What is the Average Child Support Payment?

If you are entering the divorce process and have children, you’re likely curious about the average child support payment in Colorado and where your situation falls on the wide range of possible monthly payments. That’s a fair question, since child support will affect your household budget whether you’re paying or receiving it. Here are some of the key things to know about child support in Colorado. 

• Colorado uses a highly individualized system and a proportional schedule for basic child support obligations, so there is no single set payment amount. 

• Colorado allows parents to receive proportional child support credits for every overnight stay each year. 

• Child support in Colorado generally ends at age 19, absent specific circumstances that would cause an earlier or later emancipation. 

Ask any Colorado family law attorney what the average child support payment is, and they’ll likely say, “That’s tough to answer.” They’re telling the truth. It’s difficult to calculate the average child support payment in Colorado because payments are determined by factors unique to every family. 

In Colorado, courts closely examine each family’s financial circumstances to ensure the child’s needs are met. Colorado’s laws aim to keep child support fair and help maintain the child’s standard of living from before the divorce to the extent possible. 

In Colorado, child support is guided by a system that operates on the principle that financial responsibility is a joint obligation that both parents share. The law assumes the child should receive the same level of support as if both parents still lived together. 

As of March 1, 2026, Colorado’s support schedules apply to combined incomes up to $40,000 per month or $480,000 per year. 

If the combined income is below this limit, the law sets a standard amount to cover the child’s basic needs. If the combined income exceeds $40,000 per month, the court must exercise its discretion to determine child support, except that the presumptive basic child support obligation cannot be less than it would be based on a combined income of $40,000 per month.

How the Colorado Child Support Calculation Works

To ensure equitable child support orders, the court determines the total support amount using several factors. As described in Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-115, these include: 

• The financial resources of the child;

• The financial resources and needs of the parents;

• The standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not been dissolved; and

• The child’s physical and emotional condition and their educational needs.

After the total support amount is set, it’s divided between the parents based on how much each earns. Here’s an example of how it works:

1. Add both incomes - Parent A earns $15,000 a month, and Parent B earns $5,000. Their combined monthly income is $20,000.

2. Find the support amount - The court refers to the schedule for $20,000 and the number of children to figure the basic support amount.

3. Determine each parent’s share - If Parent A earns 75 percent of the income, they pay 75 percent of the support amount, which is roughly $2,250.

4. Adjust for other factors - The court then adjusts the amount based on the number of nights Parent A spends with the child and relevant expenses incurred by both parents. 

Child support calculations can be complex, especially when incomes or parenting schedules change. Our experienced family law attorneys in Colorado can help you understand what the guidelines mean for your situation. Schedule a case assessment now.

In the past, some Colorado parents received a credit toward their child support based on the number of overnights they had each year with their child. This credit, however, was only available to parents who had at least 93 overnights annually. Parents with fewer overnights did not receive a credit. Colorado eliminated this rule effective March 1, 2026. Now, shared physical care starts with just one overnight per year. 

Courts use a standard Parenting Time Table, which gives a percentage credit to the basic child support amount that increases with each overnight a parent has with their child. 

Under Colorado law, basic support obligations are specific out-of-pocket costs that parents split proportionally based on their respective incomes. Examples of basic support obligations are family-dependent, but in my experience, they can be: 

• Health insurance premiums

• Work-related childcare

• Private school tuition

Under the basic support rules, parents share medical expenses, like co-pays, deductibles, orthodontics, and mental health care, proportionally from the first dollar spent. 

Colorado law sets a starting point for support, but it’s not a strict limit. Under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-124, the court’s main goal is the best interests of the child. This standard empowers it to adjust for unjust, inappropriate, or inequitable outcomes, but the court must explain its deviation. By considering the child’s actual physical and emotional needs and the parents’ resources, the court can ensure the final order accounts for situations the standard formula simply can’t capture. For instance, parents of children who need specialized medical care or have unique educational needs may fall outside the standard formula. 

If the formula leaves a parent unable to provide a stable environment for the child, a judge may exercise discretion. Still, because support is the child’s right — not the parent’s — parents can’t simply agree to waive it in exchange for other concessions. In my experience, the court usually follows the guidelines unless there is a clear reason to deviate.

In Colorado, child support is terminated when the last or only child of the marriage reaches the age of 19, absent specific circumstances that would cause an earlier or later emancipation. C.R.S. 14-10-115 provides exceptions for a child who:

• has a mental or physical disability

• is still in high school

• marries before age 19

• enters active military duty

Although Colorado’s child support system provides a legal starting point for determining financial obligations, the standard guidelines often fail to capture all the nuances of a family’s unique situation. Our Colorado child support attorneys manage these complexities to ensure a fair outcome by focusing on: 

• Strategic deviation - Finding the unique factors that may support changing the guideline amount to better reflect your child’s needs. 

• Case navigation - Helping you through the required financial disclosure process and explaining how factors can affect the final support order beyond what a calculator shows. 

• Litigation oversight - Giving strong representation in contested hearings to make sure the court considers factors like the child’s usual standard of living and the real costs of parenting time. 

An experienced, no-nonsense family law attorney can help you achieve an appropriate child support payment. Call (303) 688-0944 or schedule a case assessment to protect your child’s future. 

How much is child support for one child in Colorado? 

There is no single fixed amount. Colorado calculates support based on both parents' incomes, the number of overnights under the parenting plan, and expenses like insurance and child care. Payments can be below or above that if income is higher, parenting time is more evenly shared, or special expenses apply.

When does child support end in Colorado? 

Support usually ends at age 19, which is when Colorado considers a child emancipated. It may end earlier if the child becomes self‑supporting, joins the military, or marries. It may extend past 19 if the child is still in high school or has certain disabilities that require continued support.

What affects the amount of child support? 

Courts look at the child's needs and each parent's financial ability to pay. Factors include monthly income, parenting‑time distribution, child care and health insurance costs, other dependents, and any spousal maintenance obligations. These details ensure the support amount reflects what the child needs and what each parent can reasonably contribute.

Is child support based on income alone? 

No. Income is crucial, but Colorado courts also weigh parenting time, health expenses, child care costs, and existing support obligations. 

Can child support be changed later? 

Yes. Either parent can request a modification. However, the changes must be considered “continuing and substantial.” Under C.R.S. § 14-10-122, continuing and substantial requires that the modification would result in a 10 percent or greater change in the monthly child support payments. Significant shifts to income, the parenting‑time schedule, or insurance or child care expenses that are not temporary could necessitate a modification. The court will review updated information to determine whether a new amount is appropriate.

What is the average percentage of child support?

There is no single nationwide percentage because states use different calculation models. In Colorado, support is not based on a flat percentage of income. Instead, the law estimates what parents would have spent on the child together and divides that cost proportionally based on income, parenting‑time distribution, and documented expenses. Some percentage‑of‑income states set ranges between 17% and 25% of the noncustodial parent’s income for one child, but these figures do not apply in Colorado.