What Colorado Child Support Actually Costs for One Child

Colorado child support for one child is calculated using a formula, not a fixed amount

Colorado does not have a set dollar amount for child support. Instead, the state uses an income-shares model: the court takes both parents' gross monthly income, applies a percentage based on how many children need support, and divides the obligation between parents based on their income split. For one child, that percentage is 20% of combined parental income.

The actual payment depends entirely on what both parents earn. A parent earning $3,000 per month and the other earning $2,000 will owe a different amount than two parents earning $5,000 each — even though the combined income is the same in both cases. The parent with higher income pays a larger share of the 20% obligation.

Colorado also factors in parenting time (custody), childcare costs, health insurance premiums, and certain other expenses. A parent who has the child more than 50% of the time may owe less or nothing, depending on the other parent's income.

Key Takeaways

• Colorado calculates child support as 20% of combined parental gross income for one child, divided between parents based on their individual earnings.
• The amount changes if either parent's income changes, if parenting time shifts, or if childcare or health insurance costs change.
• A parent with primary custody (more than 50% parenting time) typically pays less or nothing, even if they earn more.
• The Colorado Department of Human Services publishes income guidelines each year that show rough payment amounts at different income levels.

How the 20% formula works in practice

Start with gross monthly income for both parents. Gross means before taxes — wages, salary, self-employment income, bonuses, and some other sources. Colorado excludes certain income like TANF (Temporary information for Needy Families) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income).

Add both parents' gross income together. Multiply that total by 0.20 (the 20% for one child). That is the total child support obligation. Then divide it between parents based on their income ratio. If one parent earns 60% of the combined income, they pay 60% of the obligation.

Example: Parent A earns $3,500 per month. Parent B earns $2,500 per month. Combined: $6,000. Twenty percent of $6,000 is $1,200. Parent A earns 58% of the combined income, so Parent A pays $696 per month. Parent B earns 42%, so Parent B pays $504 per month. The parent without primary custody typically pays the other parent.

This is a simplified version. The actual calculation also subtracts certain costs (childcare, health insurance, work-related expenses) and adjusts for parenting time before the final number is set.

Income guidelines show typical payment ranges

Colorado publishes child support income guidelines each year. These tables show what a parent at a given income level would typically owe for one child, assuming the other parent has primary custody and earns little or nothing. The guidelines are not the law itself — they are a reference point that courts use.

In 2024, the guidelines show that a parent earning $2,000 per month would owe roughly $400 per month for one child. A parent earning $4,000 per month would owe roughly $800. A parent earning $6,000 per month would owe roughly $1,200. These numbers assume the other parent has the child most of the time and has minimal income.

If both parents earn significant income and share parenting time, the actual obligation will differ from the guideline amount. The guidelines are a starting point, not a ceiling or floor.

Parenting time affects what you owe

If you have the child 50% of the time or more, Colorado reduces your child support obligation. The court does not straightforward split the 20% obligation in half — instead, it recalculates based on the assumption that you are covering the child's expenses during your parenting time.

A parent with 50% parenting time and equal income to the other parent may owe little or nothing. A parent with 60% parenting time and higher income may still owe something, but less than a parent with 30% parenting time and the same income.

Parenting time is measured as the number of overnights per year. If you have the child 183 overnights or more, you have more than 50%. The court looks at the actual schedule, not what the order says should happen.

Changes in income, custody, or costs trigger recalculation

Child support is not permanent at the amount set on the day the order was signed. Colorado law allows either parent to ask the court to modify the order if circumstances change materially. A material change usually means a change of at least 10% in either parent's income, or a significant shift in parenting time.

If you lose your job, get a raise, or change jobs, you can file a motion to modify. If the other parent gets custody more often, or you get custody more often, that is grounds to modify. If childcare costs drop because the child started school, that can lower the obligation.

The parent seeking the change files a motion with the court and provides recent pay stubs, tax returns, or other proof of the change. The other parent has a chance to respond. If both parents agree on the new amount, the court usually approves it quickly. If they disagree, the judge decides.

Self-employed and variable income complicate the calculation

If either parent is self-employed or has income that varies month to month, Colorado looks at the average over the past two or three years, not just the current month. A parent who earned $40,000 last year but only $2,000 this month cannot claim their income dropped to $167 per month.

Self-employed parents must provide tax returns, profit-and-loss statements, and sometimes business records. The court may also consider whether the income drop is real or intentional. If a parent deliberately reduces income to lower child support, the court can impute (assign) a higher income based on their earning capacity.

Bonuses, commissions, and overtime are included in gross income. If a parent regularly receives these, they are averaged in. If they are one-time only, the court may exclude them or average them differently.

Health insurance and childcare costs reduce the base obligation

Before the final child support amount is calculated, Colorado subtracts the cost of health insurance that covers the child and any childcare or education expenses needed so the parent can work. These are not separate payments — they reduce the income used in the 20% calculation.

If you pay $150 per month for health insurance that covers the child, that $150 is subtracted from your gross income before the 20% is applied. If you pay $800 per month for daycare while you work, that is also subtracted. The other parent's childcare and insurance costs are subtracted from their income too.

Childcare must be necessary for the parent to work or attend school. Preschool or after-school programs count. Summer camp or extracurricular activities do not, unless they are part of a work-related childcare arrangement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the other parent avoid paying child support by quitting their job?

No. If a parent deliberately reduces income to lower child support, the court can impute income based on their work history, education, and earning capacity. A parent who quit a $60,000 job cannot claim they now earn minimum wage and owe nothing. The court will assign income based on what they could reasonably earn.

Does child support include money for activities, clothes, or school supplies?

Child support covers basic living expenses: housing, food, utilities, and ordinary clothing. Extracurricular activities, sports, music lessons, and private school are usually not included in the base child support amount. Parents often split these costs separately or the paying parent contributes on top of child support.

What if one parent makes much more than the other?

Colorado has an income cap in the guidelines. Once combined parental income exceeds a certain threshold (which changes yearly), the court has discretion on how much child support to order. The 20% formula still applies, but the judge may adjust it based on the child's actual needs and the parents' standard of living.

How often can child support be modified?

Either parent can file a motion to modify if there has been a material change in circumstances — usually a 10% or more change in income, a shift in parenting time, or a change in childcare costs. You cannot file a new motion just because you want to pay less. The court will not modify an order more than once every three years unless there is a substantial change.

Does child support end when the child turns 18?

In Colorado, child support ends when the child turns 19, graduates from high school, or becomes emancipated — whichever comes first. If the child is still in high school at 19, support continues until graduation or age 19, whichever is later. Support also ends if the child joins the military or gets married.