeshare. More children multiply the one-child amount.
The formula uses net disposable income: gross income minus federal and state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state disability insurance, health insurance premiums and support paid for other children. This estimate works out taxes the way the state's calculator does by default.
Parenting time is part of the formula, so every change in the timeshare changes the amount. If the result is negative, the lower earner pays the higher earner.
If the paying parent's net income is below full-time minimum-wage earnings ($16.90 an hour), the amount can be reduced. The calculator shows a range; the lowest amount applies unless the other parent shows it should not.
Child care for work or job training and uninsured health costs are shared by net income, with the paying parent's income reduced by the basic support. Health insurance premiums are deducted from income instead.
Support actually paid under a court order for children or a spouse from another relationship is deducted from income. A hardship deduction for other children at home is up to the court.
There is no income cap. Above the top band the share of income keeps falling slowly; a court may deviate if the amount would exceed the children's needs.
The state's calculator shows whole dollars, so this estimate rounds the basic amount, each add-on share and the total to the nearest dollar.
Parenting time in California
Parenting time is part of the formula, so every change in the timeshare changes the amount. If the result is negative, the lower earner pays the higher earner.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $1,599 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $1,332 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $942 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $721 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $120 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in California
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $180 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $3,863 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
If the paying parent's net income is below full-time minimum-wage earnings ($16.90 an hour), the amount can be reduced. The calculator shows a range; the lowest amount applies unless the other parent shows it should not.
There is no income cap. Above the top band the share of income keeps falling slowly; a court may deviate if the amount would exceed the children's needs.
Child support by number of children in California
- 1 child$847 a month
- 2 children$1,332 a month
- 3 children$1,644 a month
- 4 children$1,886 a month
- 5 children$2,050 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: Cal. Fam. Code §§4050–4076
- California child support guidelines
- Child Support Information and Order Attachment (FL-342)
- Official California child support calculator
- California Department of Child Support Services
- Changing a California child support order
Guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official California sources on October 6, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in California?
California uses one statewide formula: CS = K[HN − (H%)(TN)]. HN is the higher earner's net income, TN is both parents' net income and H% is the higher earner's share of parenting time. K is a share of combined income that depends on TN and the timeshare. More children multiply the one-child amount. The formula uses net disposable income: gross income minus federal and state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state disability insurance, health insurance premiums and support paid for other children. This estimate works out taxes the way the state's calculator does by default.
What is the child support for one child in California on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, California's guideline amount for one child is about $699 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in California?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $120 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Parenting time is part of the formula, so every change in the timeshare changes the amount. If the result is negative, the lower earner pays the higher earner.
What is the minimum child support in California?
If the paying parent's net income is below full-time minimum-wage earnings ($16.90 an hour), the amount can be reduced. The calculator shows a range; the lowest amount applies unless the other parent shows it should not.
When does child support end in California?
Support ends at 18, or for a full-time high school student at the end of 12th grade or age 19, whichever comes first. Parents must support an adult child who is incapacitated from earning a living.