Estimate monthly Texas child support from the paying parent's gross income, number of children, and optional deductions. Texas guidelines apply a percentage to monthly net resources — custody percentages and calendar generation are separate tools.
Planning estimate only. Courts may order a different amount after medical support, other children, parenting arrangements, and case-specific review.
Reviewed for:
Reviewed by CustodyBuilder Editorial Team · How CustodyBuilder Works · Financial planning estimate only — not legal or financial advice, not an official Texas court calculation.
Estimate inputs
Start with monthly income and children. Advanced fields stay optional.
Estimated Monthly Support
$837.47
Planning estimate based on the inputs shown here.
Calculation
Guideline net resources capped at $11,700.00 for this estimate.
When estimated net resources exceed the cap, courts may consider additional support depending on the child's proven needs and other case facts. This estimate applies the guideline percentage only to capped resources.
How this estimate was calculated
This estimate is intended for planning and comparison purposes. Actual court orders may differ.
Guideline support follows gross income through deductions to net resources, then applies the child-count percentage.
Monthly gross income
Salary, wages, overtime, commissions, self-employment
Minus allowable deductions
Social Security, Medicare, federal tax, union dues, health insurance
Net resources
Capped at $11,700/month for guideline application when exceeded
Guideline percentage
20% one child · 25% two · 30% three · 35% four · 40% five+
Monthly support estimate
Percentage × guideline resources used
Obligor net resources × percentage table → monthly child support.
Gross income
$6,500 / mo
Deductions
Taxes · union dues · health
Net resources
$4,850 / mo
Guideline %
20% · 1 child
Support
$970 / mo
Texas guideline support follows a short sequence. Courts and the Attorney General use more detailed records, but the logic starts the same way.
Start with gross monthly income, then subtract allowable amounts such as Social Security tax, Medicare tax, federal income tax, mandatory union dues, and child health insurance the paying parent provides. The remainder is net resources.
Multiply guideline resources used by the percentage for the number of children before the court. The calculator caps guideline resources at $11,700 in monthly net resources when estimated net resources exceed that amount. If the paying parent supports other children, a lower percentage may apply.
The guideline amount is a starting point. Medical support, low-income rules, high-income caps, and court findings can change the final order.
These percentages apply to net resources when no multiple-family adjustment or low-income rule changes the rate. When estimated net resources fall below $1,000 and no other supported children are entered, lower guideline percentages may apply. A judge may order above or below the guideline when the evidence supports it.
Applied to obligor net monthly resources — examples use 4,850 net.
| Children | Percentage | Example support |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | 20% | $970 on $4,850 net |
| 2 children | 25% | $1,213 on $4,850 net |
| 3 children | 30% | $1,455 on $4,850 net |
| 4 children | 35% | $1,698 on $4,850 net |
| 5+ children | 40% | $1,940 on $4,850 net |
Multi-family and above-guideline cases use different worksheets
Each calculator field maps to a line on a guideline worksheet — enter the paying parent's numbers first.
The paying parent's total monthly income before taxes — salary, regular overtime, commissions, or averaged self-employment income. If pay varies, use a recent average rather than one unusually high or low month.
Texas applies guideline percentages to net resources, not gross income. The calculator subtracts estimated Social Security tax, Medicare tax, federal income tax, and any advanced deductions you enter to reach an estimated net-resources figure.
The number of children in this case sets the guideline percentage — 20% for one child, 25% for two, and so on.
If the paying parent also supports children from another relationship, the guideline percentage may be reduced through a multiple-family adjustment.
Child health or dental insurance paid by the paying parent can be entered as an advanced deduction. Medical support obligations in a final order may also be handled separately from the base guideline amount — for example, one parent providing insurance while the other pays a cash medical support amount.
After you have a result, compare it with the income examples below and read why court orders sometimes differ. If parenting time is still being negotiated, estimate support separately from the custody calendar.
Each row maps to the Texas guideline worksheet — attach to parenting plan packet.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Obligor gross monthly income | $6,500.00 |
| Number of children | 1 |
| Allowed deductions | − $1,650.00 |
| Net monthly resources | $4,850.00 |
| Guideline percentage (1 child) | 20% |
| Monthly child support | $970.00 |
Parents often search by monthly income. The table below shows simplified planning estimates using the calculator's default tax assumptions and no other-children adjustment.
These examples use simplified estimates to show how guideline percentages work. They are not official calculations and may differ from a court order because of deductions, other supported children, medical support, high-income rules, or judicial discretion.
| Monthly gross income | Est. net resources | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | ~$2,512 | ~$502 | ~$628 | ~$754 |
| $4,000 | ~$3,350 | ~$670 | ~$838 | ~$1,005 |
| $5,000 | ~$4,187 | ~$837 | ~$1,047 | ~$1,256 |
| $6,000 | ~$5,025 | ~$1,005 | ~$1,256 | ~$1,508 |
| $7,000 | ~$5,862 | ~$1,172 | ~$1,466 | ~$1,759 |
| $8,000 | ~$6,700 | ~$1,340 | ~$1,675 | ~$2,010 |
| $9,000 | ~$7,537 | ~$1,507 | ~$1,884 | ~$2,261 |
| $10,000 | ~$8,375 | ~$1,675 | ~$2,094 | ~$2,513 |
These are simplified estimates for comparison — not court calculations. Deductions, medical support, other supported children, and cap rules can change the result. Enter your numbers in the calculator above for a case-specific estimate.
A guideline-style estimate helps with budgeting and mediation prep. A court or the Attorney General may reach a different number after reviewing records.
When the paying parent supports children from another relationship, the multiple-family adjustment can lower the guideline percentage. Example: one child before the court normally uses 20%, but supporting one other child outside the case may reduce the rate to 17.5% of net resources.
Texas applies guideline percentages to net resources up to a statutory cap (raised to $11,700 monthly net resources effective September 1, 2025). Income above the cap may be reviewed differently. Verify current cap amounts before relying on high-income estimates.
Orders often assign health insurance, uninsured medical costs, or cash medical support separately from the base child support amount.
Possession schedules do not automatically set support, but they can affect how parents negotiate expenses, travel, and child care.
A judge may order above or below guideline support when special medical needs, education costs, or other proven facts justify a deviation.
Courts may average bonuses, commissions, or seasonal overtime across longer periods than a single calculator entry captures.
Treat the calculator output as a starting conversation — gather pay stubs, tax returns, insurance costs, and existing orders before mediation or court.
FAQ
Texas guideline and income questions only — not custody calendars or overnight percentages.
Texas guideline support starts with gross monthly income, subtracts allowable deductions to estimate net resources, then applies a percentage based on the number of children before the court. Other supported children, low-income rules, and court discretion can change the final amount.
Standard guideline percentages are 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, and 40% for five or more children — applied to monthly net resources, not gross income.
For one child, guideline support is 20% of monthly net resources when no other supported children or adjustments apply. At $5,000 gross income with typical estimated deductions, that often lands near $800–850 per month before case-specific changes.
No. Equal parenting time does not automatically eliminate child support. If one parent has higher net resources, guideline support may still apply even when overnights are split evenly.
Net resources include wages, salary, self-employment income, overtime, bonuses, commissions, and other income the paying parent receives, minus allowable deductions such as taxes and child health insurance.
Support often continues until a child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later. Exceptions can apply for disabled adult children or other order-specific terms.
Yes. Courts may deviate from guideline support when special medical needs, education expenses, high-income circumstances, or other proven facts justify a different amount.
No. This tool is for educational and planning purposes only. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and is not an official Texas court or Attorney General calculation.