Texas Child Support Calculator

When parents split, one of the earliest questions is what child support will look like. This tool answers it using the precise method Texas courts follow, so you can see a realistic monthly figure before you ever set foot in a courtroom.

Texas does something most states do not. It sets support from the paying parent’s income alone, not the two incomes combined.[1] The court finds that parent’s monthly net resources, then applies a guideline percentage set by the number of children: 20 percent for one, 25 for two, 30 for three, and higher from there. Those percentages run only against the first $11,700 of net resources, a ceiling raised on September 1, 2025. Treat the result as a solid estimate rather than a verdict. A judge can order above or below it, guided by your children’s needs and the facts in front of them.

★ Michael Ireland & Associates · Guideline Estimate

Texas Child Support Calculator

The Children
Children of this relationship for whom support is being set (“before the court”).
Other children the paying parent is legally required to support, outside this case (Tex. Fam. Code § 154.129). Lowers the percentage.
Paying Parent’s Income
Income from all sources before taxes (§ 154.062): wages, overtime, bonuses, commissions, self-employment, rental, dividends, most benefits.
Sets payroll tax: FICA (7.65%) for employees, self-employment tax (15.3%) for the self-employed.
Mandatory union dues are a permitted deduction from net resources.
The child’s portion of premiums paid by the paying parent — deductible per § 154.062.
How Texas is different: guideline support is based on the paying parent’s income only. The other parent’s income and the number of overnights/visitation do not change the guideline amount. Medical and dental support are ordered in addition to the figure below.

From Figure to Plan

The estimate does its best work before anything is filed. It lets you set a monthly budget against a number you can trust, test whether an amount the other parent floats is fair, and see how support lines up with the parenting schedule you are trying to build.

It also gives our first meeting a head start. Bring what you generated here, and we can spend the time on what the guideline never captures: income that does not land cleanly on a paystub, a duty to support children in another household, or a child whose needs run past the standard percentage. Those are the places a case is usually won or lost.

See where you stand, then let’s talk it through. Call (830) 357-7437 to schedule a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this estimate what a court will order?

No. It applies the guideline percentages, and a Texas judge can set a different amount after weighing your children’s needs and both parents’ circumstances. Use it as a planning figure and a starting point with your attorney.

How does Texas calculate child support?

The court applies a percentage to the paying parent’s monthly net resources. Net resources start from gross income, then subtract a short list of items: federal income tax at the single rate, Social Security and Medicare, union dues, and the cost of the children’s health and dental coverage.

What are the guideline percentages?

For children in one household, the guideline is 20 percent of net resources for one child, 25 for two, 30 for three, 35 for four, and 40 for five or more. A parent who also supports children in another household pays a reduced percentage.

What does the $11,700 cap mean?

The percentages apply only to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources. At that point, guideline support for one child tops out at $2,340 per month. A parent who earns more can still be ordered to pay above that when a child has proven needs the guideline does not cover.

Does my new spouse’s income count?

No. Texas does not fold a spouse’s income into yours for this calculation. Remarrying, on its own, does not raise or lower what you owe.

Can child support change later?

Often, yes. Either parent can ask the court to change support after a material and substantial change in circumstances. A review is also available once three years have passed and the guideline figure would move by 20 percent or $100.

Michael Ireland and Associates helps Texas parents see where a support figure comes from and what it means for the years ahead. As one of fewer than ten percent of Texas family lawyers who are board certified in family law, Michael Ireland can walk through your own case with you. To speak with board-certified family law specialist Michael Ireland, reach out today. You are welcome to meet with us at any of our locations.

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