Tennessee Child Support Calculator (2026)
Tennessee calculates child support under income-shares guidelines (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04). Estimate the guideline amount below.
Income basis: combined monthly adjusted gross income (AGI).
Enter the income above to see the guideline estimate.
Simplified guideline estimate, interpolated from the official schedule — before health-insurance, childcare, and parenting-time adjustments. For the exact figure use the official Tennessee 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.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Tennessee uses the income-shares model: both parents' incomes are combined, the official schedule sets a basic support obligation, and each parent owes their proportional share (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04). The calculator above interpolates the official schedule for a quick estimate — health-insurance, child-care, and parenting-time adjustments come on top.
How Tennessee Calculates Child Support
Tennessee uses the Income Shares Model (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04), effective since January 18, 2005 and last substantively amended May 10, 2020, with technical updates effective October 1, 2021. Courts combine both parents' monthly Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), look up the Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) on the official Child Support Schedule (Rule 1240-02-04-.09, tabulated in $50 increments), then prorate that amount between the parents by each parent's share of combined AGI. Every order must attach a completed Child Support Worksheet, generated with the TN Department of Human Services' Excel or 'web style' calculator (or the official iOS app).
Statutory basis: Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04. Exact figure: official Tennessee calculator.
Official Schedule — Excerpt
Basic support obligation at selected combined incomes (combined monthly adjusted gross income (AGI)), from the official Tennessee schedule:
| Combined income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,350 | $648 | $899 | $1,032 |
| $5,000 | $823 | $1,122 | $1,266 |
| $7,500 | $960 | $1,286 | $1,437 |
| $10,000 | $1,158 | $1,544 | $1,713 |
Worked Example
Two parents have a combined monthly AGI of $5,000 and 2 children together. Rule 1240-02-04-.09 lists a Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO) of $1,122/month for 2 children at that income level. Father earns $3,000/month (60% of the combined income); mother earns $2,000/month (40%). Father's presumptive obligation = 60% × $1,122 = $673.20/month, before adding his pro-rata share of the children's health-insurance premiums and work-related childcare, and before any Parenting Time Adjustment for his overnights.
When Courts Deviate From the Guideline
- Extraordinary educational expenses (private-school tuition, room & board, lab fees, books)
- Special expenses exceeding 7% of the BCSO (summer camp, music/art lessons, school-sponsored extracurriculars)
- Extraordinary uninsured medical expenses or extreme economic hardship
- Needs of a child with a disability
- Substantial parenting-time travel expenses due to distance between the parents
- Combined income significantly above the top of the schedule ($28,250/month) — the party seeking more must show it is reasonably necessary for the child's needs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cap on income for Tennessee child support?
No hard statutory cap. The official Child Support Schedule (Rule 1240-02-04-.09) only tabulates combined monthly AGI up to $28,250 (about $339,000/year); above that the obligation is computed with extrapolation formulas (e.g., 1 child = $2,231 + 6.81% of the excess). Either parent can also ask a court to deviate under Rule 1240-02-04-.07 when income is far above the schedule.
What counts as income under Tennessee's guidelines?
Tennessee defines gross income broadly: wages, self-employment, bonuses, overtime, commissions, pensions, investment and rental income, Social Security and VA benefits, workers' comp, unemployment, and even in-kind income, gifts, and lottery or gambling winnings. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is gross income minus specific credits, such as for other legal children in the parent's household who aren't part of the case at hand.
How does shared parenting time change the amount owed?
Tennessee applies a Parenting Time Adjustment based on the Alternate Residential Parent's (obligor's) overnights with the child: if the ARP has 92 or more days per year the presumptive obligation is reduced, and if the ARP has 69 or fewer days it is increased. A parent who qualifies for the Self-Support Reserve forfeits this adjustment.
Until what age does child support run in Tennessee — does it cover college?
Support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates high school with their expected class, whichever happens later, capped at age 19 even if still enrolled (Tenn. Code Ann. § 34-1-102). Tennessee does not require parents to pay for college; post-secondary costs are covered only if the parents agree or a court orders it as a 'special expense' deviation.