Free Alimony & Spousal Support Calculator

Alimony (also called spousal support or maintenance) is determined differently in every state. Some states like California, Illinois, Colorado, and New York use a formula as a starting point. Most states leave it to judicial discretion based on factors like income disparity, marriage length, standard of living, and each spouse's earning capacity.

Common factors courts consider include: the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning potential, age and health of both parties, contributions to the marriage (including homemaking), the standard of living established during the marriage, and each spouse's financial needs and obligations.

Alimony can be temporary (during divorce proceedings), rehabilitative (to help a spouse become self-supporting), or long-term. Permanent alimony has become less common in recent years, with many states moving toward time-limited awards.

Duration is typically tied to the length of the marriage. A common rule of thumb is that alimony lasts for about one-third to one-half the length of the marriage. For marriages lasting 20+ years, some states allow indefinite or open-ended alimony. Short marriages (under 5 years) may result in little to no alimony.

Alimony usually ends when the recipient remarries, either spouse dies, or the court determines the recipient has had enough time to become self-supporting. Cohabitation with a new partner may also affect alimony in some states.

The amount of alimony you’ll pay depends on three main factors: the income gap between you and your spouse, how long you were married, and your state’s rules. In formula states like California, Illinois, and New York, you can estimate the amount using a percentage-based calculation on the income difference. In most other states, judges have broad discretion.

As a rough benchmark, alimony typically falls between 20–40% of the income difference between spouses. Generally, the higher the income gap and the longer the marriage, the more you may be asked to pay. Use the calculator above to get a state-specific estimate based on your actual numbers.

Alimony percentages vary significantly by state. Here are the states with specific formulas:

• California & Colorado: 40% of the higher earner’s income minus 50% of the lower earner’s income
• Illinois: 33.3% of the payor’s income minus 25% of the payee’s income (capped at 40% of combined income)
• New York: 30% of the payor’s income minus 20% of the payee’s income
• Pennsylvania: 33% of the difference between net incomes
• Massachusetts: 30–35% of the income difference

In states without a formula, courts generally award somewhere in the range of 20–35% of the income difference, but this varies widely based on the specific circumstances of each case.

Alimony is paid to support a former spouse. Child support is paid to support children. They are calculated separately, and in most states, child support obligations are calculated first, which can then affect the alimony amount. If you have children, your total support picture may look different than alimony alone.

Estimate your child support →

Formula states

A handful of states use statutory formulas as a starting point for calculating alimony. While judges can still deviate based on circumstances, these formulas provide a more predictable baseline:

• California: The Santa Clara County guideline (widely used across the state) calculates temporary support as 40% of the higher earner's net income minus 50% of the lower earner's net income. Final awards may differ from this guideline.
• Illinois: Uses a statutory formula under 750 ILCS 5/504: 33.33% of the payor's net income minus 25% of the recipient's net income, capped so the recipient does not receive more than 40% of the combined net income of both spouses.
• Colorado: Advisory guideline under C.R.S. §14-10-114: 40% of higher earner's gross monthly income minus 50% of lower earner's gross monthly income, capped at 40% of combined income. An 80% multiplier applies when combined monthly income is $10,000 or less.
• New York: Formula under DRL §236: 30% of payor's income minus 20% of recipient's income. When child support is also being paid, the percentages change to 20% and 25%.
• Pennsylvania: APL guideline under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-4: 33% of the difference between net incomes without dependent children, or 25% of the difference with dependent children.
• Massachusetts: Under M.G.L. c.208 §53, general term alimony is typically 30–35% of the difference between the parties' gross incomes.

Even in formula states, judges can deviate from the calculated amount based on factors like age, health, or significant nonfinancial contributions to the marriage. The formula is a starting point, not a guarantee.

Discretionary states

Most states — including Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, and many others — give judges a checklist of statutory factors and broad discretion to determine alimony. Common factors include: income disparity between the spouses, length of the marriage, age and health of both parties, each spouse's earning capacity, contributions to the marriage (including homemaking), and the standard of living established during the marriage.

This means two similar cases in the same state can produce very different results depending on the judge. Some attorneys and judges use informal guidelines — like awarding roughly 50% of the income gap — but these have no statutory backing. If you are in a discretionary state, the range of possible outcomes is wider, making it even more important to understand your financial picture before negotiating.

Temporary alimony (also called pendente lite support) is often ordered within weeks of filing, before any discovery or trial. It usually follows a simpler local formula and is designed to maintain the status quo during proceedings — ensuring the lower-earning spouse can cover basic expenses while the divorce is pending.

Final alimony is determined at trial or through a negotiated settlement. It incorporates a full analysis of statutory factors, detailed financial disclosure from both parties, and can be significantly higher or lower than the temporary amount.

If you received a temporary order, do not assume it predicts your final award. Temporary alimony exists to preserve financial stability during the divorce process. It is not a preview of the final outcome, and the factors considered are often more limited than those used in a final determination.

In most states where both alimony and child support apply, child support is calculated first. The child support payment is then deducted from the payor's income before the alimony formula runs, which reduces the alimony amount.

New York is the clearest example: its alimony formula uses different percentages depending on whether child support is also being paid (20%/25% with child support vs. 30%/20% without). This interaction means your total support picture — alimony plus child support combined — is what matters, not either number in isolation.

If you have children, estimate child support first, then factor it into your alimony calculation for a more accurate picture.

Duration is typically tied to marriage length. While every state has its own rules, common guidelines include:

• Marriages under 5 years: Little to no alimony, or very short-term support
• Marriages 5–10 years: Alimony for roughly one-third to one-half the length of the marriage
• Marriages 10–20 years: Longer awards, often one-half the marriage length
• Marriages 20+ years: Some states allow indefinite or open-ended alimony

Several states have moved toward statutory caps. Kansas caps alimony at 121 months with rare exceptions. Florida eliminated permanent alimony entirely in 2023 under SB 1416, allowing only time-limited forms of support.

Alimony typically ends upon: the recipient's remarriage, death of either party, or a court determination that the recipient has had sufficient time to become self-supporting. Cohabitation with a new partner may also trigger modification or termination in some states, though the definition of “cohabitation” and its impact on alimony varies significantly.

For all divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: alimony is not deductible by the payer, and not taxable income for the recipient at the federal level. This was a major change from the pre-2019 rules, where the payer could deduct alimony payments and the recipient paid taxes on them.

Some state formulas account for this change. Colorado's guideline, for example, applies adjustment multipliers that reflect the post-2018 tax treatment. State tax treatment may differ from federal rules — consult a tax professional familiar with your state's laws.

If your divorce was finalized before 2019, the old rules still apply unless you modified the agreement after that date and specifically opted into the new tax treatment. This is an important distinction that affects both the payer's and recipient's actual take-home amounts.

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