Free compliance tool
State Childcare Ratio & Capacity Finder
Enter the children in a room to see how many staff you need. The calculator covers 10 states verified against state licensing rules, last verified October 2026. For other states, see our staff-to-child ratios by state guide.
Compliance Tool
Staff required calculator
Choose your state, then enter how many children of each age are in the room. Ratios come from state licensing rules, last verified October 2026.
Choose a state above
You'll get one row per age group, using that state's own age bands.
Track staff-to-child ratios in Caredence
Caredence compares the children checked in to each classroom with the staff checked in to that room, using the children-per-staff limit your center sets, and warns when a room is over ratio. Explore Daycare Management Software
State Reference Table
Ratios for the ten states we have checked against state rules. Filter by state name or code.
| State | Age group | Ratio | Max group size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas (TX) | 0–11 months | 1:4 | 10 |
| 12–17 months | 1:5 | 13 | |
| 18–23 months | 1:9 | 18 | |
| 2 years | 1:11 | 22 | |
| 3 years | 1:15 | 30 | |
| 4 years | 1:18 | 35 | |
| 5 years | 1:22 | 35 | |
| 6–13 years | 1:26 | 35 | |
| Florida (FL) | Birth to 1 year | 1:4 | None set in statute |
| 1 year | 1:6 | None set in statute | |
| 2 years | 1:11 | None set in statute | |
| 3 years | 1:15 | None set in statute | |
| 4 years | 1:20 | None set in statute | |
| 5 years and older | 1:25 | None set in statute | |
| Ohio (OH) | Birth to under 12 months | 1:5 | 12 |
| 12–17 months | 1:6 | 12 | |
| 18 months to under 2½ years | 1:7 | 14 | |
| 2½ to under 3 years | 1:8 | 16 | |
| 3 years | 1:12 | 24 | |
| 4 years (not yet kindergarten-eligible) | 1:14 | 28 | |
| Kindergarten-eligible to under 11 years | 1:18 | 36 | |
| 11 to under 15 years | 1:20 | 40 | |
| California (CA) | Infants (under 2 years) | 1:4 | A fully qualified teacher may supervise up to 12 infants when each aide cares for no more than 4(With aides) |
| Toddler program (18–30 months) | 1:6 | Maximum group of 12, with 2 teachers or 1 teacher and 1 aide | |
| Preschool | 1:12 | 1 teacher and 1 aide for 15 children, or for 18 children when the aide meets additional qualifications | |
| School age | 1:14 | 1 teacher and 1 aide for 28 children | |
| North Carolina (NC) | 0 to 12 months | 1:5 | 10 |
| 12 to 24 months | 1:6 | 12 | |
| 2 to 3 years | 1:10 | 20 | |
| 3 to 4 years | 1:15 | 25 | |
| 4 to 5 years | 1:20 | 25 | |
| 5 years and older | 1:25 | 25 | |
| Wisconsin (WI) | Birth to 18 months | 1:4 | 8 |
| 18 months to 2½ years | 1:7 | 14 | |
| 2½ to 3 years | 1:8 | 16 | |
| 3 to 4 years | 1:10 | 20 | |
| 4 to 5 years | 1:13 | 26 | |
| 5 years and over | 1:18 | 36 | |
| Maryland (MD) | Infants | 1:3 | 6 |
| Toddlers | 1:3 | 9 | |
| 2 years | 1:6 | 12 | |
| 3 or 4 years | 1:10 | 20 | |
| 5 years and older | 1:15 | 30 | |
| New Jersey (NJ) | Under 18 months | 1:4 | Primary caregiver groups of 4 |
| 18 months up to 2½ years | 1:6 | Primary caregiver groups of 6 | |
| 2½ years up to 4 years | 1:10 | Maximum group of 20 | |
| 4 years | 1:12 | Maximum group of 20 | |
| 5 years and older | 1:15 | Maximum group of 20 (30 in school-age programs) | |
| Michigan (MI) | Birth until 30 months | 1:4 | 12 |
| 30 months until 3 years | 1:8 | 24 | |
| 3 years until 4 years | 1:10 | 30 | |
| 4 years until school age | 1:12 | 40 | |
| School-agers | 1:18 | 54 | |
| Virginia (VA) | Birth up to 16 months | 1:4 | 12 |
| 16 months up to 24 months | 1:5 | 15 | |
| 2 years | 1:8 | 24 | |
| 3 years up to school-age eligible | 1:10 | 30 | |
| School-age eligible up to 9 years | 1:18 | None set | |
| 9 through 12 years | 1:20 | None set |
Staff-to-child ratios from state licensing rules, last verified October 2026. For any other state, we have not yet verified the figures; check your state licensing agency.
Track staff-to-child ratios in Caredence
Caredence compares checked-in children to checked-in staff in each room against a limit your center sets. It does not apply state rules for you.
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