The 4-3 custody schedule
Four nights with one parent and three with the other, every week. A simple 60/40.
60/40
time split (57% / 43%)
4 / 3
overnights per 7 nights
2
exchanges per 7 nights
4-3 on a two-week calendar
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | A | A | A | A | B | B | B |
| Week 2 | A | A | A | A | B | B | B |
Full guide: The 4-3 and 3-4-4-3 Custody Schedules Explained
Which ages the 4-3 schedule suits
Families where one parent's work makes a full 50/50 impractical, but both want substantial weekly time.
- Infants (0 to 18 months)●●○
- Toddlers (18 months to 3)●●●
- Preschool (3 to 5)●●●
- School age (6 to 12)●●●
- Teens (13+)●●○
Pros and cons of 4-3
Works well
- Identical every week, so very easy to remember
- Two exchanges a week
- Short gaps, which suits younger children
Watch out for
- Not an equal split, which can matter for child support and for how each parent feels about it
- One parent has the weekend every week unless you rotate it
What your parenting plan should say
Describe the full cycle in days and times, not as a percentage. Name the parent who starts and the date the cycle begins, state where exchanges happen, and say that the holiday schedule overrides this one. Sample wording:
Parent A shall have the children from Sunday evening until Thursday morning each week. Parent B shall have the children from Thursday after school until Sunday evening each week.
Adapt the day names and times to your family. This is sample wording, not legal advice for your case.
Write the 4-3 schedule into your agreement
The Complete Co-Parenting Kit includes the fillable parenting agreement with a ready-made schedule section, holiday clauses and a completion guide, plus the 30-Day Reset workbook and 20 message scripts for proposing a schedule to a reluctant co-parent.
See what is in the Kit ($297)Delivered by email. 30-day money-back guarantee.
4-3 schedule: questions parents ask
Is 4-3 a 50/50 schedule?
No. It is about 57/43, usually described as 60/40. If you want 50/50 with similar block lengths, use 3-4-4-3.
Who usually gets the weekend in 4-3?
Often the parent with three nights takes Thursday to Sunday so they have the weekend. Some families alternate which parent has the weekend, which effectively becomes 3-4-4-3.
Does 4-3 affect child support?
In many states the number of overnights is an input to the child support formula, so moving from 50/50 to 60/40 can change the figure. Check your state's guidelines.
Is 4-3 good for toddlers?
Yes. Gaps of three or four nights are manageable from about age two, and the weekly repetition is easy for a young child to learn.
What should the plan say?
State the weekly pattern with exchange days and times, and say how holidays override it.
Other 60/40 schedules
- Every extended weekend: One parent has every Thursday evening to Monday morning; the other has Monday to Thursday. About 60/40 with the weekend fixed.
- 60/40: Patterns that give one parent about eight or nine nights in fourteen: 4-3, extended weekends, or week-on week-off with a midweek overnight.
Related guides
- The 2-3-2 Custody Schedule: How It Works (With Calendar Examples)
- What Is the Best Visitation Schedule? Every Option Compared by Age, Distance and Work
- Custody Schedules for Toddlers and Infants: What Works Under 3 (With Calendars)
- Recommended Custody Schedules for 12 Common Situations (With Calendars)
- The 5-2 Custody Schedule: How It Works, Calendar Examples, Pros & Cons
- The 4-4-3 Custody Schedule: How the 4+4+3 Rotation Works (With Calendar)