Child Support by StateState guideline estimators

Washington · income shares, net

Washington state child support calculator

Washington child support uses both parents’ monthly net income: the 2026 economic table gives an amount per child, and the paying parent owes their income share, but at least $50 per child. With net incomes of $3,000 and $3,200 and two children, the standard calculation is $606.00 a month after the low-income limit.

Child Support by State editorial teamUpdated 7 sources

RCW 26.19 · schedule effective Jan 1, 2026

Washington state child support calculator

RCW 26.19 as amended by EHB 1014: the 2026 economic table, low-income limits and the standard calculation on monthly net income.

Parent A and Parent B are just labels. The parent the children do not primarily live with pays.

Children in this case
Monthly net incomeGross income minus income taxes owed, FICA, mandatory state deductions, mandatory dues and pension, maintenance paid and business expenses (RCW 26.19.071).
of 365
Health insurance, child care and other children
Other biological or legal children of this parentChildren outside this case (worksheet line 8d).
Health insurance premium for these childrenMonthly children’s portion, in the column of the parent who pays.
Day care and special expensesMonthly, in the column of the parent who pays.

Example

Estimated guideline child support

$606.00per month

Parent B pays Parent A · about $140 a week

Worksheet

  1. 01Combined monthly net income$6,200.00
  2. 02Basic obligation: $804 per child × 2 (table row $6,200)$1,608.00
  3. 03Parent B’s share (48.4%)$778.27
  4. 04Low-income limit: Parent B keeps the $2,394 self-support reserve−$172.27
  5. 05Standard calculation (transfer payment)$606.00

Washington has no credit for residential time; a court may deviate for a significant residential schedule (RCW 26.19.075).

Estimate of the standard calculation under RCW 26.19 (2026). Washington has no residential-time formula; the court may deviate for a residential schedule and other reasons with written findings. The DSHS worksheet calculator is the official tool.

Economic table RCW 26.19.020: combined net income rounded to the nearest $100, per-child amount × number of children. Shares to 0.1%. Low-income limits: self-support reserve $2,394 (180% of the poverty guideline), at least $50 per child. Health insurance, uninsured health costs, day care and special expenses shared by income; the paying parent is credited for what they pay.

Try a common case:1 child · $6,000 + $4,000/mo2 children · $5,000 + $3,000/mo3 children · $9,000 + $5,000/moEqual time · 1 child · $6,000 + $4,000

How we checked it. Reproduces all 7 worked examples in the 2026 Child Support Schedule instructions.

Known limits. You enter net income; Washington has no residential-time formula.

Rules: Schedule since Jan. 1, 2026 (EHB 1014) · Last checked November 13, 2026 · Download the official table (CSV)

How the Washington state child support calculator works

This Washington state child support calculator follows the Washington State Child Support Schedule as amended by EHB 1014 (2025 c 272), whose table and limits took effect January 1, 2026.[1][4]

  1. Net income: gross income minus income taxes owed, FICA, mandatory state deductions such as paid family leave and WA Cares, mandatory dues and pensions, up to $5,000 a year of voluntary retirement contributions, maintenance paid and business expenses.[3]
  2. Basic obligation: round combined net income to the nearest $100, read the per-child amount for the number of children and multiply.
  3. Income shares: each parent’s percentage of combined net income, to 0.1%.
  4. Low-income limits: the paying parent keeps a self-support reserve and pays at least $50 per child.
  5. Add-ons: health insurance, uninsured health costs, day care and special expenses are shared by income; the parent who pays is credited.[1]

The 2026 economic table

The economic table now runs from $2,200 to $50,000 of combined monthly net income (it stopped at $12,000 before 2026) and lists amounts per child.[3][4]

Per-child amounts in RCW 26.19.020 (monthly, effective January 1, 2026)
Combined net income1 child2 children (each)3 children (each)4 children (each)
$3,000$652$500$405$339
$5,000$951$723$580$486
$6,200$1,061$804$644$540
$8,500$1,316$994$793$664
$12,000$1,573$1,190$950$796
$20,000$2,302$1,823$1,477$1,247
$30,000$2,966$2,435$2,015$1,720

The schedule’s own example: combined net income of $6,200 and two children gives $804 per child, $1,608 in total; the parent with $3,000 of income (48.4%) owes $778.27 before the low-income limit.[1] Below $2,200 each parent owes $50 per child; above $50,000 the $50,000 row applies and the court may order more with findings.

Self-support reserve and minimum

Since January 1, 2026 the self-support reserve is 180% of the federal poverty guideline for one person, $2,394 a month in the 2026 schedule; the paying parent’s obligation is limited to income above it, but not below $50 per child.[1][5] In the schedule’s example, the parent with $3,000 of net income pays $606 instead of $778.27; if that parent also has another child, the limit is shared across all their children, giving $404.[1]

Residential time and the 45% limit

Washington has no formula that credits residential time: a significant residential schedule is only a reason the court may deviate, and not if it would leave the other household unable to meet the children’s basic needs.[3] Separately, a parent’s total support for all children may not exceed 45% of net income unless the court finds good cause.

Some parts of EHB 1014 take effect April 1, 2027, including abatement of support during court-ordered behavioral health treatment; they do not change the standard calculation.[4]

Official Washington calculator and agency

DSHS publishes a worksheet calculator that implements EHB 1014, and the courts publish the schedule and mandatory worksheets.[2][6][7]

Like Washington, Texas and New York have no parenting time formula (Texas child support calculator, New York child support calculator); Arizona and Colorado do (Arizona child support calculator).

An estimate, not an order. The court decides the amount. Not legal advice; see our legal disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

How is child support calculated in Washington state?

Both parents’ net incomes are combined, the economic table gives a per-child amount, and the paying parent owes their income share, limited by the self-support reserve and never less than $50 per child.

What changed in Washington child support in 2026?

From January 1, 2026: a new economic table up to $50,000 of combined net income and a self-support reserve of 180% of the poverty guideline instead of 125%.

Does 50/50 custody change child support in Washington?

Not by formula. The court may deviate for a significant residential schedule, after considering the needs of both households.

What is the minimum child support in Washington?

$50 per child per month.

Sources

  1. Washington State Child Support Schedule (definitions, instructions, economic table) · Washington Courts, effective January 1, 2026 (instructions 06/2026)
  2. Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheets · Washington Courts, 06/2026
  3. Chapter 26.19 RCW, Child support schedule · Washington State Legislature, current, as amended by 2025 c 272
  4. Engrossed House Bill 1014, Chapter 272, Laws of 2025 · Washington State Legislature, effective January 1, 2026 and April 1, 2027
  5. HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2026 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE, 2026
  6. Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheet Calculator · Washington DSHS Division of Child Support, updated January 2, 2026
  7. Child Support · Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, checked November 13, 2026