How the 3-4-4-3 schedule works
One parent has three days and the other four, then it reverses the next week, so each parent has 7 nights out of 14 with fewer exchanges than 2-2-3.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | A | A | A | B | B | B | B |
| Week 2 | A | A | A | A | B | B | B |
Letters are the parent the children sleep with that night. Split: 50/50 of overnights before holidays.
Good for
- Two exchanges a week
- Both parents get some weekdays and some weekend time
- A true 50/50 split over two weeks
Watch out for
- The middle of the week changes hands, so plan activities carefully
- Four days apart can feel long for very young children
Compare other schedules
Every two-week pattern below gives the overnights in order from your start date. A and B are the two parents.
| Schedule | Week 1 | Week 2 | Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-2-3 | A A B B A A A | B B A A B B B | 50/50 |
| 2-2-5-5 | A A B B A A A | A A B B B B B | 50/50 |
| 3-4-4-3 | A A A B B B B | A A A A B B B | 50/50 |
| Week on / week off | A A A A A A A | B B B B B B B | 50/50 |
| Every other weekend | A A A A B B A | A A A A A A A | about 86/14 |
| Every other weekend + Wednesday | A A B A B B A | A A B A A A A | about 71/29 |
| 4-3 (60/40) | A A A A B B B | A A A A B B B | about 57/43 |
| Every weekend (70/30) | A A A A B B A | A A A A B B A | about 71/29 |
| Every other long weekend (80/20) | A A A A B B B | A A A A A A A | about 79/21 |
| Every third week | 2 weeks with A, then 1 week with B | about 67/33 | |
If your weeks start on Monday, the letters are Monday to Sunday. Want the pros and cons of each? Read our guide to 50/50 custody schedules.
How overnights and percentages are counted
The calendar colors each day by where the children sleep that night, and the percentage is each parent's share of the overnights shown. Holiday rules and the days you swap are included. Courts and child support offices don't all count parenting time the same way (some count hours, some count days), so use these numbers for planning and ask your attorney how your state counts them.
Printing and sharing
- Print the 12-month calendar for the fridge, or save it as a PDF from the print dialog.
- Add to a calendar: the .ics buttons create one all-day event for each stretch with that parent, which you can import into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook.
- Your settings and swaps stay saved in this browser, so you can come back and update them.
Questions
How does a 3-4-4-3 schedule work?
Week one: Parent A has Monday to Wednesday and Parent B has Thursday to Sunday. Week two: Parent A has Monday to Thursday and Parent B has Friday to Sunday. Then it repeats.
Is 3-4-4-3 really 50/50?
Yes. Over every two weeks each parent has exactly 7 overnights, so the year comes out at 50/50 before any holiday rules.
How do I make a custody calendar?
Pick the schedule in your parenting plan, choose the date the pattern starts, and add your holiday rules. The calendar fills in every night of the year in each parent's color. Click any day to swap it, for example for a trade you've agreed on.
How is parenting time percentage calculated?
This tool counts overnights: each night is given to the parent the children sleep with, and the percentage is that parent's nights divided by all the nights shown. States and courts don't all count time the same way, so check how yours does it.
Which day should the schedule start on?
Most two-week patterns are written starting on a Monday, so choose a Monday when the first parent's turn begins. If your plan starts on a different day, just pick that date: the pattern runs from whatever start date you choose.
Can I add a holiday schedule?
Yes. Give Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and a birthday to one parent, or alternate them every year. Holiday choices replace the regular schedule for that night.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's a planning and record-keeping tool. Your custody order or parenting plan is what counts, and an attorney or mediator can answer legal questions.
For planning and record-keeping only. This is not legal advice, and your custody order or parenting plan controls.