Texas child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
Estimate only, not legal advice. A judge or the Texas Attorney General sets the actual order, and either can deviate from the guidelines.
Texas uses a percentage of the paying parent's net resources: gross income minus Social Security, Medicare, federal income tax (as a single filer with the standard deduction), union dues, and the children's health and dental premiums. Enter the paying parent's numbers below.
Texas guideline percentages
| Children | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net resources $1,000+ | 20% | 25% | 30% | 35% | 40% |
| Under $1,000 | 15% | 20% | 25% | 30% | 35% |
Since September 1, 2025, the percentages apply to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources (Tex. Fam. Code §154.125). If the paying parent also supports children in another household, §154.129 lowers the percentage. For example, 2 children here plus 1 elsewhere is 22.50%.
Worked example
A parent earning $5,000/month gross as an employee pays about $383 in Social Security and Medicare and $418 in federal income tax, which leaves $4,199 in net resources. With 2 children: 25% × $4,199 = $1,050/month.
Before mediation or court, gather
- 2 years of tax returns, W-2s and 1099s
- 2+ months of pay stubs
- Health and dental premium statements (and how many people the plan covers)
- Any other child support orders
Sources: Texas Family Code ch. 154; Texas OAG 2026 Tax Charts; 50 Tex. Reg. 5351 (cap adjustment). Not affiliated with the Texas OAG. The official calculator is at csapps.oag.texas.gov.
Want the full Texas Child Support Estimator spreadsheet?
Excel/Google Sheets version with self-employed and hourly/overtime pay, medical and dental support add-ons, multiple-family adjustment, a what-if table, and a printable worksheet. Tested against the OAG calculator.
Not legal or financial advice. These tools give general estimates only. Numbers are illustrative; your lender's statements control.