Every custody schedule, compared
Ten standard patterns and four split targets, each on a real calendar with its actual overnight count. Start with the comparison table, then open the pattern that fits.
Try any pattern
Switch between patterns and watch how the same year rearranges itself.
Schedule pattern
50/50Two nights with one parent, two with the other, then a three-night weekend that alternates. Neither parent goes more than three nights without the children.
January 2026
January 2026
- Parent A
- Parent B
Tap any night to switch parents.
At a glance
The numbers side by side
Split, cycle length, exchanges and the longest either parent goes without the children.
Equal (50/50) schedules
| Schedule | Split | Cycle | Exchanges | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-2-3 | 50/50 | 14 days | 6 / cycle | 3 nights |
| 2-2-5-5 | 50/50 | 14 days | 4 / cycle | 5 nights |
| 5-2-2-5 | 50/50 | 14 days | 4 / cycle | 5 nights |
| 3-4-4-3 | 50/50 | 14 days | 4 / cycle | 4 nights |
| Week on / week off | 50/50 | 14 days | 2 / cycle | 7 nights |
Majority-time schedules
| Schedule | Split | Cycle | Exchanges | Longest gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-3 | 57/43 | 7 days | 2 / cycle | 4 nights |
| Every other weekend + midweek | 71/29 | 14 days | 6 / cycle | 6 nights |
| Extended every other weekend | 79/21 | 14 days | 2 / cycle | 11 nights |
| Every other weekend | 86/14 | 14 days | 2 / cycle | 12 nights |
| Every weekend | 71/29 | 7 days | 2 / cycle | 5 nights |
Equal (50/50) schedules
Each parent gets 182 or 183 overnights a year. The difference is the shape of the two weeks.
- 2-2-3 Custody Schedule50/50A 50/50 rotation where neither parent goes more than three nights without the children.14-day cycle6 exchanges3-night max gap
- 2-2-5-5 Custody Schedule50/50An equal split where each parent keeps the same two weekdays every single week.14-day cycle4 exchanges5-night max gap
- 5-2-2-5 Custody Schedule50/50The same equal rotation as 2-2-5-5, written starting from the five-night block.14-day cycle4 exchanges5-night max gap
- 3-4-4-3 Custody Schedule50/50Three nights, four nights, four nights, three nights, an even split with only one moving weekday.14-day cycle4 exchanges4-night max gap
- Week-On, Week-Off Custody Schedule50/50One full week with each parent, the fewest exchanges of any equal schedule.14-day cycle2 exchanges7-night max gap
Majority-time schedules
One parent has a primary home. These range from a near-even 57/43 down to a traditional 86/14 visitation pattern.
- 4-3 Custody Schedule57/43Four nights with one parent, three with the other, repeating every week.7-day cycle2 exchanges4-night max gap
- Every Other Weekend Plus a Midweek Overnight71/29Alternating weekends with a weekly midweek overnight, about 71/29.14-day cycle6 exchanges6-night max gap
- Extended Every Other Weekend Schedule79/21Alternating weekends stretched through Sunday night, roughly an 80/20 split.14-day cycle2 exchanges11-night max gap
- Every Other Weekend Custody Schedule86/14The traditional visitation pattern: alternating Friday and Saturday nights.14-day cycle2 exchanges12-night max gap
- Every Weekend Custody Schedule71/29One parent covers every school night; the other has every Friday and Saturday.7-day cycle2 exchanges5-night max gap
By split
Working backwards from a target percentage, which patterns actually produce it, and what the real arithmetic is.
- 50/50 Custody Schedules50/50Four standard ways to split overnights exactly down the middle, side by side.14-day cycle4 exchanges5-night max gap
- 60/40 Custody Schedules57/43Close to equal, with one clear primary home, and the arithmetic behind the label.7-day cycle2 exchanges4-night max gap
- 70/30 Custody Schedules71/29Around 110 overnights a year for the second parent, the most common outcome above a visitation schedule.14-day cycle6 exchanges6-night max gap
- 80/20 Custody Schedules79/21About 78 overnights a year, extended alternating weekends, plus holidays.14-day cycle2 exchanges11-night max gap
Choosing a schedule
What are the most common custody schedules?
For equal time: 2-2-3, 2-2-5-5 (also called 5-2-2-5), 3-4-4-3 and week-on/week-off. Where one parent has more time: 4-3, alternating weekends with a midweek overnight, and extended alternating weekends. Everything else is usually a variation on one of these.
How do I choose a custody schedule?
Start with two facts: how old your children are, and how far apart you live. Younger children need shorter gaps, which means more exchanges. Longer distances mean fewer exchanges, which means longer blocks. Most families are choosing between two or three patterns once those constraints are on the table.
Which custody schedule has the fewest exchanges?
Three patterns tie at one exchange a week: week-on/week-off, every other weekend, and extended every other weekend. Among the equal schedules week-on/week-off is the lowest; 2-2-5-5, 5-2-2-5 and 3-4-4-3 each need four exchanges every two weeks, and 2-2-3 needs six.
Can we change schedules later?
Yes, and most families do as the children grow. Many plans build the change in from the start, a stated schedule now, a different one from a given age, which avoids a modification application later.
Do all 50/50 schedules give the same number of overnights?
Yes. Every equal schedule gives each parent 182 or 183 nights a year. They differ in block length, exchange count and whether weekdays stay fixed, not in the total.
Document preparation only: not legal advice. Not affiliated with any court.