60/40 Custody Schedule
The children spend about 60% of overnights with one parent and 40% with the other — a middle ground between fully equal time and a primary-home arrangement.
60% / 40%
overnights split
2
exchanges / cycle
5
day cycle
How the 60/40 schedule works
There are several ways to reach 60/40. A common approach is a repeating cycle where one parent has three nights and the other has two, or a 4-3 weekly split with an extended weekend. Over the cycle the split works out to roughly 60/40.
Advantages
- Keeps both parents genuinely involved in everyday life
- Useful when one parent has slightly more availability
- Gentler on very young children than a strict 50/50 with many moves
- Flexible — many patterns can hit ~60/40
Things to consider
- Not perfectly equal, which matters to some families
- Still needs reasonable proximity
- Requires clear agreement on which nights fall where
By age
Works across ages; often chosen when a strict 50/50 isn't practical but both parents want substantial time.
School considerations
Keep the majority-time home as the school-week anchor for stability.
Holidays
Overlay an odd/even or split-holiday plan so the 40% parent gets meaningful special days.
Compare with other schedules
Frequently asked questions
How many overnights is a 60/40 schedule?
About 219 nights a year with one parent and 146 with the other (roughly 4–5 nights vs 2–3 nights per week).
Is 60/40 better than 50/50?
Neither is universally 'better' — 60/40 can suit families where one home is a more practical weekday base while keeping both parents highly involved.
Related schedules
Put this schedule to work — free.
Save it to a shared calendar, track expenses, and invite your co-parent so you're both in sync.