Alimony Calculator
Last reviewed · Illinois, Colorado, Florida and New York formulas corrected
Estimate spousal support payments using your state's formula or judicial discretion factors. Covers formula states like Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, and Texas, plus general estimates for all other states.
Alimony varies widely by state, income, and marriage length. In formula states, spousal support is typically 20-35% of the income difference between spouses. Duration depends on marriage length: short marriages (under 5 years) rarely result in long-term alimony, while marriages over 20 years may qualify for indefinite support. Use the calculator below for your state's specific estimate.
Filing in Texas? Use the Texas alimony calculator for state specific fees and court costs.
This is an estimate only. Actual alimony orders depend on many factors your court will consider, including standard of living during marriage, age, health, and earning capacity. Consult a family law attorney in your state for legal advice.
This is an estimate built from the rule, schedule or survey named on this page, not legal advice and not a quote. Figures change when a legislature or a court changes them. Check the statute or the court’s own fee schedule, or ask a lawyer in your state, before you rely on a number here.
How Alimony Is Calculated Across the US
Alimony, also called spousal support or spousal maintenance, is calculated differently in every state. Unlike child support, which uses standardized formulas in most states, alimony relies heavily on judicial discretion in the majority of jurisdictions. Only a handful of states have adopted specific mathematical formulas, and even in those states, judges retain the authority to deviate based on individual circumstances.
The duration of alimony is as important as the monthly amount. Short marriages (under 5 years) rarely result in long-term support. Medium-length marriages (5-15 years) typically produce rehabilitative alimony designed to last until the lower earner can become self-supporting. Long marriages (over 15-20 years) may result in indefinite alimony in some states, particularly when the recipient sacrificed career opportunities during the marriage.
A critical distinction exists between agreements finalized before and after January 1, 2019. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, alimony payments from post-2018 divorces are no longer tax-deductible for the payor and no longer taxable income for the recipient. This change significantly affects the net cost of alimony for both parties. Learn how we verify our data.
Sources: state spousal support statutes, including Texas Family Code Chapter 8, Florida Statute 61.08, Illinois 750 ILCS 5/504 and Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 208 Section 53. Reviewed September 2026. Alimony rules change often, so confirm current law in your state before relying on these figures.
These calculators provide educational estimates only. Alimony determinations involve many factors not captured here including marital misconduct, prenuptial agreements, property division, and the standard of living established during the marriage. Always consult a licensed family law attorney in your state before making legal decisions.
What Actually Drives the Number
Whether your state uses a formula or leaves the decision to a judge, the same handful of variables do most of the heavy lifting. Understanding them tells you more about your likely outcome than any single calculation.
Every formula subtracts something for what the recipient already earns. Two spouses making $120,000 and $110,000 generate almost no support, no matter how comfortable those salaries sound. A gap of $120,000 to $30,000 produces a very different outcome.
Duration tracks this almost everywhere, and in some states it determines whether you qualify at all. Texas will not consider maintenance for marriages under ten years unless there was family violence. Massachusetts and Illinois tie duration directly to the calendar.
If a spouse is voluntarily out of work or earning well below what their credentials would support, most courts will impute income based on what that person could reasonably earn. Cutting your hours shortly before a hearing rarely produces the intended effect.
In discretion states this is often the single most influential factor, and it is also the most document-dependent. Bank statements, credit card records, and household budgets carry weight here that argument does not.
A spouse who stepped out of the workforce to raise children, or who relocated for the other's career, starts with a stronger claim, particularly in long marriages. Courts increasingly treat this as a direct contribution to the higher earner's earning capacity.
How Long Alimony Lasts in Your State
Duration is calculated separately from amount, and it usually tracks marriage length rather than income. This is the most commonly overlooked part of the calculation, because a modest monthly figure paid over a long period costs more than a large one paid briefly.
Several states set duration by statute. Where they do, the rule is predictable enough to plan around.
| State | Marriage length | Duration limit |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 5 years or less | 50% of the marriage length |
| Massachusetts | 5 to 10 years | 60% of the marriage length |
| Massachusetts | 10 to 15 years | 70% of the marriage length |
| Massachusetts | 15 to 20 years | 80% of the marriage length |
| Texas | 10 to 20 years | 5 years |
| Texas | 20 to 30 years | 7 years |
| Texas | Over 30 years | 10 years |
| Illinois | Under 5 years | 20% of the marriage length |
| Illinois | Over 20 years | Up to 100% of the marriage length, or indefinite |
| Florida | Bridge-the-gap | 2 years maximum, non-modifiable |
| Florida | Rehabilitative | 5 years maximum, written plan required |
| California | Under 10 years | Roughly half the marriage length |
| California | 10 years or more | No fixed end date, court retains jurisdiction |
Two triggers end alimony almost everywhere regardless of the stated duration. In nearly every state, remarriage of the recipient ends periodic support, and so does the death of either spouse unless an agreement says otherwise. Beyond those, most states allow modification when circumstances change substantially, including retirement, serious illness, or a significant income change on either side.
Sources: State family law statutes including Texas Family Code Chapter 8, Florida Statute 61.08, and Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 208. Updated July 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is alimony calculated?
Alimony is calculated differently depending on your state. Some states like Massachusetts, Illinois, and New York use specific formulas based on the income difference between spouses. Massachusetts uses 30-35% of the difference in gross incomes. Illinois uses 33.33% of the payor's net income minus 25% of the payee's net income, capped at 40% of combined net income. Most other states use judicial discretion, where judges consider factors like marriage length, income disparity, age, health, and standard of living.
What is the average alimony payment in the US?
There is no single official average for alimony payments in the US because awards vary dramatically by state, income level, marriage duration, and individual circumstances. In formula-based states, spousal support typically ranges from 20% to 35% of the income difference between spouses. Higher-income earners in long marriages may see awards of $5,000 or more per month, while short marriages under 5 years rarely result in alimony at all. The best way to estimate your potential alimony is to use your state's specific formula or consult a family law attorney.
How long does alimony last?
Alimony duration depends on the length of the marriage and your state's rules. In Massachusetts, duration ranges from 50% of the marriage length for marriages under 5 years to 80% for marriages of 15-20 years, with indefinite support possible for marriages over 20 years. In Texas, alimony is capped at 5 years for marriages of 10-20 years, 7 years for 20-30 year marriages, and 10 years for marriages over 30 years. Where there is no formula, courts often award support for a fraction of the marriage length, commonly somewhere between a third and a half.
Can alimony be modified after divorce?
Yes, alimony can be modified in most states if there is a substantial change in circumstances. Common reasons include job loss, significant income change, retirement, remarriage of the recipient, or cohabitation of the recipient with a new partner. Some states require a minimum percentage change in income (typically 10-20%) before modification is allowed. Modifications are not automatic and require filing a motion with the court.
Is alimony tax deductible?
For divorce agreements finalized after December 31, 2018, alimony payments are not tax deductible for the payor and not taxable income for the recipient under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. For agreements finalized before 2019, the old rules still apply: payments are deductible for the payor and taxable for the recipient, unless the agreement has been modified to adopt the new rules.
What is the difference between alimony and spousal support?
Alimony and spousal support are the same thing, just called by different names depending on the state. Some states use the term alimony (Florida, Massachusetts), others use spousal support (California), and others use spousal maintenance (Illinois, New York, Texas). Regardless of the term, it refers to financial payments from one former spouse to the other after divorce.
Does adultery affect alimony?
The impact of adultery on alimony varies by state. In some states like Georgia and Virginia, adultery by the requesting spouse can bar them from receiving alimony entirely. In no-fault divorce states like California, adultery generally has no effect on alimony calculations. In Massachusetts and several other states, judges may consider marital misconduct as one factor among many but it is not determinative.
How much alimony do I pay in Texas?
Texas has strict eligibility requirements for alimony, called spousal maintenance. The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years, and the requesting spouse must demonstrate inability to earn sufficient income. Texas caps maintenance at the lesser of $5,000 per month or 20% of the payor's average monthly gross income. Duration is limited: 5 years for marriages of 10-20 years, 7 years for 20-30 years, and 10 years for marriages exceeding 30 years.
Does cohabitation affect alimony?
In most states, cohabitation by the recipient can reduce or terminate alimony payments. The definition of cohabitation varies by state but generally means living with a romantic partner in a marriage-like arrangement. Some states require proof that the cohabitation has reduced the recipient's financial need. In a few states like Connecticut, the payor must prove that the cohabiting partner provides financial support to the recipient.
What happens to alimony if I remarry?
In virtually every state, alimony terminates automatically when the recipient remarries. This is one of the few universal rules in alimony law. If the payor remarries, it generally does not affect the existing alimony obligation unless the payor can demonstrate a substantial change in financial circumstances. Alimony also ends when either spouse dies, unless the divorce agreement or order provides otherwise.