Custody schedule calculator
Pick a pattern and a start date to see who has the child on which days — plus the time split, how many handovers it creates, and the longest your child would go without seeing each of you. Free, nothing to sign up for, and you can print the result.
Please note: this is a planning tool, not legal advice, and it doesn’t replace a court order or a formal agreement.
For advice on your situation, speak to a family solicitor or contact
Citizens Advice.
Want this filled in for a whole year?
The paid templates take the pattern you just chose and generate the entire year automatically, colour-coded, with a custody log, expense tracker and a printable court summary alongside it.
Browse the templatesWhich pattern should I choose?
There is no single right answer, and the best pattern usually depends on your child’s age and how far apart you live rather than what looks fairest on paper. Two numbers above are worth paying attention to:
- Longest gap — younger children generally cope better with shorter gaps, which is why 2-2-5-5 and 2-2-3 are common for pre-schoolers and week-on-week-off tends to suit older children and teenagers.
- Handovers per month — every handover is a point of contact between the two of you. Fewer handovers means less friction, but usually longer gaps. That trade-off is the whole decision.
The shared care guides go through each pattern in detail, with a full example fortnight.