The Düsseldorf Table (Düsseldorfer Tabelle) is a guideline for maintenance issued by the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf (Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf). It is not a law, but courts, youth welfare offices and lawyers often use it as a guide. If you study and receive maintenance from your parents, or want to claim it, you will come across this term.
Short answer: The Düsseldorf Table is a guideline of the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf on the amount of maintenance claims. For students who do not live with their parents, the 2026 version sets a needs rate of 990 euros a month, including 440 euros warm rent. Version dated 2 December 2025, valid from 1 January 2026.
The Most Important Points at a Glance
- The table is a guideline and not a law. Courts can deviate from it in individual cases.
- The current version is dated 2 December 2025 and applies from 1 January 2026.
- For students who do not live with their parents, the needs rate is 990 euros a month.
- That needs rate includes 440 euros warm rent.
- The table governs maintenance between parents and children. The BAföG calculation follows its own rules.
- A self-retention amount (Selbstbehalt) is the sum that the person paying maintenance must keep for their own living costs.
What Exactly Is the Düsseldorf Table?
The table sets reference values for how much maintenance parents owe their children, depending on the parents’ income and the child’s age. The Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf usually updates it at the turn of the year for the following year. Courts generally take the values as a guide, but every case is decided individually.
Which Needs Apply to Students Who Do Not Live With Their Parents?
For students who do not live with their parents, the table sets a needs rate of 990 euros a month. It is unchanged compared with 2025 and includes 440 euros warm rent. Upward deviations are possible if the individual case justifies them.
| Component | Amount per month | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Total needs rate | 990 euros | Düsseldorf Table 2026 |
| of which warm rent | 440 euros | Düsseldorf Table 2026 |
| Remainder for living costs | 550 euros | calculated (990 minus 440) |
Version dated 2 December 2025, valid from 1 January 2026. Source: Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf. Assumption: you pay 520 euros warm rent for a room in a shared flat. The table then sets 440 euros, and your rent is above that. Whether the table is adjusted upwards in your case is decided individually.
What Role Does the Self-Retention Amount Play?
The self-retention amount (Selbstbehalt) describes how much the person paying maintenance must keep for their own needs before paying maintenance. The table gives reference values for it. According to the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf (status 2 December 2025), the self-retention amounts were not increased overall on 1 January 2026. The 2026 version expressly states the appropriate self-retention amount towards parents and grandchildren as 2,650 euros (including 1,000 euros warm rent), and 2,120 euros (including 800 euros warm rent) for a spouse living with the person liable to pay. The amounts that apply towards children are set out in the table itself, which you can find in the current version on the court’s website.
How Does It Differ From BAföG?
BAföG is calculated under its own rules. The basic need amount (Grundbedarf) is 475 euros, plus a housing allowance (Wohnpauschale) of 380 euros for students living away from home. These rates have applied since 1 August 2024 (as of January 2026, according to the Deutsches Studierendenwerk, German Student Affairs Association). The Düsseldorf Table and BAföG are therefore two different calculations. You can find an overview of funding in the guide BAföG 2026: Eligibility, Amount and Repayment Explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must parents apply the table?
No. The table is a guideline. Parents and courts can use it as orientation, but they do not have to. If there is a dispute, the court decides on the individual case.
Does the table also apply to adult students?
Yes, the table also covers maintenance for adult children in training. Whether a claim exists depends on the training, the benefits and the parents’ income. The Düsseldorf Table does not replace this individual check.
Which version applies to my case?
The version that applies is generally the one valid for the period in which the maintenance is due. The Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf publishes the current version on its website. For older claims, it is worth checking the table that was in force at the time.
Can I rely on the table alone?
No. The table sets a framework but does not replace legal advice. If you have a dispute with your parents or an office, get advice from a qualified professional.
Related Reading
- Child Maintenance for Students: Amount and Duration 2026
- Independent BAföG: Requirements and Application
- BAföG with a Child: Childcare Supplement and Extension
- Studying Without BAföG: Your Funding Options
Sources: Düsseldorf Table, Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, version dated 2 December 2025 · BAföG needs rates up to 2026, Deutsches Studierendenwerk (German Student Affairs Association), as of January 2026.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
