Colorado Child Support Calculator
Colorado sets child support in C.R.S. § 14-10-115, an income-shares model built on both parents' gross income. HB25-1159 rewrote the schedule and the parenting time adjustment from March 2026: every overnight now earns a credit, and one Support Worksheet (JDF 1821) replaces Worksheets A and B. This calculator follows that worksheet for one to 6 or more children, with child care, the children's health insurance and the low-income tests.
Gross income before taxes, less maintenance paid and support for other children
Gross income before taxes, less maintenance paid and support for other children
Out of 365; Parent B has the rest. Every overnight counts from the first
After the federal child care tax credit; shared by income
After the federal child care tax credit; shared by income
The children's portion of the premium; shared by income
The children's portion of the premium; shared by income
Estimated monthly child support
Parent A (pays support)
Annual amount
Who pays
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Combined monthly adjusted gross income | $8,000.00 |
| Parent A income share 62.5% of combined income | 0.63 |
| Basic combined support obligation (schedule) | $1,209.00 |
| Parent A share of the basic obligation | $755.63 |
| Parent A parenting time adjustment (73 overnights, 8.87%) | −$67.02 |
| Parent B share of the basic obligation | $453.38 |
| Parent B parenting time adjustment (292 overnights, 91.13%) | −$413.17 |
| Presumptive child support (difference of line 12) Parent A pays | $648.40 |
| Monthly child support Parent A pays | $648.40 |
This is a guideline estimate under C.R.S. § 14-10-115 (as amended by HB25-1159 and HB26-1217) for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and not a substitute for the official worksheet or a family-law attorney. Courts can deviate from guideline amounts based on statutory factors, and inputs like income determination or imputed income are ultimately decided by the court.
Colorado child support at a glance
| Model | Income shares (monthly adjusted gross income) |
| Schedule | $50 to $40,000 combined income, interpolated |
| Parenting time credit | From the first overnight (49.75% at 182) |
| Self-support reserve | $1,831.83 a month (2026) |
| Minimum order | $10 at $650 or less |
| Guidelines in effect since | March 2026 |
Income and the schedule
Colorado starts from monthly gross income from almost any source, then subtracts maintenance paid and support for other children to get adjusted gross income; this calculator takes adjusted gross income as entered. The schedule runs from $50 to $40,000 of combined income in $50 steps, and amounts between rows are interpolated. Above $40,000 a month ($480,000 a year) the court decides, but support cannot be less than the $40,000 row; this calculator shows that floor.
Parenting time credit from the first overnight
Before March 2026 Colorado gave a parenting time credit only once both parents passed an overnight threshold. HB25-1159 replaced that cliff with a table: each parent's percentage rises with their overnights, from 0% at none to 100% at 365, and 49.75% at 182. On the JDF 1821 worksheet each parent's share of the basic obligation is reduced by their own percentage, and the parent with the larger amount pays the difference. With different schedules for different children, the overnights are averaged across the children.
Low income and the self-support reserve
The self-support reserve is the Colorado minimum wage ($15.16 in 2026) × 29 hours × 50 weeks ÷ 12, or $1,831.83 a month. A paying parent with $650 or less pays a $10 minimum order. Up to the reserve, basic support drops to $50 for one child to $150 for six or more, and the total with add-ons is capped at 10% of income. Above the reserve, basic support is capped at a share of the income above the reserve (80% for one child to 95% for six or more), and up to full-time minimum wage earnings ($2,627.73) the total is capped at 20% of income. This calculator applies these tests after the parenting time credit, where JDF 1821 places them.
Frequently asked questions
What changed in Colorado child support in March 2026?
HB25-1159 replaced the schedule with one reaching $40,000 of combined monthly income, removed the overnight threshold for shared parenting so every overnight earns a credit, added a self-support reserve tied to the minimum wage, and merged Worksheets A and B into one Support Worksheet (JDF 1821).
How do overnights affect child support in Colorado?
Each parent's share of the basic obligation is cut by the parenting time table percentage for their overnights. The table is symmetric, so with 182 and 183 overnights the percentages are 49.75% and 50.25%. Support cannot exceed what the paying parent would owe with no overnights.
What is the self-support reserve in Colorado?
The state minimum wage × 29 hours a week × 50 weeks ÷ 12, which is $1,831.83 a month with the $15.16 minimum wage for 2026. It moves each January with the minimum wage.
What is the minimum child support in Colorado?
A paying parent with monthly adjusted gross income of $650 or less pays $10 a month regardless of the number of children, or less if shared parenting time brings the amount below $10. Between $650 and the $1,831.83 reserve, basic support is $50 for one child to $150 for six or more.
What if combined income is above $40,000 a month?
The schedule stops at $40,000 ($480,000 a year). Above it the court uses its discretion, but the basic obligation cannot be less than the $40,000 row. This calculator uses that row.
What does this calculator leave out?
Maintenance and other income adjustments (enter adjusted gross income), imputed income, education-related child care, extraordinary medical and other extraordinary expenses, different overnights for different children, split physical care and deviations. The court's JDF 1821 Support Worksheet is the official calculation.
Child support calculators for other states
Sources
- Colorado 2025 Session Laws ch. 334 (HB25-1159) — C.R.S. § 14-10-115 schedule and parenting time table, effective March 1, 2026
- Colorado 2026 Session Laws ch. 113 (HB26-1217) — child support guideline cross-reference corrections
- Colorado Judicial Branch — JDF 1821 Support Worksheet (R: March 1, 2026)