How the Texas child support calculator works
This Texas child support calculator applies the guideline percentage in Texas Family Code § 154.125 to the paying parent’s monthly net resources, after converting gross pay to net with the Attorney General’s 2026 tax charts.[1][2] Only the paying parent’s income counts; Texas does not add the other parent’s income.
- Resources. Start with all income: wages, overtime, tips, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, pensions, unemployment and more (§ 154.062). Means-tested public assistance is excluded.[1]
- Taxes. Subtract Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500 a year), Medicare (1.45%) and federal income tax figured for a single filer with the $16,100 standard deduction, whatever the parent’s real filing status.[2]
- Other deductions. Subtract union dues, state income tax paid elsewhere, and what the parent pays for the children’s health or dental insurance. The result is net resources.
- Cap. Apply the percentage to net resources up to $11,700 a month, the cap in force since September 1, 2025.[2][3]
- Percentage. Multiply by the percentage for the number of children before the court, adjusted if the parent supports children in another household (§ 154.128).
You can check every step in the worksheet lines under the result. For a quick sense of typical amounts at different incomes, see how much child support is in Texas, or compare Texas with other states in our guide to how much child support is.
Texas child support percentages
The guideline is 20% of net resources for one child and rises by 5 points per child up to 40% for five; a lower schedule applies when net resources are under $1,000 a month.[1]
| Children before the court | Net resources $1,000 or more | Net resources under $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20% | 15% |
| 2 | 25% | 20% |
| 3 | 30% | 25% |
| 4 | 35% | 30% |
| 5 or more | 40% | 35% |
For six or more children the statute says the amount must be at least the five-child amount; the court can order more.[1]
Example: $6,000 a month in wages
A parent earning $6,000 a month in wages has net resources of $4,956.83, so guideline support is $991.37 for one child and $1,239.21 for two children.[2]
| Line | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Gross wages | $6,000.00 |
| Social Security, 6.2% | −$372.00 |
| Medicare, 1.45% | −$87.00 |
| Federal income tax (single, standard deduction) | −$584.17 |
| Net resources | $4,956.83 |
| One child × 20% | $991.37 |
| Two children × 25% | $1,239.21 |
These are the same figures as the $6,000 row of the Attorney General’s 2026 employed-person tax chart. Our calculator reproduces all 171 rows of that chart to the cent.
Children in more than one household
If the paying parent also has a legal duty to support other children, the percentage goes down under the formula in § 154.128, or the court may use the table in § 154.129.[1] For example, two children before the court and one other child gives 22.5% instead of 25%; one child before the court and one other child gives 17.5%.
| Other children | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children | 4 children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 20.00% | 25.00% | 30.00% | 35.00% |
| 1 | 17.50% | 22.50% | 27.38% | 32.20% |
| 2 | 16.00% | 20.63% | 25.20% | 30.33% |
| 3 | 14.75% | 19.00% | 24.00% | 29.00% |
Medical and dental support are on top
Health insurance and dental insurance are ordered in addition to guideline support, not taken out of it.[1] Coverage counts as reasonable in cost when it is no more than 9% of the paying parent’s annual resources for health insurance and 1.5% for dental insurance. When the paying parent carries the children’s insurance, the premium is deducted from net resources, so a $100 premium lowers support for one child by $20.[4]
When a Texas court can order a different amount
The percentage is presumed to be in the child’s best interest, but the court can depart from it when applying it would be unjust or inappropriate.[1] Factors listed in § 154.123 include:
- the amount of time each parent has the child, since Texas has no formula for shared or 50/50 possession;
- child-care expenses and the child’s special needs;
- other children in the paying parent’s custody, travel costs and debts;
- alimony, benefits furnished by an employer and the receiving parent’s income.
Above the $11,700 cap, the court may add support for the child’s proven needs, but that amount is not presumptive (§ 154.126). If there is no evidence of income, Texas presumes the federal minimum wage for 40 hours a week, which is $1,160.54 a month in net resources on the 2026 chart.[2]
How long Texas child support lasts and how to change it
Texas child support normally lasts until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later, as long as the child is enrolled and meets attendance rules; support for a disabled child can continue indefinitely.[1]
- Modification. A court can change an order when circumstances have materially and substantially changed, or when three years have passed and the guideline amount differs from the current order by 20% or $100.[6] A higher cap does not raise an existing order by itself.
- Payments. Child, medical and dental support are ordered to be paid through the state disbursement unit, not directly to the other parent.[1]
- New spouse. A court may not add a spouse’s income to either parent’s net resources, or subtract a spouse’s needs.[1]
- Unemployment. If a paying parent is intentionally unemployed or underemployed, the court may apply the guideline to what they could earn; incarceration does not count as intentional unemployment.[1]
Official Texas calculator and agency
The Office of the Attorney General runs the state’s own monthly child support calculator and the Child Support Division, which can open a case for you.[3][5]
- Texas OAG Monthly Child Support Calculator
- Texas OAG Child Support Division
- Texas Family Code chapter 154
An estimate, not an order. The court decides the amount. This page is not legal advice; see our legal disclaimer. Other states work differently: compare the California child support calculator, which uses both parents’ incomes and parenting time, or neighboring Louisiana and Oklahoma.
Frequently asked questions
How much is child support for 1 kid in Texas?
20% of the paying parent’s monthly net resources, or 15% if net resources are under $1,000. At $5,000 a month in gross wages that is about $839.83 a month.
What is the maximum child support in Texas?
The guideline percentage applies to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources, so the presumptive maximum for one child is $2,340 a month. A court can order more only for the child’s proven needs.
Does the other parent’s income matter in Texas?
Not for the guideline amount. Texas uses only the paying parent’s net resources; the receiving parent’s income can only be a reason to deviate.
Is the Texas child support calculator 2026 up to date?
Yes. It uses the Attorney General’s 2026 tax charts (standard deduction $16,100, Social Security wage base $184,500) and the $11,700 cap in force since September 1, 2025.
Can child support continue after 18 in Texas?
Yes, until high school graduation if the child is still enrolled and attending, and indefinitely for a child with a disability that began before 18 and prevents self-support.
Does a new spouse’s income count for Texas child support?
No. Texas Family Code § 154.069 bars the court from adding any part of a spouse’s net resources to either parent’s.
Does 50/50 custody change child support in Texas?
There is no formula for it. Possession time is one of the factors a court may use to deviate from the guideline percentage.