Child maintenance in Germany is usually calculated with the Düsseldorf Table (Düsseldorfer Tabelle). It assigns a child’s needs (Barbedarf) to an age band and to the income of the paying parent. If you want to know what you must pay after a separation, you need three things: the correct age band, the adjusted net income and the rule for crediting child benefit (Kindergeld). This guide walks through these steps.
Short answer: The Düsseldorf Table 2026 sets monthly needs amounts in the first income group at 486 euros for children aged 0 to 5, 558 euros for ages 6 to 11 and 653 euros for ages 12 to 17. Child benefit is deducted from the needs amount, either half or in full. Table version: 1 January 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The Düsseldorf Table is a guideline of the higher regional courts and applies in 2026 in the version dated 1 January 2026.
- The needs amounts depend on the child’s age and on the income group of the paying parent.
- Child benefit is deducted from the table amount. Whether half or the full amount applies is governed by section 1612b of the German Civil Code (BGB).
- For adult children living in the parents’ household, the table sets 125 percent of the minimum needs of the second age band.
- The appropriate self-retention amount (Selbstbehalt) for children in training is 1,750 euros.
How do you read the Düsseldorf Table?
The table starts with the income group that matches the adjusted net income of the paying parent. The amounts in the first group apply up to an income of 2,100 euros. Higher incomes move into higher groups with larger amounts. The needs amounts for the three age bands in 2026 are shown below.
| Age band | Needs amount, first income group (euros per month) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 years | 486 | first age band |
| 6 to 11 years | 558 | second age band |
| 12 to 17 years | 653 | third age band |
| 18 years and older | No fixed amount stated | 125 percent of the minimum needs of the second age band, for adult children in the parents’ household |
The table is updated every year, so any individual calculation must use the version in force in the year of calculation. The figures in this guide come from the version dated 1 January 2026.
How is child benefit credited?
Child benefit reduces the child’s needs because it is paid for the same purpose. Under section 1612b BGB, if a parent meets the maintenance obligation by caring for the child, child benefit is credited at half its amount. In all other cases it is credited in full. The payable amount is therefore the table amount less the share of child benefit that is credited.
Assumption: an eight-year-old child has a table amount of 558 euros. In this example the child benefit is 250 euros, for illustration only. If it is credited at half, that is 125 euros and the payable amount is 433 euros. If it is credited in full, that is 250 euros and the payable amount is 308 euros. The actual amount of child benefit can be found in the payment table in the annex to the Düsseldorf Table.
What applies from age 18 and for children who study?
The system changes when a child reaches adulthood. If the child still lives in the parents’ household, the table refers to a rate of 125 percent of the minimum needs of the second age band. If a studying child lives away from home, the table names a separate need. For 2026 this amount is 990 euros, including 440 euros warm rent. The figure is unchanged compared with 2025.
The claim to training maintenance is tied to the child and to the training. How long it lasts and when it ends depends on the training. Our guide on maintenance for studying children (in German) explains the amount and duration in detail.
Which self-retention amount protects the paying parent?
The self-retention amount is the sum that the paying parent must keep for his or her own living costs. For adult children in training, the table names an appropriate self-retention amount of 1,750 euros. The table also states that the self-retention amounts were not increased for 2026. The self-retention amount works as a floor below which the own income should not be taken for child maintenance.
For parental maintenance or maintenance between spouses, the table sets different self-retention amounts. Do not mix these figures up.
How do you calculate child maintenance step by step?
A calculation is most reliable if you keep to the order of the steps. The following steps show the approach, but they do not replace an individual review.
- Determine the child’s age and assign the correct age band.
- Establish the adjusted net income of the paying parent and the matching income group.
- Read the needs amount from the table and check whether the child lives away from home.
- Deduct child benefit in the applicable amount: half where there is care, otherwise in full.
- Check the self-retention amount of the paying parent and the version of the table.
What applies in an alternating care arrangement?
If both parents care for the child to a similar extent, the question of who covers the needs shifts. The table describes the basic case, in which one parent pays and the other provides care. In an alternating arrangement, income, shares of care and costs must be considered together. Our guide on finances after separation in alternating care (in German) covers this topic in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Düsseldorf Table give the same amount for each child?
The needs amounts differ by age band, not by the number of siblings. With several children, the age of each child is decisive. The calculation is made separately for each child, while the paying parent’s income affects all of them.
When should child maintenance be recalculated?
A recalculation makes sense when the child’s age, the income of the paying parent or the table changes. The Düsseldorf Table is updated at the start of each year, so it is worth checking the current version annually.
Do I have to pay maintenance without my own income?
Maintenance depends on the income that could reasonably be earned. A parent who earns less than he or she could, without good reason, may have a notional income attributed. The court decides the details in each case.
What can I do if maintenance is not paid?
If payments stop, you can apply for an enforceable title for maintenance. A youth welfare office or legal advice service can explain the steps. The exact procedure depends on whether a title already exists.
Is the table binding?
The Düsseldorf Table is a guideline that courts apply when assessing maintenance. It is not a statute. Deviations can arise in individual cases where special circumstances apply.
What to do now
- Calculate the needs amount using the current version of the Düsseldorf Table and the child’s age.
- Clarify child benefit: who provides care, who pays and in what amount it is paid.
- If anything is unclear, have the calculation checked by legal advice before you agree to any payment.
Related reading
- Family, partnership and money: the overview for young adults
- Maintenance for studying children: amount and duration 2026 (in German)
- Alternating care after separation: finances for parents (in German)
- Stepfamilies: who pays maintenance and how children are secured (in German)
Sources: Düsseldorf Table, version 1 January 2026, Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf (in German, justiz.nrw.de) and Section 1612b BGB, child benefit as a deduction from needs (in German, buzer.de).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
