Simple Child Support Calculator
For a simple and easy calculation of child support in Iowa, we recommend using the Iowa Child Support Estimator.
The Iowa Child Support Estimator is quite simple and easy to use. You can also expect it to be accurate and kept up to date in 2024.
For the state of Iowa, we advise against using a different calculator as the results may be innacurate or misleading.
Iowa Parenting Time Calculator
While Iowa child support guidelines focus on which parent is the "custodial parent", parenting time shares have the potential to affect child support. Actual parenting time percentages could influence the order a judge makes or how much parents agree to.
Use this overnights calculator to work out your parenting time percentage. Most states measure parenting time based on overnight stays.
Calculate annual overnight stays
Regular nights
Vacation nights each year*
183 overnight stays per year.
50.0% of parenting time.
* Vacation nights are all nights when the regular schedule does not apply.
How Child Support is Calculated in Iowa
Child support payments in Iowa are calculated using the income shares only method. Payments depend on the combined income of the parents as well as the number of children eligible for support. A bigger combined income or extra children typically means higher payments.
The amounts transferred also depend on each parent’s income share or income percentage. Iowans paying the most support are non-custodial parents with high incomes. The biggest receivers are low-income parents with primary physical custody and a high-earning payer.
We refer to the method as "income shares only" since Iowa lacks a well-defined way of adjusting payments for the exact amount of parenting time each parent contributes. A parent’s share of care time is not a detailed part of the guidelines, as is usually the case with income sharing models.
The court can apply a credit for the non-custodial parent if the parent has visitation for more than 128 days each year. Essentially, this acknowledges that the non-custodial parent will often be taking care of, and paying for, the child.
Iowa has specific state guidelines that should be followed when calculating child support unless the calculated child support award would be much too large and considered unjust or impossible to pay back. These calculations will be applied to both parents to determine the total amount of monthly child support payments for the child. The amount of child support ordered by the Iowa court handling the case will depend on each parent’s net income relative to each other.
Attorney Kevin O’Flaherty
Iowan child support guidelines apply to the whole state, including the cities of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City and Ankeny. Variations in support payments may be made by the agreement of parents or at the discretion of a judge presiding over your case.
Payment Calculators by State