Texas Caps Child Support at $2,925/Month for Two Kids No Matter How High Income Goes
We ran $5,000/month in net resources for one child through the calculator: 20% × $5,000 = $1,000/month. Straightforward. But run the same percentage against $15,000/month in resources for two children, and the guideline amount doesn’t reach $3,750 (25% of $15,000) — it caps at $2,925/month, because Texas limits the percentage calculation to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources, no matter how much higher the actual income is.
The published maximums, verified against the guideline
| Children | Guideline % | Maximum monthly support (at the $11,700 cap) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20% | $2,340 |
| 2 | 25% | $2,925 |
| 3 | 30% | $3,510 |
| 4 | 35% | $4,095 |
| 5+ | 40% | $4,680 |
These maximums are fixed points — a parent earning $11,700/month in net resources and one earning $50,000/month owe the identical guideline amount for the same number of children. Above the cap, a court CAN order additional support if the child’s proven needs exceed the guideline amount, but the automatic guideline calculation itself stops scaling.
The detail most people miss: only one parent’s income counts
Most states use an “income shares” model — both parents’ incomes are combined, a state schedule gives a total obligation for that combined income and child count, and each parent pays their proportional share. Texas doesn’t work that way: the guideline percentage applies ONLY to the paying (non-custodial) parent’s own net resources. The custodial parent’s income — even if it’s higher than the paying parent’s — doesn’t reduce the guideline amount at all. This is the same “look at one side’s income only” pattern as the marriage tax bracket calculation, just applied to a completely different formula and purpose.
Where this framework doesn’t apply
- You’re not in Texas. Most states use the income-shares model described above — a meaningfully different calculation than this one-parent guideline.
- Parenting time is close to equal. Texas courts can adjust the guideline amount significantly for possession schedules that depart from the traditional primary/visiting arrangement.
- There are extraordinary medical, educational, or special needs. Courts can and do order support above the guideline percentage for documented additional costs.
- Net resources fall below $1,000/month. A separate, lower percentage table (15%-35%) applies below that threshold — the standard percentages shown above don’t.
What to actually do
- Confirm your actual state’s child support model before assuming the Texas percentages apply — income-shares states calculate very differently.
- Calculate net monthly resources carefully — the legal definition includes more than take-home pay (bonuses, certain benefits, and self-employment income often count, with specific deductions allowed).
- Factor the guideline amount into the broader financial picture of the split — the ongoing cost of running two households instead of one is a separate, additional expense.
- If seeking spousal support alongside child support, run the separate Illinois-style alimony guideline as a reference point — the two are never the same calculation.
- Consult a family law attorney in your state before relying on any guideline estimate for actual planning or negotiation.
Open the Child Support Guideline Estimator → and run your own net resources and child count.
Quick answers
How is child support calculated in Texas?
Texas Family Code § 154.125 applies a flat percentage to the paying parent's own net monthly resources: 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, and 40% for five or more — the other parent's income isn't part of the formula at all.
Is there a cap on Texas child support?
Yes — net monthly resources above $11,700/month (effective September 1, 2025) don't increase the guideline amount further. For two children, that caps the guideline obligation at $2,925/month regardless of how much higher the paying parent's actual income is.
Does the custodial parent's income affect the child support amount in Texas?
No. Unlike most states' 'income shares' model (which combines both parents' incomes and prorates the obligation), Texas's guideline percentage applies only to the paying parent's own net resources.
Is child support the same as alimony?
No — they're separate calculations with different formulas and different purposes. Alimony (spousal maintenance) weighs both spouses' incomes against each other; child support in Texas looks at only the paying parent's income and the number of children.