Tennessee child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
Tennessee guidelines effective October 1, 2021. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, Tennessee's guideline amount is $857 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Tennessee uses the income shares model; its current guidelines took effect October 1, 2021.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate your Tennessee guideline amount
Guideline child support
Choose your state and enter both incomes to see the guideline amount.
Tennessee child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $400 | $563 | $768 | $943 |
| 2 children | $540 | $754 | $1,026 | $1,253 |
| 3 children | $608 | $842 | $1,140 | $1,386 |
| 4 children | $677 | $939 | $1,271 | $1,545 |
| 5 children | $745 | $1,033 | $1,398 | $1,699 |
How Tennessee calculates child support
Tennessee uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the basic child support obligation for the parents' combined monthly adjusted gross income, and each parent is responsible for their share.
Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes; the schedule already allows for federal income tax and Social Security. Means-tested benefits such as SSI and child support received don't count, and alimony between the parents is neither added nor deducted.
Tennessee counts parenting time in days. The share of the parent with less time goes up when they have fewer than 69 days a year. From 92 days they get a credit that grows with each day. With equal time (182.5 days each) Parent B gets the credit and the parent with the larger amount pays.
The schedule's shaded area builds in a self-support reserve of $957 a month. If the paying parent's own income is in that area, they pay the lower of their share and the schedule amount for their income alone. A court may set a minimum order of $100 a month on a written finding; this estimate doesn't apply it.
The children's health insurance premium, recurring uninsured medical costs and work-related child care are divided by income share. Each parent owes their share of what the other parent pays.
Income is reduced by 75% of a theoretical order for other children living with a parent, and by support a parent actually pays for other children, up to 75% of a theoretical order (this estimate uses the limit for one child).
The schedule runs to $28,250 of combined income a month; above that a percentage of the extra income is added. The guideline amount is limited to $2,100 a month for one child, up to $5,000 for five or more, unless the court finds more is needed.
Income shares are rounded to a whole percent, worksheet amounts to the cent and the guideline amount to the nearest dollar.
Parenting time in Tennessee
Tennessee counts parenting time in days. The share of the parent with less time goes up when they have fewer than 69 days a year. From 92 days they get a credit that grows with each day. With equal time (182.5 days each) Parent B gets the credit and the parent with the larger amount pays.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $973 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $857 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $742 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $599 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $273 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in Tennessee
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $388 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $2,256 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
The schedule's shaded area builds in a self-support reserve of $957 a month. If the paying parent's own income is in that area, they pay the lower of their share and the schedule amount for their income alone. A court may set a minimum order of $100 a month on a written finding; this estimate doesn't apply it.
The schedule runs to $28,250 of combined income a month; above that a percentage of the extra income is added. The guideline amount is limited to $2,100 a month for one child, up to $5,000 for five or more, unless the court finds more is needed.
Child support by number of children in Tennessee
- 1 child$641 a month
- 2 children$857 a month
- 3 children$955 a month
- 4 children$1,064 a month
- 5 children$1,171 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: T.C.A. § 36-5-101(e); Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04 (Child Support Guidelines)
- Tennessee child support guidelines
- Child Support Worksheet and Credit Worksheet (Rule 1240-02-04-.08)
- Official Tennessee child support calculator
- Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Support Services
- Changing a Tennessee child support order
Guidelines effective October 1, 2021. Verified against the official Tennessee sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Tennessee?
Tennessee uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the basic child support obligation for the parents' combined monthly adjusted gross income, and each parent is responsible for their share. Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes; the schedule already allows for federal income tax and Social Security. Means-tested benefits such as SSI and child support received don't count, and alimony between the parents is neither added nor deducted.
What is the child support for one child in Tennessee on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, Tennessee's guideline amount for one child is about $563 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in Tennessee?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $273 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Tennessee counts parenting time in days. The share of the parent with less time goes up when they have fewer than 69 days a year. From 92 days they get a credit that grows with each day. With equal time (182.5 days each) Parent B gets the credit and the parent with the larger amount pays.
What is the minimum child support in Tennessee?
The schedule's shaded area builds in a self-support reserve of $957 a month. If the paying parent's own income is in that area, they pay the lower of their share and the schedule amount for their income alone. A court may set a minimum order of $100 a month on a written finding; this estimate doesn't apply it.
When does child support end in Tennessee?
Support normally ends at 18. If the child turns 18 while still in high school, it continues until the child graduates or until the child's class graduates, whichever comes last. The guidelines also treat a disabled adult child as a child under T.C.A. § 36-5-101(k). We didn't locate an official source on support for college.