How it works · official guideline
How child support is calculated in Ohio
Ohio computes a basic child support obligation from a statutory schedule (R.C. 3119.021) using the parents' combined annual income and number of children, then splits it by each parent’s income share on a JFS worksheet. A self-sufficiency reserve lowers amounts for low incomes, an $80 monthly minimum generally applies, and a 10% reduction applies when court-ordered parenting time is 90 or more overnights a year.[1]
Key facts: child support in Ohio
| Guideline model | Income shares[1] |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | $80 per month minimum support order[1] |
| Shared parenting time | 10% reduction for 90 or more court-ordered overnights a year[1] |
| Low income | Self-sufficiency reserve: 116% of the federal poverty level for one person[1] |
| Official calculator | Ohio Child Support Calculator |
| Guideline last checked | October 26, 2026 |
Ohio’s model
Income shares
Combined annual income, then statutory basic child support schedule (formula-based), split by income share.
Official calculator · Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Ohio Child Support CalculatorLink checked October 26, 2026
Why no calculator here? We publish a calculator only after it reproduces the state’s official numbers exactly. We haven’t matched Ohio’s yet, so use the official calculator for a number.
From the official text
The rules behind Ohio’s numbers
The guideline is Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Members Brief 'Calculating Child Support' (Oct. 19, 2023), summarizing R.C. Chapter 3119. Open each rule to read the exact words.
- Minimum order
$80 per month minimum support order
Courts generally must issue at least an $80 monthly support order, with discretion to go lower or to $0 in circumstances such as a documented disability.[1]
Official text · Ohio LSC Members Brief
“the court must issue at least a minimum support order of $80 a month.”
- Shared parenting time
10% reduction for 90 or more court-ordered overnights a year
The obligation is reduced by 10% when a court has ordered parenting time of at least 90 overnights a year, unless removed because the parent has not used the time without just cause.[1]
Official text · Ohio LSC Members Brief
“A 10% reduction also must be made if a court has issued a parenting time order that equals or exceeds 90 overnights per year;”
- Low income
Self-sufficiency reserve: 116% of the federal poverty level for one person
The schedule builds in a self-sufficiency reserve equal to 116% of the federal poverty level for a single person, which lowers the obligation at lower incomes.[1]
Official text · Ohio LSC Members Brief (citing R.C. 3119.021(B)(2))
“The SSR is based on 116% of the federal poverty level (FPL) amount for a single person.”
- Top of the guidelines
Combined income above $336,600 a year: case-by-case
Above the top of the schedule, the court or agency sets support case by case, considering the needs and standard of living of the children and parents.[1]
Official text · Ohio LSC Members Brief
“If the parents’ combined annual income exceeds $336,600, a court or CSEA must determine the obligor’s support obligation on a case-by-case basis.”
- Percentages
Schedule is a set of statutory formulas (e.g. one child at $35,000: $5,978.57 a year)
The schedule is defined by formulas for each income range and number of children; the brief’s example for one child at $35,000 combined income gives $5,978.57 a year.[1]
Official text · Ohio LSC Members Brief (citing R.C. 3119.021(B)(1))
“$11,510.40 x 19.193% + 16.047% x ($35,000 - $11,510.40) = $5,978.57”
Guideline: Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Members Brief 'Calculating Child Support' (Oct. 19, 2023), summarizing R.C. Chapter 3119, checked October 26, 2026.
Estimate and general information only — not legal advice. MediationList is a directory, not a law firm, and doesn’t endorse any mediator. Guidelines change; confirm with the official calculator (sources checked October 26, 2026). See also divorce laws in Ohio and child support in every state.
Sources
Ohio’s child support guideline, rules and official tools, read on the official sites, with the date we checked each.