Alimony Calculator USA: Estimate Spousal Support by State
This alimony calculator for the USA gives a preliminary estimate only where a state publishes a formula or limit: Illinois, New York and Colorado formulas, and the Massachusetts, Florida and Texas maximums. In Illinois, $120,000 and $40,000 of net income gives possible guideline maintenance of $2,000 a month. Other states have no statewide formula, so the calculator says so instead of guessing.
Updated . Built and checked by My Easy Calculator against each state's statute or court worksheet and IRS Topic 452. Not legal advice. How we check figures
| Formula states | |
| Illinois | 33.3% − 25% of net |
| New York (cap $241,000) | 30% − 20% |
| Colorado | 40% − 50% x 75-80% |
| Maximum only | |
| Massachusetts | 30-35% of gap |
| Florida | 35% of net gap |
| Texas | $5,000 or 20% |
Estimate possible spousal supportPreliminary estimate from published state rules; not a court decision
- 6 states
- Checked
Possible support Illinois
A starting point for conversations, not legal advice or a prediction of what a judge will order.
Illinois, 12-year marriage, payer $120,000 and payee $40,000 net. One third of $120,000 is $40,000, less 25% of $40,000 ($10,000), gives $30,000; but the payee may not exceed 40% of the $160,000 combined, $64,000, so maintenance is capped at $24,000 a year, $2,000 a month, for 12 years × 0.52 = 6 years 2.9 months. Illustrative only.
State alimony formulas at a glance
There is no national alimony formula in the United States: each state sets its own law, and most leave the amount to the judge. A few states publish a formula or a ceiling; this table shows exactly which ones the calculator implements, how, and where the rule comes from.
| State | Type | Income used | Amount rule | Duration rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Guideline | Net | 33 1/3% of payer − 25% of payee; payee capped at 40% of combined; combined gross under $500,000 | Marriage length × 0.20 to 0.80; 20+ years: equal term or indefinite | 750 ILCS 5/504 |
| New York | Guideline | CSSA income | Lower of 30% payer − 20% payee (20% − 25% with child support) and 40% of combined − payee; payer income capped at $241,000 | Advisory: 15-30%, 30-40% or 35-50% of the marriage | DRL § 236 |
| Colorado | Advisory guideline | Gross | 40% of higher − 50% of lower, capped at 40% of combined, × 80% or 75%; combined $240,000 or less; marriage 3+ years | Table: 31% of 36 months rising to 50% at 150 to 240 months | C.R.S. 14-10-114 worksheet |
| Massachusetts | Maximum | Gross | Generally not more than need or 30% to 35% of the income difference | Up to 50%, 60%, 70% or 80% of months married; 20+ years indefinite | M.G.L. c.208 §53 |
| Florida | Maximum | Net | Lesser of reasonable need or 35% of the net income difference | Up to 50%, 60% or 75% of the marriage; none under 3 years | Fla. Stat. 61.08 |
| Texas | Maximum | Gross | Lesser of $5,000 a month or 20% of average monthly gross income | Up to 5, 7 or 10 years | Tex. Fam. Code ch. 8 |
| All other states | No statewide formula | n/a | Not estimated: set case by case from statutory factors | Case by case | State statutes |
Alimony is calculated differently in every state. In Illinois, guideline maintenance is one third of the payer's net income minus a quarter of the payee's, limited so the payee ends up with no more than 40% of the couple's combined net income; in most other states, a judge decides from factors such as need, ability to pay and the length of the marriage.
How alimony is determined in the United States
Alimony, also called spousal support or maintenance, is decided under the law of the state where the divorce is filed. The court first decides whether support is appropriate at all, then the amount and how long it lasts, and many courts can also deny support entirely even in a formula state.
Types of support
States use different names, but the common types are temporary support while a case is pending; rehabilitative support while a spouse trains or returns to work; durational or fixed-term support for a set period; bridge-the-gap support for short transitions; reimbursement alimony for contributions such as paying for a spouse's degree; and, in some states, indefinite or permanent support after long marriages. Florida abolished permanent alimony from July 1, 2023.
Formula, guideline or discretion
Illinois and New York require courts to start from a guideline and explain any deviation. Colorado's guideline is advisory. Massachusetts, Florida and Texas set maximums, so the real amount can be anywhere up to the ceiling. Most states, including California for final support, give judges broad discretion guided by a list of factors.
How to use the alimony calculator
The alimony calculator opens with an Illinois example. Choose your state, and the income labels change to match the income that state's rule uses.
- Choose the state where the divorce is filed. If yours is not listed, the calculator explains why it gives no number.
- Enter both incomes for a year, using the basis shown: net for Illinois and Florida, CSSA income for New York, gross for Colorado, Massachusetts and Texas.
- Enter the length of the marriage in years and months, generally measured to when the divorce was filed.
- Answer the state questions: the $500,000 test in Illinois, child support in New York, and reasonable need in Massachusetts and Florida.
Reading your results
The badge tells you what the number is: a guideline estimate (Illinois, New York), an advisory estimate (Colorado) or a statutory maximum (Massachusetts, Florida, Texas). The breakdown shows each step of the state's rule so you can check it. Duration is shown in months and years, or as a range where the state gives one.
Worked examples
These examples are illustrative arithmetic from the published rules, not recommended awards or predictions of a court order.
Illinois: $90,000 and $30,000 net, 8.5-year marriage
One third of $90,000 is $30,000, less 25% of $30,000 is $22,500 a year. The 40% cap is $48,000 − $30,000 = $18,000, so the cap applies: $18,000.00 a year for 102 months × 0.36 = 3 years 0.7 months.
Illinois: one earner, 22-year marriage
With $100,000 net and no payee income, one third gives $33,333.33, below the 40%% cap of $40,000. For a marriage of 20 years or more the court orders a term equal to the marriage or an indefinite term.
New York: $180,000 and $60,000, 18 years, no child support
Formula A: 30% of $180,000 − 20% of $60,000 = $42,000. Formula B: 40% of $240,000 − $60,000 = $36,000. The lower, $36,000.00 a year, applies, for an advisory 5 years 4.8 months to 7 years 2.4 months.
Same couple, payer also pays child support
Formula A becomes 20% of $180,000 − 25% of $60,000 = $21,000.00, lower than Formula B, so maintenance falls to $21,000.00 a year.
Colorado: $7,000 and $3,000 a month, 10 years
40% of $7,000 − 50% of $3,000 = $1,300, but the 40% cap is $4,000 − $3,000 = $1,000. Combined income is $10,000 or less, so × 80% = $800.00, for the table term of 54 months.
Florida: $8,000 and $3,000 net a month, 15 years
35% of the $5,000 monthly difference is $1,750.00, the most a court can award unless reasonable need is lower, for up to 60% of 15 years: 9 years.
Massachusetts: $150,000 and $50,000 gross, 12 years
30% to 35% of the $100,000 difference is $30,000 to $35,000 a year, unless need is lower. For a 12-year marriage, general term alimony can last up to 70% of 144 months: 8 years 4.8 months.
Texas: $180,000 gross payer, 22-year marriage
20% of $15,000 average monthly gross is $3,000.00, below the $5,000 ceiling. For a 22-year marriage, court-ordered maintenance can last up to 7 years, if the spouse qualifies at all.
Illinois guideline maintenance quick reference
This quick reference shows Illinois guideline maintenance per month at common net incomes, applying the 40% cap. It assumes combined gross income under $500,000 and no prior support obligations.
| Payer net income | Payee $0 | Payee $20,000 | Payee $40,000 | Payee $60,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,388.89 | $666.67 | $0.00 | n/a |
| $75,000 | $2,083.33 | $1,500.00 | $500.00 | $0.00 |
| $100,000 | $2,777.78 | $2,333.33 | $1,333.33 | $333.33 |
| $125,000 | $3,472.22 | $3,055.56 | $2,166.67 | $1,166.67 |
| $150,000 | $4,166.67 | $3,750.00 | $3,000.00 | $2,000.00 |
| $200,000 | $5,555.56 | $5,138.89 | $4,666.67 | $3,666.67 |
| $250,000 | $6,944.44 | $6,527.78 | $6,111.11 | $5,333.33 |
| Length of marriage | Factor | Length of marriage | Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | 0.20 | 12 to 13 years | 0.52 |
| 5 to 6 years | 0.24 | 13 to 14 years | 0.56 |
| 6 to 7 years | 0.28 | 14 to 15 years | 0.60 |
| 7 to 8 years | 0.32 | 15 to 16 years | 0.64 |
| 8 to 9 years | 0.36 | 16 to 17 years | 0.68 |
| 9 to 10 years | 0.40 | 17 to 18 years | 0.72 |
| 10 to 11 years | 0.44 | 18 to 19 years | 0.76 |
| 11 to 12 years | 0.48 | 19 to 20 years | 0.80 |
| 20 years or more | Equal term or indefinite |
Factors that can affect support
Even in formula states, courts first weigh statutory factors to decide whether support is appropriate. The factors differ by state but usually include:
- Income and earning capacity of each spouse, including income a court may impute to someone not working.
- Length of the marriage and the standard of living during it.
- Age and health, and the time needed to gain education or training.
- Caregiving and career sacrifices, such as years spent raising children.
- Property division, because assets received can reduce need.
- Agreements such as a valid prenuptial agreement, and in some states marital misconduct or family violence.
How long does alimony last?
How long alimony lasts depends on the state and the case; there is no national rule such as "half the length of the marriage". The formula states tie duration to the length of the marriage, and support usually ends earlier if the recipient remarries or either spouse dies, unless an agreement says otherwise.
| State | 15-year marriage | 25-year marriage |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 9 years 7.2 months | 25 years (equal to the marriage) or indefinite |
| New York | 2 years 3 months to 4 years 6 months (advisory) | 8 years 9 months to 12 years 6 months (advisory) |
| Colorado | 7 years 6 months | No table term: at least 10 years, or indefinite |
| Massachusetts | Up to 10 years 6 months | Indefinite possible |
| Florida | Up to 9 years | Up to 18 years 9 months |
| Texas | Up to 5 years | Up to 7 years |
Federal tax treatment of alimony
For divorce or separation agreements executed after December 31, 2018, alimony is not deductible by the payer and is not taxable income for the recipient. For agreements executed before 2019, payments remain deductible and taxable unless a later modification expressly adopts the new rule.
This is why the formulas changed: Illinois moved to net income in 2019 and keeps a 30% minus 20% gross formula only for modifying older, still-deductible orders, and Colorado added its 80% and 75% multipliers. Check your actual agreement and IRS Topic 452 before relying on any tax assumption; state income tax treatment can differ.
Alimony vs child support
Alimony supports a former spouse; child support supports children and is set by separate state guidelines that courts must follow more strictly. Child support is never taxable or deductible. In New York the maintenance formula changes when child support is also paid, and maintenance is calculated first; in Illinois a court may deviate if maintenance and child support together would take more than half of the payer's net income.
What this calculator cannot decide
The calculator applies published arithmetic. It cannot decide whether support is appropriate in your case, what a court will count as income, whether income should be imputed, how property division affects need, whether an agreement is enforceable, or whether support can later be modified or ended.
It also does not calculate child support, temporary support while a case is pending in states where that differs, or support in states without a formula. For any of these, a family law attorney, your local legal aid office or your court's self-help center can help; LawHelp.org lists free legal aid by state.
Frequently asked questions
There is no single national method. Illinois and New York use statutory guideline formulas, Colorado has an advisory formula, Massachusetts, Florida and Texas set maximums, and most states leave the amount to the judge after weighing factors such as need, ability to pay and the length of the marriage.
Yes. Alimony is set under the law of the state where the divorce is filed, and the same incomes can produce very different results: a formula amount in Illinois, a ceiling in Florida, and a fully discretionary award in California.
It depends on the state and the case. Illinois multiplies the length of the marriage by a factor from 0.20 to 0.80, Florida allows up to 50%, 60% or 75% of the marriage, Texas caps court-ordered maintenance at 5, 7 or 10 years, and support often ends on remarriage or death.
For divorce or separation agreements executed after 2018, alimony is not deductible by the payer and not taxable to the recipient for federal income tax. Payments under agreements executed before 2019 stay deductible and taxable unless a modification expressly adopts the new rule.
No. Alimony supports a former spouse; child support supports children, follows separate state guidelines and is never taxable or deductible. A court can order both, and in New York the maintenance formula changes when child support is also paid.
Yes. Even in guideline states the court first decides whether support is appropriate and can deviate with written findings, and in maximum states it can award anything up to the ceiling. This calculator gives a preliminary estimate, not a prediction.
Illinois guideline maintenance is 33 1/3% of the payer's net income minus 25% of the payee's, limited so the payee receives no more than 40% of combined net income, when combined gross income is under $500,000. With $120,000 and $40,000 of net income that is $24,000 a year, or $2,000 a month.
Chicago follows Illinois state law, so the Illinois guideline formula in this calculator applies in Cook County and across the state, including Aurora, Naperville and Joliet. A judge must still find maintenance appropriate before applying it.
From March 1, 2026, New York applies the maintenance guideline formula to the first $241,000 of the payer's income, up from $228,000. The court may add maintenance on income above the cap after considering the statutory factors.
No. It is a preliminary arithmetic estimate from published rules and the figures you enter. Only a court order or a valid agreement sets support; a family law attorney, legal aid or your court's self-help center can advise on your case.
Sources
- 750 ILCS 5/504, Maintenance (as amended by P.A. 103-967, effective January 1, 2025), Illinois General Assembly. Checked .
- Domestic Relations Law § 236(B)(5-a) and (6), temporary and post-divorce maintenance, New York State Senate. Checked .
- Maintenance guideline worksheet and duration table under C.R.S. 14-10-114, Colorado Judicial Branch. Checked .
- General Laws c.208 §53: amount of alimony; §49: general term alimony duration, Massachusetts Legislature. Checked .
- Florida Statutes §61.08, Alimony (2023 reform, CS/SB 1416), The Florida Senate. Checked .
- Texas Family Code Chapter 8, Maintenance (§§8.051 to 8.055), Texas Legislature. Checked .
- Topic 452, Alimony and separate maintenance, Internal Revenue Service. Checked .
- Publication 504, Divorced or Separated Individuals, Internal Revenue Service. Checked .
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Disclaimer
Calculation methodology sourced from official government publications. See our Editorial Policy for how we build and maintain our calculators.
This is a preliminary arithmetic estimate based on published state rules and the figures you enter. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not predict what a court will order; judges can award a different amount, a different duration or no support. My Easy Calculator is not a law firm. Consult a family law attorney, legal aid or your court's self-help resources before making decisions.