The short answer
A 60/40 custody schedule gives one parent about 219 overnights a year and the other about 146. The most common patterns are every extended weekend, the 4-3 schedule, and every other extended weekend plus a midweek overnight. Each gives 8 and 6 nights per two weeks.
Last updated: October 20, 2026
Custody schedule guide
60/40 Custody Schedule
One main home for the school week, real time with both parents. Here are the three most common 60/40 patterns with calendars, the overnight math, and how a 60/40 split can grow into 50/50.
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Quick answer
What is a 60/40 custody schedule?
A 60/40 custody schedule splits a child's overnights so that one parent has about 60 percent and the other has about 40 percent. Over a 365-day year, a strict 60/40 split is about 219 overnights with one parent and 146 with the other.
In practice, most schedules people call 60/40 run on a two-week rotation, and 14 nights do not divide evenly into 60 and 40. The common patterns give 8 nights to one parent and 6 to the other, which is about 57/43, or roughly 209 and 156 overnights a year. Holiday and summer schedules then move the yearly total up or down.
Overnights are the usual unit because that is how many courts and child support formulas count parenting time. Daytime visits without an overnight usually do not change the percentage.
The three most common 60/40 schedules
Each gives 8 and 6 nights per two weeks. A two-week calendar is included for each. Each square is who has the child that night.
Every extended weekend
Simple and the same every week8 / 6 per fortnight · 4 transitions/fortnight · longest stretch: 4 nights (A), 3 nights (B)
Parent A has every school night from Monday through Thursday. Parent B picks up Friday after school and returns the child to school on Monday morning, every week.
| Week | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | B | A | A | A | A | B | B |
| Wk 2 | B | A | A | A | A | B | B |
A = Parent A (60%) · B = Parent B (40%)
Pros
- +Identical every week, so it is easy for a child to learn
- +School-night routine stays in one home
- +Exchanges can happen at school, with no face-to-face handoff
Cons
- −Parent A gets no regular weekend time
- −Parent B has little involvement in homework and school nights
- −Can feel lopsided as children get older and weekends fill up
4-3 schedule
Weekend time for both parents8 / 6 per fortnight · 4 transitions/fortnight · longest stretch: 4 nights (A), 3 nights (B)
Parent A has Sunday through Wednesday nights. Parent B has Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The child returns to Parent A on Sunday, so each parent gets part of every weekend.
| Week | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | A | A | A | A | B | B | B |
| Wk 2 | A | A | A | A | B | B | B |
A = Parent A (60%) · B = Parent B (40%)
Pros
- +Both parents get weekend time every week
- +Same days every week, easy to plan work around
- +Parent B covers one school night (Thursday), not only weekends
Cons
- −Parent A rarely gets a full Saturday
- −Sunday exchanges can cut into family plans on both sides
- −Weekly exchanges mean a child is never away from either home for long, which some older kids find choppy
Every other extended weekend plus midweek
Builds on every-other-weekend8 / 6 per fortnight · 4 transitions/fortnight · longest stretch: 6 nights (A), 5 nights (B)
Parent B has every Wednesday overnight. On alternating weeks, Parent B keeps the child from Wednesday after school through Monday morning drop-off. Parent A has the other weekend.
| Week | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | A | A | A | B | B | B | B |
| Wk 2 | B | A | A | B | A | A | A |
A = Parent A (60%) · B = Parent B (40%)
Pros
- +Each parent gets full weekends, alternating
- +A midweek overnight every week keeps Parent B involved in school life
- +Easy to step up later by adding a second midweek night
Cons
- −Pattern differs week to week, so a shared calendar helps
- −Longest stretch away from Parent B can reach 6 nights
- −Midweek exchanges need homes reasonably close to school
A note on 5-2: a schedule where one parent has every weekday and the other has every weekend gives 2 of every 7 nights to the weekend parent, about 71/29. It is usually described as 70/30, not 60/40. Adding a Sunday overnight turns it into the every extended weekend schedule above.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Every ext. weekend | 4-3 | EOW ext. + midweek |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nights per fortnight | 8 / 6 | 8 / 6 | 8 / 6 |
| Transitions/fortnight | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Same every week | Yes | Yes | No |
| Weekend time for Parent A | None | Sundays | Alternate weekends |
| School nights with Parent B | Sunday | Thursday | Every Wednesday, plus one Thursday and one Sunday per fortnight |
Who a 60/40 schedule suits
Families who want school-week stability
A 60/40 schedule keeps most school nights in one home, so homework, bedtime, and morning routines stay consistent while the other parent still has substantial time.
Homes that are farther apart
If one home is a long drive from school, frequent midweek exchanges get hard. A 60/40 pattern puts most school nights with the parent closer to school and gives the other parent longer weekend blocks.
Parents with uneven work schedules
When one parent works evenings, travels, or has early starts, a 60/40 split can match parenting time to the nights each parent can actually be home.
Young children who need one main base
Some families with toddlers or preschoolers start with a 60/40 split so the child has a primary home base and frequent contact with the other parent, then step up toward 50/50 as the child grows.
Parents rebuilding time
A parent who moved, changed jobs, or is returning to regular parenting time may start at 60/40 with a written plan to increase time.
Pros and cons of 60/40 custody
Pros
- +Steady school-week routine in one home
- +Both parents keep regular, meaningful time
- +Fewer exchanges than most 50/50 patterns like 2-2-3
- +Works when homes or work schedules make 50/50 hard
- +Easy to step up toward 50/50 later
Cons
- −The 40 percent parent can feel like a weekend parent
- −Uneven time can feed conflict if either parent sees it as winning or losing
- −The 60 percent parent carries more of the school-night load
- −Child support may shift, depending on your state
- −Some patterns give one parent little weekend time
How 60/40 custody can affect child support
Many states factor parenting time into child support, and many count it in overnights. Under those formulas, a parent with 146 to 156 overnights a year may see a different amount than a parent with every-other-weekend time, and both parents' incomes still matter.
Some states only apply a shared-parenting adjustment once the parent with less time reaches a set number of overnights, so a few nights a year can make a difference. Other states use a different method entirely.
The rules vary by state. Check your state's child support guidelines or ask a family law attorney before agreeing to a schedule based on its support impact.
Moving from 60/40 toward 50/50
Many parenting plans start at 60/40 and build in steps toward equal time. Writing the steps and dates into the plan avoids having to renegotiate later. A common path:
Start with 60/40
Use one of the three patterns above while everyone settles into two homes.
Add a second midweek overnight
For example, add a Tuesday overnight on alternating weeks. That moves the split toward 7 and 7 nights in a fortnight.
Move to a 50/50 rotation
Switch to a 2-2-5-5 or 2-2-3 pattern once the child is ready and the logistics work.
Review on a set date
Put a review date in the plan, such as the start of a school year, so both parents know when the next step is discussed.
See the 50/50 custody schedule guide and the 5-2-2-5 schedule for what the next step looks like.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a 60/40 custody schedule?
A 60/40 custody schedule gives one parent about 60 percent of the overnights and the other parent about 40 percent. Over a full year that is roughly 219 overnights with one parent and 146 with the other. Most week-by-week 60/40 patterns actually land at 8 and 6 nights per two weeks (about 57/43), because 14 nights do not divide into an exact 60/40 split.
Is 60/40 the same as primary custody?
Not exactly. The parent with 60 percent is often called the majority-time or primary residential parent, but in many states a 60/40 split is still treated as shared or joint physical custody because both parents have substantial overnight time. Legal custody (decision-making about school, healthcare, and religion) is a separate question, and many 60/40 families share it jointly. The exact labels vary by state, so check how your state and your order describe it.
How many days is 60/40 custody in a month?
In a 30-day month, a strict 60/40 split is 18 overnights with one parent and 12 with the other. The common two-week patterns (8 and 6 nights per fortnight) work out to about 17 and 13 overnights in a 30-day month. Monthly counts shift a little depending on where the month starts in the rotation.
What does a 60/40 custody schedule with every other weekend look like?
Every other weekend on its own (2 of every 14 nights) is closer to 85/15. To reach roughly 60/40, families usually add midweek overnights and extend the weekends. A common version: the 40 percent parent has every Wednesday overnight, and on alternating weeks keeps the children from Wednesday after school through Monday morning drop-off. That gives 6 of every 14 nights, about 57/43.
How many overnights a year is 60/40?
A strict 60/40 split is about 219 overnights with one parent and 146 with the other (365 x 0.6 = 219, 365 x 0.4 = 146). The common 8-and-6 fortnight patterns give about 209 and 156 overnights a year before holiday and summer schedules are layered on top.
Does 60/40 custody change child support?
It can. Many states factor parenting time, often counted in overnights, into the child support formula alongside both parents' incomes. Some states only apply a shared-parenting adjustment once the parent with less time reaches a set number of overnights, so the difference between 146 and 156 nights a year can matter. Rules vary by state, so check your state's child support guidelines or ask a family law attorney.
Can a 60/40 schedule become 50/50 later?
Yes. Parents can agree to change the schedule at any time, and many parenting plans build in a step-up, for example adding a midweek overnight after six months, then moving to a 2-2-5-5 rotation when the child starts school. If parents do not agree, a court modification usually requires showing a meaningful change in circumstances. Your state's rules apply.
Is 60/40 better than 50/50?
Neither is better in general. A 60/40 schedule often fits when homes are farther apart, when one parent's work schedule limits school-night availability, or when a young child benefits from one main base. A 50/50 schedule fits when both parents live close, have similar availability, and can coordinate well. The best schedule is the one that fits your child's age and your family's real logistics.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Custody and child support rules vary by state. Talk to a family law attorney in your state about your situation.
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