The 4-3 and 3-4-4-3 Custody Schedules Explained

The 4-3 and 3-4-4-3 custody schedules are two closely related arrangements that sit in the sweet spot between very frequent rotations like the 2-2-3 and longer blocks like alternating weeks. They offer moderate-length stays with reasonably frequent contact — and one of them can be tuned to give a slight majority to one parent. Here is how each works and how to choose.

How Does the 4-3 Custody Schedule Work?

In a 4-3 schedule, your child spends four days with one parent and three days with the other, every week. The same parent always has the four-day block and the same parent always has the three-day block, so it repeats identically each week with no two-week cycle to track.

This produces roughly a 57/43 split in favour of the four-day parent. That makes the 4-3 useful when parents want substantial shared parenting but, for practical reasons — school location, work patterns, or a child's needs — one home is going to carry a little more of the week. It is more balanced than every other weekend but stops short of a full 50/50.

How Does the 3-4-4-3 Custody Schedule Work?

The 3-4-4-3 takes the same building blocks and alternates which parent gets the longer stretch, so that over two weeks the time evens out to a true 50/50. Your child spends three days with Parent A, four days with Parent B, four days with Parent A, then three days with Parent B.

Because the four-day block alternates, each parent ends up with exactly seven overnights across the fortnight. The 3-4-4-3 is, in effect, the "fair" version of the 4-3 — same moderate block length, but neither parent carries a permanent majority.

What Is the Difference Between 4-3 and 3-4-4-3?

The difference is balance. The 4-3 gives one parent a standing majority of time (about 57/43), which suits families where a slightly uneven split makes practical sense. The 3-4-4-3 alternates the longer block to reach an even 50/50, which suits families committed to equal time who still want moderate block lengths rather than the short hops of a 2-2-3 or the long gaps of alternating weeks.

If equal time is your priority, the 3-4-4-3 is the one to look at. If a small, deliberate imbalance fits your circumstances better, the 4-3 is cleaner because it repeats the same way every week.

Who Are These Schedules Best For?

Both arrangements work well for school-age children who can handle three- and four-day blocks comfortably, and for parents who live close enough to manage exchanges a couple of times a week. The moderate block length is a genuine middle ground: longer and calmer than a 2-2-3, but with more frequent contact than a full week apart.

The 4-3 in particular can be a graceful step between a primary-residence arrangement and full shared care — for example, as a child grows older and the non-residential parent takes on more time. For younger children, the shorter separations of a 2-2-3 are usually a better starting point; see our best custody schedules by age guide for the developmental picture.

What Should You Watch Out For?

The main thing to manage is the handover rhythm. Both schedules involve two exchanges a week, so as with any frequent-contact arrangement, smooth, low-conflict handovers matter — anchoring exchanges to school where possible helps. Our guide to easier handovers covers the practicalities.

With the 4-3 specifically, be honest with yourselves about the built-in imbalance. A 57/43 split is fine when it reflects real practical needs, but if it is simply a compromise neither parent is happy with, it can breed resentment. In that case the even 3-4-4-3 may be the better long-term choice.

Writing These Schedules Into Your Parenting Plan

For the 4-3, your plan should state which parent has the four-day block, the exact handover days, times, and locations, and how holidays override the pattern. For the 3-4-4-3, you also need to specify clearly how the blocks alternate across the two-week cycle and which week the cycle begins, so the rotation never becomes ambiguous.

Use our step-by-step parenting plan guide to build the full document and our legal checklist to pressure-test it. To see how the 4-3 and 3-4-4-3 stack up against every other arrangement, read our complete custody schedule comparison guide.