Alimony Calculator by State

Why most states don't have an alimony formula

Child support is set by a statewide formula in every state, but alimony is different. Only a handful of states publish guideline math for the amount of spousal support: Illinois, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Vermont, plus caps in Massachusetts, Florida, Texas and Louisiana.

In the rest, judges decide both the amount and the duration by weighing statutory factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, the marital standard of living, and contributions as a homemaker. That is why an honest alimony calculator cannot hand you the same kind of number in every state.

How the calculators work

Each state calculator asks for both spouses' monthly income, on the basis (gross or net) that state uses, and the length of the marriage. It then shows every step of the math and names the statute behind it. What the number means depends on which of three groups your state falls in.

States with a statutory formula

Where the legislature wrote the math, the calculator applies it. Illinois, Colorado, New York and Pennsylvania subtract a share of one spouse's income from a share of the other's, and New Hampshire and Vermont work from the difference between the two incomes. There the result is the guideline a judge starts from, and in most of these states the judge can still depart from it.

Florida (for durational alimony) and Massachusetts (generally, absent grounds to deviate) also work from the income difference, but they cap the award at the lesser of the recipient's need or a share of that difference, so the figure there is a maximum, not a starting point. Texas and Louisiana likewise cap the award rather than setting it.

States with only a temporary-support guideline

California, New Mexico and Virginia have guidelines for support while a divorce is pending, not for the final award. The calculator applies that guideline and labels the figure as a temporary-support ballpark.

States with no formula

For every other state, the calculator shows the factors that state's statute tells judges to weigh. It also shows a figure from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers national guideline (30% of the paying spouse's gross income minus 20% of the other's, capped so the recipient ends up with no more than 40% of combined income), clearly marked as illustrative and not that state's law.

Duration

Some states also set how long support lasts. Illinois multiplies the years married by a factor that rises with the length of the marriage, Massachusetts and Florida cap duration at a share of the marriage, and Texas caps maintenance at 5, 7 or 10 years. Where a state has its own duration rule the calculator uses it; otherwise any duration shown is the illustrative national guideline.

A worked example

These figures are illustrative and come from running the calculators with invented numbers. Take a couple married 10 years. One spouse earns $7,500 a month and the other $2,500.

In Illinois, which uses net income, the formula takes 33⅓% of the higher earner's net income ($2,500) minus 25% of the lower earner's ($625), for $1,875 a month. The statute then caps the recipient's income plus maintenance at 40% of combined net income: 40% of $10,000 is $4,000, and the recipient already has $2,500, so the guideline amount is $1,500 a month. For a 10-year marriage the duration factor is 0.44, or about 4 years and 5 months.

In Ohio, which has no formula, the same gross figures produce an illustrative $1,750 under the national guideline, also capped to $1,500, for about 5 years. The Ohio result is labeled as a ballpark, and the page lists the factors an Ohio court actually weighs.

The two results match here only because the 40% cap binds in both. Change the incomes and they diverge, and in Ohio a judge is free to land anywhere the factors support.

What the calculators do not do

• They do not decide whether you are eligible for alimony. Texas, for example, generally requires a marriage of 10 years or more and an inability to meet minimum reasonable needs, unless family violence or a disability is involved.
• They do not model a judge's discretion, a prenuptial agreement, or a deviation for unusual circumstances.
• They do not calculate taxes. The IRS says a paying spouse cannot deduct alimony paid under a divorce or separation agreement executed after 2018.
• They do not account for child support, which some formulas treat differently and which you should estimate separately.

For the law behind the numbers, see our state-by-state alimony law guide, which explains eligibility, duration, and how support ends in each state. The child support calculators use each state's own schedule, and the legal tools hub has related forms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is alimony calculated?

It depends on the state. A few states set a formula in statute, such as Illinois (a share of one spouse’s net income minus a share of the other’s, capped at 40% of combined income) or Texas (the lesser of $5,000 a month or 20% of the paying spouse’s average monthly gross income). Most states have no formula and leave the amount to the judge, who weighs factors like the length of the marriage and each spouse’s earning capacity.

How accurate is this alimony calculator?

In a formula state, the calculator applies the statutory math, so the number is the guideline a court starts from, although a judge can still depart from it. Florida (for durational alimony) and Massachusetts (generally, absent grounds to deviate) are different: their statutes set a ceiling (the recipient’s need or a share of the income difference, whichever is less), so the figure there is a maximum, not a starting point. In a state with no formula, the figure is labeled illustrative: it applies a national professional guideline purely as a ballpark and is not that state’s law. Either way, it is an estimate, not a prediction of your order.

How long does alimony last?

Several states tie duration to the length of the marriage. Illinois multiplies the years married by a factor that rises with the length of the marriage; Massachusetts caps general term alimony at a percentage of the months married for marriages of 20 years or less; Florida’s durational alimony cannot exceed 50%, 60% or 75% of the marriage length depending on how long it lasted, absent exceptional circumstances; Texas caps maintenance at 5, 7 or 10 years. Where a state has no rule, the calculator says so.

Is alimony taxable?

For federal income tax, the IRS says the paying spouse cannot deduct alimony paid under a divorce or separation agreement executed after 2018, or under an older agreement later modified to adopt that rule. Older agreements follow the prior rules, where the recipient reports the alimony as income. State tax treatment can differ.

Should I use gross or net income?

Use whatever your state’s formula uses, and the calculator asks for the right one. Illinois, Florida and Louisiana work from net income; Texas, Massachusetts and New Hampshire work from gross. The illustrative national guideline used for no-formula states works from gross income.

Does child support affect alimony?

Often. Some formulas, such as New York’s, use different rates when child support is also ordered. Use the child support calculator for your state alongside this one.

Is anything I type stored?

No. The calculators run in your browser and nothing you enter is sent to or stored on our server.