The 2-2-3 Custody Schedule

A 50/50 rotation where neither parent goes more than three nights without the children.

Also written as 2/2/3 schedule, 223 custody schedule, 2 2 3 parenting plan.

Looking for the 2-2-3 work shift pattern?

This page is about the 2-2-3 child custody schedule, how parents divide overnights after a separation. If you came here looking for the 2-2-3 employee shift rotation used in 12-hour shift workplaces, this is a different thing that happens to share the name.

Overnight split: 50/50
Cycle length: 14 days
Exchanges: 6 per cycle
Longest gap: 3 nights

See 2-2-3 on a calendar

Change the start date, swap which parent begins, or tap a night to move it. The overnight counts update as you go.

Schedule pattern

50/50

Two 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

Parent A
Parent B

Tap any night to switch parents.

The 2-2-3 schedule splits two weeks into short blocks: one parent has two nights, the other has two nights, then the first parent has a three-night weekend. The next week the whole thing flips, so the weekend alternates and each parent ends up with exactly seven of every fourteen nights.

It is one of the most common equal-time schedules for younger children, because the longest either parent goes without an overnight is three nights. That short gap is the whole point. It's also the trade-off: 2-2-3 needs six exchanges every two weeks, as many as any standard pattern and half again as many as 2-2-5-5 or 3-4-4-3.

Use the calendar below to see how 2-2-3 actually falls across your months. Change the start date and the starting parent and the overnight counts update as you go.

How 2-2-3 works

The two weeks, night by night

Week one: Parent A has Monday and Tuesday nights, Parent B has Wednesday and Thursday, and Parent A has Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Week two is the mirror image, Parent B takes Monday and Tuesday, Parent A takes Wednesday and Thursday, and Parent B has the weekend. After fourteen nights the cycle restarts.

Why the weekday assignments move

Unlike 2-2-5-5 or 3-4-4-3, no weekday belongs permanently to one parent under 2-2-3. Every weekday alternates week to week. Parents who need a fixed weekly rhythm, a standing Tuesday activity, a shift pattern, a therapy appointment, usually find 2-2-5-5 easier to live with.

How the overnights count

Each parent gets 7 of every 14 nights, which is 182 or 183 nights across a calendar year depending on where the rotation starts. That figure is what most courts and state child-support calculators ask for, so it's printed on the first page of the exported plan.

Deciding between this and another pattern? Put them side by side in the custody schedule comparison tool, check your exact numbers with the parenting time calculator, and when the schedule is settled, turn it into a court-ready parenting plan.

Pros and cons

What works well

Neither parent goes more than three nights without the children
A true 50/50 split of overnights
Weekends alternate, so both parents get real weekend time
Short blocks suit toddlers and preschoolers who lose track of longer gaps

What to watch for

Six exchanges every two weeks: the highest of any equal schedule
No weekday is permanently assigned, so the weekly routine changes
Needs parents who live close together and communicate reliably
Belongings and homework move constantly between two homes

Who 2-2-3 usually suits

Parents of infants, toddlers and early elementary children who live within a short drive of each other and can manage frequent handoffs without conflict. As children get older and their schedules get busier, many families move from 2-2-3 to 2-2-5-5 or week-on/week-off, which keep the 50/50 split but cut the number of exchanges.

How it compares

The same figures for the schedules parents usually weigh against this one.

Schedule	Split	Cycle	Exchanges	Longest gap
2-2-3This page	50/50	14 days	6 / cycle	3 nights
2-2-5-5	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

Common questions

How many overnights does each parent get on a 2-2-3 schedule?

Seven of every fourteen, which is an exact 50/50 split. Over a full calendar year that works out to 182 or 183 overnights each, depending on which day the rotation starts and whether it's a leap year.

Is 2-2-3 the same as a 2-2-3 work shift?

No. A 2-2-3 work rotation (sometimes called a Panama schedule) is a shift pattern for employees working 12-hour shifts. A 2-2-3 custody schedule uses the same numbers to describe how children's overnights are divided between two parents. This page covers the custody version.

Does 2-2-3 work for school-age children?

It can, but many families find it hard to sustain. School-age children carry more equipment, homework and after-school commitments, and moving every two or three nights makes that harder to track. 2-2-5-5 and 3-4-4-3 give the same equal split with fewer exchanges and fixed weekdays.

How do holidays fit into a 2-2-3 schedule?

Holidays override the regular rotation. A typical plan assigns Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the other major holidays on an alternating-year basis, then returns to the 2-2-3 pattern afterwards. The builder layers these on top and recalculates the overnight totals so you can see the real annual figure.

Will a court approve a 2-2-3 schedule?

Courts routinely approve 2-2-3 where both parents live close to the children's school, are able to cooperate, and the arrangement suits the children's ages. State law and local court rules vary, so confirm the specifics with your court or an attorney before you file.

Document preparation only: not legal advice. Not affiliated with any court.