The Every other weekend custody schedule
One parent has the children in the week and alternate weekends; the other has every other weekend. About 80/20.
80/20
time split (79% / 21%)
11 / 3
overnights per 14 nights
2
exchanges per 14 nights
Every other weekend 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 | A | A | A |
Which ages the Every other weekend schedule suits
Families where one parent lives far away, works a schedule that rules out weeknights, or where the court has ordered standard visitation.
- 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 Every other weekend
Works well
- Very stable weekdays for the children
- Few exchanges
- Familiar to courts and schools everywhere
Watch out for
- The weekend parent sees the children four nights in fourteen
- The weekday parent rarely gets a weekend off
- Children can experience the weekend parent as a visitor rather than a home
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:
The children shall reside primarily with Parent A. Parent B shall have the children on alternate weekends from Friday after school until Sunday at 6 pm, beginning on a named date, and for dinner every Wednesday from after school until 7.30 pm.
Adapt the day names and times to your family. This is sample wording, not legal advice for your case.
Write the Every other weekend 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.
Every other weekend schedule: questions parents ask
Is every other weekend still the standard?
It remains the default in many court-issued standard possession orders, but most states now encourage more equal time where both parents are available. It is no longer assumed.
How can we add more time for the weekend parent?
Add a weekly midweek overnight (which makes it roughly 70/30), extend the weekend to Monday morning, or give the weekend parent longer summer and holiday blocks.
How many overnights does each parent get?
Eleven and three per fortnight in the basic version, or about 78/22.
Is it good for young children?
The long gap between weekends is hard for toddlers. A midweek visit matters more at this age than at any other.
What should the plan say?
Define the weekend precisely, state which weekend starts the rotation, add the midweek visit, and set out holiday and summer time, which is where most of the weekend parent's extra time comes from.
Other 80/20 schedules
- 80/20: The traditional pattern: one parent has the children most of the time; the other has alternate weekends, often with a midweek dinner.
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)