U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau / ChildCare.gov · reviewed 2026-10-10
What this source supports: Child care is one of the largest household expenses for families with young children, and backup care adds unexpected cost.
Source limit: Local rates vary widely; use actual provider quotes for your own budget.
These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.
Limits
This guide divides by the incomes you enter. It does not give legal advice or apply any court order.
Local rates vary widely; use actual provider quotes for your own budget.
Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.
Common questions
What does the App compute?
Turn a weekly cost and two incomes into each household's share in percent and in dollars.
What does the App not do?
This App divides the numbers you enter. It does not give legal advice, apply a court order, or verify any income.
Where do the numbers come from?
You enter every number yourself. The sources support the method and the limits. They do not produce a result for your specific case. Keep the original documents next to the sheet you build.
Before you start
Open the linked source page and keep it beside you.
Gather the values the App asks for:
Childcare cost per week in dollars.
Weekly income of the first household in dollars.
Weekly income of the second household in dollars.
Set aside ten quiet minutes; rushed numbers are the main error this guide prevents.
Free Companion App
The App computes the worked example with your own numbers, in your browser.
APP 1
Childcare Cost Income Share Split
Turn a weekly cost and two incomes into each household's share in percent and in dollars.
This guide is edited for clarity and checked against the sources it links. It is not a substitute for official instructions or qualified advice. A linked source does not show that every person needs this guide.