How the 60/40 schedule works
The usual 60/40 plan is a 4-3 schedule: Parent A has the children Monday to Thursday nights and Parent B has Friday to Sunday nights, every week. Over a year that's about 57% and 43% of overnights, which parents and courts usually call 60/40.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | A | A | A | A | B | B | B |
| Week 2 | A | A | A | A | B | B | B |
Letters are the parent the children sleep with that night. Split: about 57/43 of overnights before holidays.
Good for
- The same days every week, so it's easy to plan
- One parent has the school nights, the other has every weekend
- Only two exchanges a week
Watch out for
- The weekday parent never gets a weekend
- The weekend parent misses school-night routines
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
What does a 60/40 custody schedule look like?
The most common version is 4-3: four nights a week with one parent and three with the other, on the same days each week. Others alternate the long weekend or use an 8-6 split over two weeks. Make a custom 2-week pattern in the calendar to try your own.
Is 4-3 exactly 60/40?
Not quite. Four nights out of seven is about 57%, and three is about 43%. Holidays and swaps move the numbers a little, which is why the calendar counts the real overnights for your year.
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.