Custody schedules

2-2-5-5 custody schedule: how it works, with a calendar

In a 2-2-5-5 schedule, each parent has the same two weekdays every week, and the weekends alternate. The children have blocks of two and five nights with each parent. It is a 50/50 schedule.

  • 50/50 split
  • 4 handovers in 2 weeks
  • Longest time apart: 5 nights
Casewell's custody calendar for November 2026 on a 2-2-5-5 schedule, with nights counted for each parent

How a 2-2-5-5 schedule works

A 2-2-5-5 custody schedule gives each parent seven nights in every 14. Its strength is fixed weekdays. Parent A always has Monday and Tuesday, and Parent B always has Wednesday and Thursday. Friday to Sunday alternates.

That creates two short blocks and two long ones. Each parent has a two-night block and a five-night block in every two weeks.

Also called 5-2-2-5, 2-2-5 or 5-5-2-2. They are the same schedule, counted from a different day.

Two weeks, then it repeats

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
Week 1BAABBAA
Week 2AAABBBB

Parent A Parent B

Here is how it runs, starting on a Monday:

  • Week 1: Parent A has Monday and Tuesday. Parent B has Wednesday and Thursday. Parent A has Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
  • Week 2: Parent A has Monday and Tuesday. Parent B has Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Parent A's weekend joins onto their Monday and Tuesday, making five nights in a row. Parent B's weekend joins onto their Wednesday and Thursday the next week. That makes four handovers in every two weeks.

Pros and cons

What works, and what to plan for

What works

  • Same weekdays every week. Weekly clubs, lessons and work shifts are easy to plan, because Monday is always with the same parent.
  • Fewer handovers. Four exchanges in two weeks, half as many as a 2-2-3.
  • Even time. Each parent has seven nights in every 14, and every second weekend.

What to plan for

  • Five nights apart. Each parent goes up to five nights without the children. Some young children find that long.
  • Close homes needed. School nights move between homes every week, so both homes should be near school.
  • Long weekends are lopsided. A long weekend joins one parent's five-night block, so holiday Mondays need agreeing in advance.

Who a 2-2-5-5 schedule suits

A 2-2-5-5 often suits school-age children. They know which home they are in on school nights, and they see each parent at least once a week. For babies and toddlers, many families start with a 2-2-3, which has shorter gaps.

It also suits parents with fixed weekly commitments, such as a late shift on the same day each week.

Common variations

5-2-2-5

The same schedule counted from a Friday. Nothing about the nights changes.

Hand over at school

Friday pickup and Monday drop-off at school keep the weekend handovers out of the doorway.

Midweek dinner

Some families add a dinner visit for the parent in the middle of a long gap. In Casewell this is a daytime visit.

Making it work day to day

  • Agree which parent has holiday Mondays before they arrive.
  • Keep a list of weekly activities and who takes the children to each one.
  • Record swaps and missed time as they happen, with the reason.
  • Check the nights each month to see if the real split still matches the plan.
Casewell's pattern screen with 2-2-5-5 selected, showing who has the children each night this week and next

Track it in Casewell

Set up a 2-2-5-5 schedule in a minute

  1. Choose 2-2-5-5

    Pick it from the patterns. Casewell fills in who has the children each night, this week and next.

  2. Match it to your plan

    Use Swap sides or Move by a week until the nights match your order or agreement, then set the handover times.

  3. Record what really happens

    When a night changes, record it. The calendar counts the nights with each parent, and your PDF can include the schedule.

More about the custody calendar

Compare

Common custody schedules side by side

ScheduleSplitHandovers in 2 weeksLongest time apartWeekends
2-2-350/5063 nightsAlternate, Friday to Sunday
2-2-5-550/5045 nightsAlternate, Friday to Sunday
3-4-4-350/5044 nightsSplit: Saturday alternates
Week on, week off50/5027 nightsAlternate, as part of each week
Every other weekend86/14212 nightsEvery other weekend with Parent B

Counted over two weeks with the handover times the app uses by default. Try the patterns side by side with the custody schedule comparison tool.

Common questions

Questions about the 2-2-5-5 schedule

Casewell helps you keep track of a schedule. It does not give legal advice or decide what a court will order.

Is 2-2-5-5 the same as 5-2-2-5?

Yes. Both describe the same nights. 5-2-2-5 counts from the start of a five-night block, and 2-2-5-5 counts from a Monday.

Is a 2-2-5-5 a 50/50 schedule?

Yes. Each parent has seven nights in every two weeks.

What age is a 2-2-5-5 good for?

It often suits school-age children, who benefit from steady school nights. Younger children may find five nights apart long, so many families start with a 2-2-3.

How many handovers does a 2-2-5-5 have?

Four in every two weeks. That is half as many as a 2-2-3.

How do I keep track of a 2-2-5-5 schedule?

Choose 2-2-5-5 in Casewell and the calendar fills in. You can move it by a week or swap sides so it matches your plan, then record any changes.

See every night
on one calendar.

Set up your 2-2-5-5 schedule, record changes, and count the nights with each parent.

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