Iowa child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
Iowa guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, Iowa's guideline amount is $1,115 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Iowa uses the income shares model; its current guidelines took effect January 1, 2026.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate your Iowa guideline amount
Guideline child support
Choose your state and enter both incomes to see the guideline amount.
Iowa child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $460 | $664 | $890 | $1,083 |
| 2 children | $693 | $995 | $1,314 | $1,607 |
| 3 children | $805 | $1,184 | $1,540 | $1,891 |
| 4 children | $835 | $1,321 | $1,719 | $2,112 |
| 5 children | $935 | $1,453 | $1,900 | $2,322 |
How Iowa calculates child support
Iowa uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the support for the parents' combined adjusted net monthly income, and the paying parent pays their percentage share of it.
Net income is gross income minus federal and Iowa income taxes and Social Security and Medicare, worked out the way the guidelines prescribe (standard deduction, head of household for the parent with the children). Support paid for other children and a deduction for other children a parent must support also come off.
From 128 court-ordered overnights a year, the paying parent gets a credit of 15% to 25% of their basic obligation. With joint (equally shared) physical care, each parent owes their share of one and a half times the schedule amount for half the time, and the amounts are offset.
If the paying parent's net income is $1,250 or less, support comes from the schedule on that parent's income alone. A little above that, support is the lower of that amount and the usual share of the combined amount.
The children's health insurance premium is shared by income. When no parent has coverage at a reasonable cost, the paying parent also owes cash medical support. Child care paid by the parent with the children can add to support, up to a limit based on half of the paying parent's disposable income.
Child support paid under an order for other children comes off income, and a parent who must support other children gets a deduction of 8% to 16% of gross income.
The schedule runs to $30,000 of combined net income a month. Above that, the court decides, starting from the top amount as a minimum.
Incomes are rounded to whole dollars to read the schedule, income shares to two decimals of a percent, and the result to whole dollars, as in the official estimator.
Parenting time in Iowa
From 128 court-ordered overnights a year, the paying parent gets a credit of 15% to 25% of their basic obligation. With joint (equally shared) physical care, each parent owes their share of one and a half times the schedule amount for half the time, and the amounts are offset.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $1,115 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $1,115 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $1,115 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $948 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $269 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in Iowa
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $336 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $3,062 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
If the paying parent's net income is $1,250 or less, support comes from the schedule on that parent's income alone. A little above that, support is the lower of that amount and the usual share of the combined amount.
The schedule runs to $30,000 of combined net income a month. Above that, the court decides, starting from the top amount as a minimum.
Child support by number of children in Iowa
- 1 child$750 a month
- 2 children$1,115 a month
- 3 children$1,315 a month
- 4 children$1,468 a month
- 5 children$1,614 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: Iowa Ct. R. 9.1–9.27 (Child Support Guidelines); Iowa Code § 598.21B
- Iowa child support guidelines
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Iowa Ct. R. 9.27 Form 1
- Official Iowa child support calculator
- Iowa HHS Child Support Services
- Changing a Iowa child support order
Guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Iowa sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Iowa?
Iowa uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the support for the parents' combined adjusted net monthly income, and the paying parent pays their percentage share of it. Net income is gross income minus federal and Iowa income taxes and Social Security and Medicare, worked out the way the guidelines prescribe (standard deduction, head of household for the parent with the children). Support paid for other children and a deduction for other children a parent must support also come off.
What is the child support for one child in Iowa on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, Iowa's guideline amount for one child is about $664 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in Iowa?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $269 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). From 128 court-ordered overnights a year, the paying parent gets a credit of 15% to 25% of their basic obligation. With joint (equally shared) physical care, each parent owes their share of one and a half times the schedule amount for half the time, and the amounts are offset.
What is the minimum child support in Iowa?
If the paying parent's net income is $1,250 or less, support comes from the schedule on that parent's income alone. A little above that, support is the lower of that amount and the usual share of the combined amount.
When does child support end in Iowa?
Support normally ends at 18, Iowa's age of majority (Iowa Code § 599.1). It continues for a child between 18 and 19 who is completing high school or an equivalency program full time and is expected to finish before turning 19, and it may include support for a child of any age who depends on the parents because of a physical or mental disability (Iowa Code § 598.1(9)). In cases entered or pending on or after July 1, 2025, Iowa courts may not order a postsecondary education subsidy (Iowa Code § 598.21F).