Utah Child Support Calculator (2026)
Utah calculates child support under income-shares guidelines (Utah Code § 81-6-304 (Base Combined Child Support Obligation Table); § 81-6-305 (Low Income Table)). Estimate the guideline amount below.
Income basis: combined monthly adjusted gross income.
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 Utah 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
Utah 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 (Utah Code § 81-6-304 (Base Combined Child Support Obligation Table); § 81-6-305 (Low Income Table)). The calculator above interpolates the official schedule for a quick estimate — health-insurance, child-care, and parenting-time adjustments come on top.
How Utah Calculates Child Support
Utah uses the Income Shares model: both parents' combined monthly adjusted gross income and the number of children are run against the Base Combined Child Support Obligation Table (Utah Code § 81-6-304) to find the total 'basic' obligation, which is then split between the parents in proportion to their individual share of the combined income. The guidelines were recodified out of the former Title 78B, Chapter 12 (Utah Child Support Act) into Title 81, Chapter 6 for child support orders entered on or after January 1, 2023, and the current table text carries an effective date of September 1, 2024. A separate Low Income Table (§ 81-6-305) replaces the base table whenever an individual parent's own adjusted gross income is at or below $2,450/month.
Statutory basis: Utah Code § 81-6-304 (Base Combined Child Support Obligation Table); § 81-6-305 (Low Income Table). Exact figure: official Utah calculator.
Official Schedule — Excerpt
Basic support obligation at selected combined incomes (combined monthly adjusted gross income), from the official Utah schedule:
| Combined income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,300 | $518 | $859 | $994 |
| $5,000 | $668 | $1,175 | $1,351 |
| $7,500 | $888 | $1,426 | $1,627 |
| $10,000 | $1,026 | $1,683 | $1,917 |
Worked Example
Father earns $3,600/month gross, Mother earns $1,400/month gross — combined adjusted gross income $5,000/month, 2 children, Mother has sole physical custody. Base Combined Support Obligation from the § 81-6-304 table at $5,000 combined / 2 children = $1,175/month. Father's income share is $3,600 ÷ $5,000 = 72%; Mother's is 28%. Father's obligation = 72% × $1,175 = $846/month; as the non-custodial parent, Father pays $846/month to Mother year-round (before any child care/medical-insurance add-ons under §§ 81-6-208/209).
When Courts Deviate From the Guideline
- The standard of living and situation of the parties
- The relative wealth and income of the parties
- The ability of the obligor to earn
- The ability of the obligee to earn
- The needs of the obligee, the obligor, and the child
- The responsibilities of the obligor and the obligee for the support of others
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a maximum amount of child support Utah will order?
No hard cap. The official table (Utah Code § 81-6-304) tops out at $100,000 combined monthly adjusted gross income, where the base obligation is $5,908/month for 1 child up to $13,472/month for 6 children. For combined income above $100,000/month, § 81-6-204(8) tells the court to set an 'appropriate and just' amount case-by-case — the law explicitly says there is no maximum limit on what a court can order.
What counts as income for Utah child support purposes?
Utah Code § 81-6-203(2)(a) defines gross income broadly — wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, rents, gifts, pensions, Social Security, workers' comp, unemployment, disability benefits, alimony from a prior marriage, and more. Earned income is capped at the equivalent of one full-time 40-hour job. Means-tested benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, TANF-type cash assistance, general assistance, housing subsidies) are excluded under § 81-6-203(7).
How does joint or shared custody change the amount owed?
Utah Code § 81-9-101(8) defines 'joint physical custody' as each parent having the child overnight for more than 30% of the year (roughly 111+ nights) while both parents also contribute financially to the child's expenses. When that threshold is met, § 81-6-206 requires a separate Joint Physical Custody Worksheet that reduces the paying parent's obligation using an overnight-based formula (an extra 0.27% reduction per overnight from 111–130 nights, and 0.84% per overnight beyond 130).
Until what age does child support run in Utah — does it cover college?
Under Utah Code § 81-6-101, a 'child' eligible for support is generally under 18 and not emancipated, married, self-supporting, or in the armed forces; support automatically continues past 18 only while the child is still enrolled in high school during the normal expected graduation year, or indefinitely for a child of any age who is incapacitated from earning a living. Utah's guidelines do not require support through college absent a separate agreement or court order.