What is the cost of children table in child support?

The costs of children table is a statutory table used by Services Australia to estimate what two parents at a given combined income would typically spend raising their children. It varies by number of children, age group, and combined child support income. It is updated annually on 1 January.

How is the cost of children table used in the child support formula?

In Step 7 of the formula, the combined child support income is looked up in the table to produce a dollar figure — the costs of the children (COTC). In Step 8, the paying parent's child support percentage is multiplied by this figure to produce their annual payment.

Does the costs of children table change each year?

Yes. The table is updated on 1 January each year. The 2026 table applies to Child Support Periods starting in 2026.

What is the maximum income used in the costs of children table?

The table applies up to a combined child support income of $232,843. Above this threshold, the costs of children figure does not increase further — it is capped at the highest band value.

Are children aged 13+ years more expensive under the table?

Yes. The table uses two age groups — children aged 0–12 years and children aged 13+ years. Figures for children aged 13+ years are higher at every income band, reflecting higher costs associated with that age band.

Child support reference

Costs of Children table for child support 2026

The statutory Costs of Children table estimates the annual cost used at one point in the child support formula. Choose the Combined Child Support Income, number of children and age group to find the applicable table value.

What this table shows

It provides an annual formula input, not a final child support payment or an official assessment.

The three lookup inputs

Combined Child Support Income
Number of children
Age group: 0–12, 13+, or mixed ages

A bounded example

For example, selecting two children aged 0–12 and the combined income used in the formula identifies one annual table value. Income shares, care and other formula steps still determine any estimate or assessment.

Quick answer: In 2026, Services Australia uses this table at Step 7 of the basic child support formula after each parent's child support income has been calculated and combined. The table is not a payment calculator by itself. The final amount also depends on income percentages, care percentages, cost percentages, and any formula adjustments.

Need the earlier income step first? See the 2026 self-support amount. Need the final payment? Use the child support calculator.

Lookup Panel

Find a table value

Enter the Combined Child Support Income used for the table lookup, then choose the child count and age group.

No. of children	$0 to $46,569	$46,570 to $93,137	$93,138 to $139,706	$139,707 to $186,274	$186,275 to $232,843	Income over $232,843
Children aged 0 to 12 years
1 child	17c for each $1	$7,917 plus 15c for each $1 over $46,569	$14,902 plus 12c for each $1 over $93,137	$20,490 plus 10c for each $1 over $139,706	$25,147 plus 7c for each $1 over $186,274	$28,407
2 children	24c for each $1	$11,177 plus 23c for each $1 over $46,569	$21,888 plus 20c for each $1 over $93,137	$31,202 plus 18c for each $1 over $139,706	$39,584 plus 10c for each $1 over $186,274	$44,241
3+ children	27c for each $1	$12,574 plus 26c for each $1 over $46,569	$24,682 plus 25c for each $1 over $93,137	$36,324 plus 24c for each $1 over $139,706	$47,500 plus 18c for each $1 over $186,274	$55,882
Children aged 13+ years
1 child	23c for each $1	$10,711 plus 22c for each $1 over $46,569	$20,956 plus 12c for each $1 over $93,137	$26,544 plus 10c for each $1 over $139,706	$31,201 plus 9c for each $1 over $186,274	$35,392
2 children	29c for each $1	$13,505 plus 28c for each $1 over $46,569	$26,544 plus 25c for each $1 over $93,137	$38,186 plus 20c for each $1 over $139,706	$47,500 plus 13c for each $1 over $186,274	$53,554
3+ children	32c for each $1	$14,902 plus 31c for each $1 over $46,569	$29,338 plus 30c for each $1 over $93,137	$43,309 plus 29c for each $1 over $139,706	$56,814 plus 20c for each $1 over $186,274	$66,128
Children of mixed age
2 children	26.5c for each $1	$12,341 plus 25.5c for each $1 over $46,569	$24,216 plus 22.5c for each $1 over $93,137	$34,694 plus 19c for each $1 over $139,706	$43,542 plus 11.5c for each $1 over $186,274	$48,897
3+ children	29.5c for each $1	$13,738 plus 28.5c for each $1 over $46,569	$27,010 plus 27.5c for each $1 over $93,137	$39,816 plus 26.5c for each $1 over $139,706	$52,157 plus 19c for each $1 over $186,274	$61,005

Source and limitation: The annual values and bands above come from the Registered 2026 Costs of the Children Table Notice, the configured annual source for Child Support Periods starting in 2026. A table lookup on its own is not a Formal Assessment and does not itself produce an Estimate — it is one input among several used when working out Combined Child Support Income against this table.

Where this table is used: Services Australia uses this table for standard Costs of Children Table lookups, for working out Relevant Dependent Child Amounts, and for working out Multi-case Allowances.

Looking for a payment amount rather than a table value? Use the full child support calculator to get an Estimate.

For the full formula context, see How child support is calculated. For Formula 3, the same table also supports multi-case costs and same-age cost checks.