Custody schedules, side by side
The common ways separated parents share the kids' nights, with a two-week calendar for each: 50/50 schedules like 2-2-3 and week on, week off, and 70/30 or 80/20 ones like every other weekend.
| Schedule | Split of nights | Longest stretch | Handoffs / 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-2-3 | 50/50 | 3 | 6 |
| 2-2-5-5 | 50/50 | 5 | 4 |
| 3-4-4-3 | 50/50 | 4 | 4 |
| Week on, week off | 50/50 | 7 | 2 |
| Every other weekend | 86/14 | 12 | 2 |
| 5-2 | 71/29 | 5 | 4 |
| Every other weekend + midweek | 71/29 | 6 | 6 |
How to choose
- Age. Younger children usually need shorter gaps between homes (2-2-3); teenagers often prefer fewer moves (alternating weeks).
- Distance. The farther apart the homes, the fewer handoffs make sense.
- Work. Fixed weeknights (2-2-5-5) help parents with set shifts; a week on, week off rhythm suits rotating ones.
- Conflict. Handoffs at school or daycare, and fewer of them, reduce contact when that helps.
- Holidays. Holidays and school breaks usually sit on top of the regular schedule — see how holidays are split.
Try any pattern, or your own, in the parenting time calculator.
Set up your schedule in Fairweek
Pick your schedule, check the next two weeks against real dates, and invite your co-parent with a code. You both see the same calendar, holidays alternate by year on their own, and swaps take effect only when the other home says yes. Free for both of you.
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This guide explains a common arrangement; it is not legal advice. Your parenting plan or court order decides your schedule — talk to a family lawyer or mediator about your situation.