Estimate monthly child support for any Canadian province or territory based on the Federal Child Support Guidelines. Select your province, enter the payor's gross annual income and number of children to see the table amount.
Select your province or territory and use the Federal Child Support Guidelines tables to estimate monthly payments.
In addition to basic child support, courts can order parents to share special expenses in proportion to their incomes.
Include childcare, medical/dental, educational, extracurricular activities, and post-secondary costs
Compare per-capita household income to assess which household has the higher standard of living.
Convert non-employment income to guideline income equivalent for child support purposes.
Enter a net (after-tax) income amount and select a province or territory to estimate the equivalent gross (before-tax) income. Useful when a party's income is only known as a net figure.
Calculate total retroactive child support across multiple guideline table versions. Enter the payor's income for each year, and indicate whether shared/split custody or offsetting obligations applied in any period.
Child support in Canada is determined by the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The amount is based primarily on two factors: the gross annual income of the paying parent and the number of children. The Guidelines use standardized tables — one for each province and territory — to set a base monthly amount that reflects what a parent at that income level would typically contribute toward their child's expenses if the family were still together. These amounts are not negotiable — they are the legal starting point.
Income for child support purposes is based on Line 15000 of the payor's income tax return (total income before deductions). However, courts can look beyond the tax return. If a parent is self-employed, earns cash income, has the use of a company vehicle, receives dividends rather than salary, or is intentionally underemployed, the court may impute income — that is, assign a higher income than what is reported. Full financial disclosure is mandatory under the Family Law Rules.
If each parent has the child at least 40% of the time (shared custody), the calculation changes. The court compares what each parent would pay under the tables and typically uses the difference — known as the "set-off" amount. Split custody (where each parent has primary care of at least one child) uses a similar offset approach. These arrangements require careful analysis.
Child support can be varied when there is a material change in circumstances — a significant change in income, a change in the parenting schedule, or a child reaching an age where support may no longer be required. Support does not automatically end at 18 — it continues as long as the child remains a dependent, which often means through post-secondary education. Retroactive support claims can also be brought if a parent was underpaying.
Click to expand each question for answers about child support in Canada.
Use this calculator to estimate your child support obligation based on the Federal Child Support Guidelines.