The Week-On / Week-Off Custody Schedule
One full week with each parent. The simplest rotation there is — a single handoff per week.
How the Week-On / Week-Off schedule works
The kids spend Monday through Sunday with one parent, then switch. Most families anchor the exchange to a school day (drop-off Monday morning) so the handoff doesn't require the parents to meet at all.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A |
| Week 2 | B | B | B | B | B | B | B |
Across the two-week cycle that's 7 overnights with Parent A and 7 with Parent B — a 50/50 time split.
Advantages
- One handoff a week — minimal logistics and minimal contact between homes
- Long, settled stretches in each household
- Trivially easy for everyone to remember
Trade-offs
- Seven days is a long gap for young children
- A midweek dinner or call with the off-week parent often needs to be added
- Vacations and holidays need explicit carve-outs
Who it suits
The Week-On / Week-Off schedule tends to fit older kids and teens who handle a week away comfortably, and co-parents who prefer fewer exchanges.
See it laid out on a real calendar
The free Custody Schedule Maker draws this rotation (and the alternatives) across a month so you can compare before committing.
What this schedule means for shared expenses
Time split and money split are separate decisions: a 50/50 schedule doesn't automatically make every cost 50/50. Clothing, activities, and school costs follow whatever your order or agreement says — and with kids moving between homes, receipts and reimbursements multiply. A shared, neutral ledger where each expense carries its receipt and agreed split keeps the schedule about the kids, not the money.
→ Compare all common custody schedules · → Which schedule is right for your family?
General information for co-parents, not legal advice. Custody arrangements are set by your agreement or court order.