60/40 Custody Schedules: Examples and Expert Tips

A popular arrangement among co-parents, 60/40 custody schedules ensure that children spend quality time with both parents. Explore different 60/40 schedules and get expert tips for deciding which 60/40 custody rotation will work best for your family.

• How does a 60/40 custody schedule work?
• Examples of 60/40 parenting schedules
• How to find the right 60/40 parenting schedule for your family
• Expert-recommended 60/40 schedules based on a child’s age
• Best way to track 60/40 custody schedules
• Free 60/40 parenting schedule templates

What is 60/40 custody?

60/40 custody describes a rotation where one parent has physical custody 60% of the time, and the other has custody 40% of the time. This schedule usually gives one parent four days per week and three days for the other.

See free 60/40 custody schedule templates for every rotation below.

Shared parenting time, also known as shared physical custody, allows parents to play relatively equal roles in raising children, even if the co-parents no longer maintain a relationship or live together. The trend toward shared parenting reflects a growing understanding that children should form and maintain strong relationships with both parents. Moreover, a consistent schedule benefits both parents and children by establishing a routine.

60/40 allows children to spend quality time with both parents and develop meaningful relationships. A 2002 meta-analysis of 33 studies, reported by the American Psychological Association, found that children in joint custody arrangements had fewer behavior and emotional problems and better family relations than children in sole custody. The researcher noted the results don’t support joint custody in all situations, such as when a parent is abusive or neglectful.

Inna Materese, founder of Materese Family Law, PC, describes the arrangement like this:

“A 60/40 schedule is one where each parent enjoys significant physical custody time with the child, but the co-parents don’t have the exact same parenting time. In a true 50/50 schedule, both parents enjoy approximately seven days with the child over a two-week period (seven out of 14 days/nights). A 60/40 schedule is one where one parent has slightly less than exactly equal time with the child over a week or a two-week period.”

With parenting plans, the children’s needs should come first. Also, co-parents can tweak the plans to accommodate their circumstances if they communicate well and agree on any changes.

On paper, 60/40 schedules give one parent more days of physical custody than the other. In fact, divorce and family law attorney Joseph Cadicina notes that a 60/40 schedule gives “one parent 73 more days per year.”

But, in many situations, the children are not with their parents. For example, they may be at school, in an extracurricular activity, or in daycare. In that light, a 60/40 split usually gives co-parents nearly equal opportunity. 

Melissa Cohen, a divorce and family law attorney, recommends that “co-parents try not to prioritize achieving a certain percentage of parenting time. Instead, co-parents could consider organizing a schedule based on the child’s best interest.”

Cohen adds: “As with all shared parenting plans, the co-parents should communicate and cooperate well to make a schedule function well. Also, the parents must reside within a reasonable distance of one another.”

The specifics of 60/40 schedules can differ depending on the children’s needs and ages, plus the parents’ schedules and preferences. You can tailor the schedule to meet your needs and adjust during holidays and special events.

Parenting schedules affect everyone’s lives. Before selecting a plan, explore your options. Consider all relevant factors to ensure your plan meets your family’s needs and preferences.

How does a 60/40 custody schedule work?

A 60/40 custody schedule means one parent has the child 60% of the time, and the other has the child 40% of the time. The parenting schedule can be arranged in various ways, taking into account the schedules of both co-parents. All practical 60/40 schedules are a variation of the 4-3 plan.

“There are several ways to establish a 60/40 custody schedule,” Materese notes. “Most often, we use a personalized 4-3 schedule, where one parent has most of the weekdays (the 60%) while the other parent has some weekday responsibility in addition to their custodial weekends (the 40%). Overall, one parent may have 8 out of every 14 overnights while the other has 6 out of every 14.”

60/40 custody schedules vs. 50/50 custody schedules

60/40 and 50/50 schedules are two options that co-parents can use to share custody of children. 50/50 schedules split parenting time evenly, whereas 60/40 schedules give one parent 60% of the time and the other 40% of the time.

Some co-parents place considerable emotional significance to a 50/50 arrangement. Splitting time down the middle can make parents feel like they each have an equal opportunity to raise and bond with their children. However, a 50/50 split won’t work for all parents. Co-parents often need to tweak the 50/50 schedule because their work schedules cannot always accommodate a 50/50 rotation. 

60/40 is a near replacement of 50/50, particularly when one parent cannot take the kids during the week and the other co-parent is willing to forgo their weekend with the kids. For example, many co-parents with 9-5 jobs cannot pick up the children from school or handle a mid-week exchange, which most 50/50 schedules (other than an alternating weeks schedule) require. When a co-parent can’t realistically spend meaningful time with their kids during the week, they may opt to have 40% custody over the weekend instead, assuming the other co-parent has a more flexible midweek schedule. 

A 60/40 split doesn’t necessarily mean one parent is with a child for longer. In many cases, the children are in school or at another event which could be considered third-party time. Summers and vacations also impact the time each co-parent spends with their children. In general, 60/40 usually gives co-parents the same, or very similar, amount of quality time with their children as 50/50 rotations. Try inserting third-party time into your shared parenting calendar to understand how much time both you and your co-parent will be with the kids.

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What do 60/40 custody schedules look like?

You can tailor the specifics of your 60/40 plan to your schedule. Some common schedules include variations of the 4-3 schedule. Most co-parents adjust the parenting schedules to maximize each co-parent’s time with children and minimize logistical hassles.

Cadicina, a family and divorce attorney, says co-parents can customize a 60/40 schedule by choosing which days to alternate, then working in reverse to split time 60/40.

"There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to 60/40,” he says. “For example, when both co-parents want to have weekends, they can alternate long weekends, with the kids staying with the 60% co-parent during the week. Then, to maintain the 60/40 split, the 40% co-parent can add in weekday overnights as needed. Parents need to work together and create a custom parenting plan that best suits the needs of their children and their unique family situation."

Examples of 60/40 custody schedules

60/40 schedules arrange each week, so one co-parent has physical custody for four days, and the other co-parent has physical custody for three days. The only standard 60/40 schedules are variations of the 4-3 schedule.

The specifics of each family’s 60/40 schedule depend on the child’s needs and the co-parents’ schedule constraints. You can change any parenting arrangement to accommodate for third-party time, holidays, and other special occasions. The co-parents are the fundamental designers of any plan, and so long as both agree, they can change any schedule as they see fit.

Many families begin with a template of a common 60/40 schedule, then make any adjustments they need. You can experiment with the Calendar in OurFamilyWizard, or your attorney can use the Custody Schedule Builder (available for family law professionals) to quickly and easily show you what custom 60/40 custody schedules look like. 

Here are examples of the typical schedule variations and their advantages and challenges. 

4-3 custody schedule

A 4-3 custody rotation is one of the most common and simple ways for co-parents to create a 60/40 parenting plan. One parent has physical custody four days a week, and the other has custody for three days. This schedule minimizes time away and the number of exchanges. A 4-3 schedule can suit a family where one co-parent has limited time to spend with the children during the week. In this case, the co-parent will be with the children for the last three days of the week, Friday-Sunday. However, this means that, depending on the children’s ages, the first co-parent will probably have less free time to spend with the kids during the week; however, they will also have one extra day.

If Maya stays with one parent Monday through Thursday nights, the other parent picks her up from school on Friday and has her through Sunday night. If she has Saturday swim practice, that parent drives her every week.

In general, 4-3 can accommodate many situations. However, to make the most of this schedule, co-parents must be able to communicate effectively and maintain a healthy parenting relationship. It also works best when co-parents live close to each other.

4-3 Parenting Schedule 

Every extended weekend custody schedule

The extended weekend schedule is one variation of the 4-3 schedule. The co-parents begin their schedule on Monday morning in the extended weekend schedule. The co-parent with 60% custody time is with the kids from Monday morning through Friday afternoon (four overnight stays). Then, the co-parent with 40% custody is with the kids through the weekend.

Every Extended Weekend Parenting Schedule

The 8-6 custody schedule

Some co-parents use the 8-6 schedule, where the parent with 60% custody is with the children for eight days, and the other is with the children the next six days. This means the kids are apart from each parent longer, but it also minimizes the exchanges.

8-6 Parenting Schedule

60/40 custody with alternating weekends (and midweek visits)

Sometimes, each co-parent will want to enjoy weekend time with the children. In this case, co-parents can alternate long weekends every other week. The children will stay with the 60% parent during the week. But, to even out the schedule, the parent with 40% custody will get the children for one overnight visit midweek during the week, where they also have weekend custody.

So, in week one, they will have four overnights (one midweek overnight and the three  overnights for the long weekend.)

Then, when the 60% co-parent has weekend custody, the 40% co-parent will have the kids for two overnights. So, every two weeks, the 40% co-parent has six overnights out of 14 days (43%), and the 60% co-parent has eight overnights (57%).

As this last schedule shows, you can start by assigning specific days to each co-parent, then work in reverse and add midweek overnights or visits to even out the time.

Alternating Weekends with Midweek Visits Parenting Schedule

Common 60/40 custody schedule errors

Other online resources incorrectly list the 2-2-3 custody schedule as a 60/40 schedule. A 2-2-3 schedule is a 50/50 split that moves the child between homes several times a week. In a typical 2-2-3 schedule, the first co-parent spends two days with the children. Then, the children will spend two days with the second co-parent. And then, they return to the first co-parent for three days. In a 50/50 schedule, the co-parents swap days each week.

A 2-2-3 schedule can only create a 60/40 split if the same co-parent is with the kids for the first two sets of two days. In this case, the schedule is identical to the 4-3. However, if the co-parents do not switch days every week, then one co-parent will be with the kids for five days and the other for only two days, which is a 70/30 split. 

Custody considerations for a summer co-parenting schedule

Many co-parents with school-aged children use a summer co-parenting schedule that differs from the school-year schedule. For example, some co-parents swap their schedule, so the co-parent who had the children during the week now has weekends. If work schedules allow, co-parents can choose a 50/50 split during the summer with a 2-2-3 or 2-2-5-5 rotation.

Top factors to consider when choosing a 60/40 parenting schedule

All 60/40 custody schedules provide the children with stability and allow both co-parents to be actively involved in raising the child. To pick a plan, first, consider your child’s age and specific needs. Then, ask whether you can handle the logistical challenges of the schedule.

Materese notes that 60/40 works best for certain types of co-parents and children.

“Children who have significant extracurriculars or childcare needs during the week will benefit from a 60/40 schedule that lets both parents be involved,” she says. “In addition, children who have better learning or homework experiences with one parent versus the other might benefit from a schedule that allows them to spend more time during the week in one home versus the other. Lastly, children with siblings in one home versus another may benefit from slightly more quality in one parent’s household to foster and facilitate sibling relationships.”

Materese also describes the types of co-parents who may enjoy a 60/40 schedule.

“Parents whose work obligations prohibit them from being able to facilitate school or childcare transportation or significant extracurricular activities may benefit from having slightly less physical custody during the week,” she advises. “In addition, parents who want to maximize their quality time via consecutive custodial days might enjoy a 60/40 schedule.”

Here are additional factors to consider when choosing whether 60/40 will work for your family:

Your level of conflict matters. The 4-3 plan can work well for co-parents in high-conflict relationships that share parenting time for school-aged children. This plan can limit communication between the parents because the parents don’t have to interact to handle exchanges at school.

Materese explains this situation in more detail: “In circumstances where the conflict of the parents may trickle down to the child where frequent exchanges occur, a 60/40 schedule may help alleviate the stress to the family since exchanges can occur at school or daycare. This schedule can limit the frequency of co-parent interactions while giving both parents frequent and consistent quality time with the child.”

If every Friday exchange turns into an argument about who forgot Liam’s soccer cleats, you can move the exchange to school pickup so you don’t have to meet face to face, and keep reminders in writing. However, if both parents want access to weekend time and choose to include midweek visits for the 40% parent, then they will need to communicate and interact regularly.

• Your work schedules matter, since the 60/40 plan can be a natural fit when one co-parent works weekdays and the other works weekends. For example, a teacher might work during the week, but a physical therapist might have to work during the weekend, with some time off midweek.
• Your ability to be flexible matters. “Remember, children are going to forget things at the other co-parent’s house or need to grab something from the other house for a sport or school,” says Cohen, a family law attorney. “To accommodate this inevitability, co-parents must embrace building flexibility within their schedule.”
• Your distance from each other matters. As with most shared parenting plans, all 60/40 schedules work best when the co-parents live near one another.

Your schedule can also affect child support. Federal rules require state guidelines to base support on the paying parent’s income and ability to pay. The federal Office of Child Support Services reports that many state guidelines also consider how much time a child spends with each parent, and as of 2016, about 36 states and the District of Columbia adjusted support for parenting time. In the most common method, known as a cross-credit, each parent’s share is figured using time with the child. The two amounts are then offset, so the parent who owes more pays the difference.

That means more overnights for the 40% parent can lower what they pay, or change what the 60% parent pays, depending on both parents’ incomes. However, this can vary depending on the specific laws and guidelines in each state and the unique circumstances of each case. For example, Indiana’s child support guidelines begin a parenting time credit at 52 overnights a year. Co-parents need to consult with a family law attorney in their area to determine how a 60/40 custody arrangement may impact child support payments.

Suggested 60/40 parenting plans by scenario

The 4-3 schedule is the most common base for a 60/40 parenting plan. Of course, co-parents can always modify when the schedule starts and add in midweek visits.

Here are tips on which schedules may work best as your child grows, from toddlers to teens.

Toddlers and preschoolers need short, frequent time with each parent. The Arizona Supreme Court’s 2009 parenting time guide says a child ages 2 to 3 ideally “shouldn’t be separated on a regular schedule from either parent for longer than three days.” If you’re sharing time equally, we recommend 2-2-3 as the main 50/50 option for toddlers. A Massachusetts chapter guide from the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts says time may be shared on a reasonably equal basis if you were both involved in every part of childcare before separating, depending on your child’s temperament. Arizona’s guide adds that its equal-time plan for young children requires a high degree of communication and a low level of conflict.

If a 60/40 split is necessary because of work or other obligations, OurFamilyWizard’s comparison table above matches alternating weekends with midweek visits to newborns through PreK. The midweek overnight breaks up the time your child spends away from the 40% parent.

School-age kids (K–8th grade) do well with the same school-night routine each week, which a 4-3 or every extended weekend schedule gives them. If Ava has piano every Tuesday, the same parent takes her each week, so no one has to sort out who’s driving.

If you can share time evenly, 2-2-5-5 and 3-4-4-3 are 50/50 alternatives.

Teens have jobs and activities to fit around the schedule. The Arizona guide notes that your teenager “will usually want a say in the parenting plan but the teen doesn’t get to choose.” A guide from the Massachusetts chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts adds that older teens “do well with many different plan models.”

The same OurFamilyWizard comparison table lists the 8-6 schedule for 8th–12th grade, with exchanges kept to a minimum. That means fewer exchanges to plan around work shifts and practices. Midweek video or phone calls can keep your teen close to both of you. If you can handle a 50/50 split sometimes, you can consider the alternating weeks parenting schedule.

A 60/40 plan may not be practical for co-parents who live far apart, as it could lead to excessive travel time for the children, caregivers, and parents, causing additional stress for everyone involved.

60/40 custody schedule templates

Customizing joint custody schedules will help co-parents work together and meet their children’s needs. Use our 60/40 4-3 custody schedule template to visualize which schedule variation will work best for your family.

Download our customizable 60/40 4-3 custody schedule template 

Download our customizable 60/40 every extended weekend custody schedule template 

Download our customizable 60/40 8-6 custody schedule template 

Download our customizable 60/40 alternating weekends with a midweek visit custody schedule template

Why OurFamilyWizard is the simplest way to track 60/40 custody schedules

You can remove the headache of managing a 60/40 custody schedule on a static calendar. The parenting time calendar, part of the OurFamilyWizard app, is color-coded and lets you easily manage and customize your 60/40 schedule.

Family attorney Inna Materese advises co-parents to use apps to track their shared custody schedules.

“I recommend that co-parents track their schedules on OurFamilyWizard,” she says. “Keeping a family calendar where each parent’s custodial days are clearly marked can ensure that both parents and their children are aware of upcoming exchanges and custodial days. Most importantly, plotting out each parent’s custodial time on a calendar can help ensure predictability and stability for the child at the heart of the custody schedule.”

More than just a calendar, the app gives you other features to support co-parenting, like messaging, expense and payment tracking, file sharing, and much more. 

Key takeaways on 60/40 custody

The right 60/40 schedule is the one that keeps your child feeling steady in both homes. Whatever rotation you choose, build it on a written parenting plan that spells out the details. Your next step: Talk with your co-parent or attorney, then track the schedule in a shared parenting time calendar.

• A 60/40 parenting plan allocates 60% of the custody time to one parent and 40% to the other.
• The most common 60/40 parenting plan is the 4-3 schedule. Most other plans are variations of this schedule.
• Co-parents can modify their 60/40 parenting plans to suit their schedules and needs.
• Every 60/40 arrangement needs a written parenting plan, and it works best when co-parents communicate well and live near one another.
• A shared parenting time calendar and parenting app simplify tracking and managing a 60/40 schedule.

60/40 custody schedule FAQs

Clear answers to common questions make a 60/40 schedule easier to manage. Learn how 60/40 plans can vary by state, how many overnights they typically include, and what unusual schedules you may see online.

Is 60/40 custody considered joint custody?

A 60/40 schedule may be considered joint physical custody because both parents share substantial time with the children. How it’s labeled depends on your state, so ask your family law attorney.

How many overnights are included in 60/40 custody?

In a typical 4-3 rotation, one parent has four overnights a week (for example, Monday–Thursday nights) and the other has three (Friday–Sunday nights). Your exact count depends on how you and your co-parent design your parenting plan.

How many overnights does 60/40 custody provide in a year?

An exact 60/40 split of a 365-day year is 219 and 146 overnights, which is the 73-day difference attorney Joseph Cadicina describes. A weekly 4-3 rotation lands slightly closer to even, at about 209 and 156.

Does 60/40 custody provide primary custody?

Depending on your state, the parent with 60% of parenting time may be considered the primary custodial parent. Talk with a local family law attorney about how your jurisdiction defines it.

What is an 8/6 custody schedule?

An 8/6 schedule is a two-week version of the 4-3 plan: The parent with 60% custody has eight days and the other has six, and the days don’t need to be consecutive. Because it is built from the 4-3, it works as a variation of that rotation.

What is a 9/5 custody schedule?

In a 9/5 schedule, one parent has nine of every 14 days (about 64%) and the other has five (about 36%). That puts it between a 60/40 and a 70/30 split.

Do 60/40 custody parenting plans vary by state?

Yes, each state has its own custody laws and guidelines, and they may affect how a 60/40 parenting plan is written and enforced. The 4-3 rotation is still the most common way to build a 60/40 split.

Will a 60/40 custody schedule affect child support?

It may: According to the federal Office of Child Support Services, about 36 states and the District of Columbia adjusted child support for parenting time as of 2016. Ask a family law attorney in your state how your plan could affect support.

Is there a custodial parent in 60/40 custody?

The parent with 60% of parenting time is often treated as the custodial parent, but the label can differ by state. A local family law attorney can tell you how it applies to your plan.