Texas Child Support Calculator (2026)
Texas calculates child support under percentage-of-income guidelines (Tex. Fam. Code § 154.125). Estimate the guideline amount below.
Income basis: obligor's monthly net resources.
Enter the income above to see the guideline estimate.
Simplified guideline estimate — before health-insurance, childcare, and parenting-time adjustments. For the exact figure use the official Texas calculator.
Your Case Details
Answer a few questions to see your estimated range.
Approximate gap between higher-earner and lower-earner.
Estimated Monthly Support
$840 — $1,560
State formulas vary significantly. This estimate uses national averages — your state's guidelines may produce a different number.
Revisado Editorialmente — Contenido revisado en cuanto a exactitud utilizando investigación legal publicada, datos gubernamentales y registros judiciales verificados. Vea nuestra metodología
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Texas child support is a percentage of the paying parent's obligor's monthly net resources: 20% for one child, 25% for two, rising to 40% for 5 or more (Tex. Fam. Code § 154.125). The percentages apply up to $11,700 of monthly income — details in the cap section below. Enter the paying parent's income above for the guideline figure.
How Texas Calculates Child Support
Texas sets guideline child support as a flat percentage of the paying parent's average monthly net resources — 20% for one child up to 40% for five, fixed by Tex. Fam. Code § 154.125. The percentages apply only up to a statutory cap on net resources ($11,700/month since September 1, 2025); above the cap, courts may order more only if the child's proven needs require it. Lower percentages apply when net resources are $1,000/month or less.
Statutory basis: Tex. Fam. Code § 154.125. Exact figure: official Texas calculator.
Texas Guideline Percentages
| Children | Share of obligor's monthly net resources |
|---|---|
| 1 | 20% |
| 2 | 25% |
| 3 | 30% |
| 4 | 35% |
| 5 | 40% |
Worked Example
Standard guideline calculation: paying parent with $4,000 average monthly net resources and 2 children before the court → 25% × $4,000 = $1,000/month guideline support. Below the $11,700 cap, so no above-cap analysis applies.
When Courts Deviate From the Guideline
- The child's age and needs
- Each parent's ability to contribute and other financial resources available
- Extraordinary educational, health-care, or other special expenses
- The amount of possession time and the cost of travel to exercise it
- Support or custody of children from another relationship, and childcare costs needed to keep working
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most Texas guideline support can require if a parent earns above the cap?
The percentages apply only to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources (since September 1, 2025). Above that, a judge may order additional support only if the child's proven needs exceed the guideline amount.
What exactly counts as 'net resources' in Texas?
Gross income minus specific statutory items only: Social Security taxes, federal income tax withholding for a single person with one exemption, union dues, and the child's health and dental insurance cost. It is not simply take-home pay.
How does a low income change the percentage owed?
For cases filed on or after September 1, 2021 with net resources of $1,000/month or less, a lower schedule applies — 15% for one child up to 35% for five (§ 154.125(c)).
Does guideline child support cover healthcare and childcare costs?
No — medical and dental support are ordered separately on top of the guideline percentage, as is any childcare cost-sharing.
Can a Texas child support order be changed after it is set?
Yes — on a material and substantial change in circumstances, or in Attorney General cases when the amount would differ by 20% or $100 from the current guideline. Existing orders do not update automatically when the cap rises.