Wisconsin Child Support Calculator (2026)

Wisconsin applies a fixed percentage of the paying parent's gross income, from 17% for one child to 34% for five or more, with lower percentages on high incomes and a separate offset formula when both parents have at least 25% of overnights. Enter the incomes and placement to see the guideline amount.

Figures reviewed September 29, 20264 primary sources

Estimated monthly child support

$716per month

Parent A pays Parent B.

Per year: $8,592

How we got there

Parent A monthly gross income	$5,000
Parent B monthly gross income	$3,000
Percentage standard for 1 child	17%
Parent A: percentage standard x 1.5 x 72.6% time with Parent B	$926
Parent B: percentage standard x 1.5 x 27.4% time with Parent A	$210
Net of the two obligations	$716
Parent A guideline support	$716

Each parent has at least 92 overnights (25%), so the shared-placement formula in DCF 150.04(2) applies.
Gross income includes wages, self-employment income, bonuses and most benefits; courts may also impute income for voluntary unemployment.
Low-income payers (roughly under 150% of the poverty guideline) use the reduced schedule in DCF 150.04(4), which this estimate does not apply.

Standing assumptions

Percentage standard from DCF 150.03 with the high-income tiers in DCF 150.04(5).
Shared-placement formula from DCF 150.04(2) when each parent has at least 92 overnights.

Estimate only. Not legal advice.

Key 2026 numbers for Wisconsin

One child: 17%; Of the payer's gross income; two children 25%, three 29%, four 31%, five or more 34%.
High-income tiers: $7,000 and $12,500; Reduced percentages apply to monthly income above each threshold.
Shared placement: 92 overnights; 25% of the year for each parent triggers the 1.5 multiplier and offset.
Income basis: Gross; Wisconsin does not deduct taxes before applying the percentage.

How Wisconsin calculates child support

Chapter DCF 150 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code sets the percentage of income standard. In a primary placement case, where one parent has the children more than 75% of overnights, support is a flat percentage of the paying parent's gross income: 17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and 34% for five or more. The receiving parent's income does not affect the amount in a primary placement case.

Gross income under DCF 150.02 includes wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, tips, self-employment income, interest, dividends, pensions, unemployment and workers' compensation, and it can include income the court imputes to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed.

High-income payers

DCF 150.04(5) applies lower percentages to the portion of a payer's monthly income above $7,000. Income between $7,000 and $12,500 is charged at 14% for one child, 20% for two, 23% for three, 25% for four and 27% for five or more, and income above $12,500 at 10%, 15%, 17%, 19% and 20%. The tiers are marginal, so the first $7,000 is always charged at the standard percentage.

Shared placement

When each parent has the children for at least 25% of overnights, 92 nights a year, DCF 150.04(2) uses a different calculation. Each parent's income is multiplied by the percentage standard and by 1.5 to reflect the cost of two households, then by the share of time the children spend with the other parent. The two results are offset and the parent with the larger figure pays the difference, capped at what that parent would owe under the straight percentage standard. In shared placement cases the parents also share variable costs such as childcare and tuition in proportion to placement time.

Low-income payers and serial families

A payer whose gross income is below 150% of the federal poverty guideline uses the reduced low-income schedule in DCF 150.04(4), which the Department updates each year; this estimate does not apply it. A parent who already pays support for children from an earlier relationship is a serial family payer under DCF 150.04(1), and the earlier obligation is subtracted from income before the percentage is applied to the later family.

Deviations, duration and modification

The percentage standard is presumptive, but section 767.511(1m) of the Wisconsin Statutes lets the court deviate after considering the child's needs, the parents' financial resources, the standard of living, physical or mental health, educational needs, and the value of childcare each parent provides. Support continues until the child turns 18, or 19 if still pursuing a high school diploma. Either parent can request a review after 33 months without showing a change in circumstances, or sooner on a substantial change.

Worked example

Parent A earns $5,000 per month gross and Parent B earns $3,000. There is one child.
Under the percentage standard, 17% of $5,000 is $850 and 17% of $3,000 is $510.
Parent A has 150 overnights and Parent B 215, so both exceed 92 and shared placement applies: $850 x 1.5 x 59% = about $751 for Parent A, and $510 x 1.5 x 41% = about $314 for Parent B.
The difference is about $437, which is less than Parent A's straight $850, so that is the order.

Parent A pays Parent B about $437 per month under the shared-placement formula.

Wisconsin child support questions

Does the other parent's income matter in Wisconsin?

Only in shared placement cases, where both incomes enter the offset formula. In a primary placement case the order is a percentage of the paying parent's income alone.

What counts as an overnight?

Placement is measured in overnights, or equivalent care, under the court-ordered placement schedule. Both parents must reach 92 overnights for the shared-placement formula to apply.

Is Wisconsin child support based on gross income?

Yes. The percentages apply to gross income before taxes, which is why they are lower than the net-income percentages some states use.

Can support be modified?

Yes. A substantial change in circumstances allows modification at any time, and after 33 months a parent can request a revision without proving a change.

Where is the official Wisconsin worksheet?

The Department of Children and Families publishes worksheets for the percentage standard and shared placement, and the Bureau of Child Support offers guidance on applying DCF 150.

Sources

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