How the Wisconsin child support calculator works
This Wisconsin child support calculator applies the percentage standard in Wis. Admin. Code ch. DCF 150 to the paying parent’s monthly gross income.[1]
| Children | Percentage of gross income | At $4,000 a month | At $6,000 a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17% | $680 | $1,020 |
| 2 | 25% | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| 3 | 28.999999999999996% | $1,160 | $1,740 |
| 4 | 31% | $1,240 | $1,860 |
| 5 or more | 34% | $1,360 | $2,040 |
Income is gross: taxes are not deducted, and voluntary retirement contributions such as 401(k) deferrals count as income. Public assistance, SSI and child support received are excluded.[1]
Shared placement: 92 overnights
When each parent has at least 25% of placement (92 overnights a year), each parent’s income × percentage × 150% is multiplied by the other parent’s share of time, and the parent who owes more pays the difference, but never more than the plain percentage.[1] In the rule’s own example, incomes of $2,000 and $3,000, two children and 60/40 placement give $375 a month paid by the $3,000 parent. Variable costs such as child care and activities are then divided in proportion to placement.
High-income and low-income payers
For a payer earning more than $7,000 a month, the court may apply lower percentages to income above $7,000 and above $12,500; a payer with $14,000 and two children would then owe $3,075 instead of $3,500.[1][3] For a low-income payer, the court may use Appendix C, updated March 1, 2026, which covers incomes from $998 to $2,031 a month.[2]
| Monthly income up to | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $998 | $112 | $165 | $191 |
| $1,248 | $158 | $232 | $270 |
| $1,500 | $212 | $311 | $361 |
| $1,752 | $272 | $401 | $465 |
| $2,031 | $345 | $508 | $589 |
Serial families, split placement and deviations
A parent who already supports children from an earlier family has those obligations subtracted from income before the percentage is applied to a later family; with split placement, a per-child percentage is applied to each parent’s income and the amounts are offset.[1] Courts may deviate when the percentage would be unfair to the child or a parent, using the statutory factors.
Official Wisconsin resources
The Department of Children and Families publishes worksheets and Excel calculators for each method.[3][4]
- DCF tools to estimate income and support amounts
- Wisconsin DCF Child Support
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. DCF 150
Texas and Nevada also use a percentage of the payer’s income (Texas child support calculator, Nevada child support calculator), while neighboring Minnesota uses income shares (MN child support calculator).
An estimate, not an order. The court decides the amount. Not legal advice; see our legal disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage is child support in Wisconsin?
17% of gross income for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four and 34% for five or more.
How many overnights is shared placement in Wisconsin?
At least 25% of the year, 92 overnights, for each parent. Then the shared-placement formula uses both incomes.
Does Wisconsin deduct taxes before calculating child support?
No. The percentage applies to gross income, and voluntary retirement contributions are counted as income.
Is there a cap on Wisconsin child support?
No cap, but above $7,000 a month the court may apply lower percentages to the higher income.