SentenceCalc

The federal sentencing table

The sentencing table is the grid at the center of every federal sentence. Find the final offense level down the side and the criminal history category across the top, and the box where they meet is the guideline range in months.

Guidelines Manual effective November 1, 2025Updated October 4, 2026

General information about how the guidelines work, written by web developers, not lawyers. It is not legal advice about any case; see the disclaimer.

The full table

LevelIIIIIIIVVVI
10–60–60–60–60–60–6
20–60–60–60–60–61–7
30–60–60–60–62–83–9
40–60–60–62–84–106–12
50–60–61–74–106–129–15
60–61–72–86–129–1512–18
70–62–84–108–1412–1815–21
80–64–106–1210–1615–2118–24
94–106–128–1412–1818–2421–27
106–128–1410–1615–2121–2724–30
118–1410–1612–1818–2424–3027–33
1210–1612–1815–2121–2727–3330–37
1312–1815–2118–2424–3030–3733–41
1415–2118–2421–2727–3333–4137–46
1518–2421–2724–3030–3737–4641–51
1621–2724–3027–3333–4141–5146–57
1724–3027–3330–3737–4646–5751–63
1827–3330–3733–4141–5151–6357–71
1930–3733–4137–4646–5757–7163–78
2033–4137–4641–5151–6363–7870–87
2137–4641–5146–5757–7170–8777–96
2241–5146–5751–6363–7877–9684–105
2346–5751–6357–7170–8784–10592–115
2451–6357–7163–7877–9692–115100–125
2557–7163–7870–8784–105100–125110–137
2663–7870–8778–9792–115110–137120–150
2770–8778–9787–108100–125120–150130–162
2878–9787–10897–121110–137130–162140–175
2987–10897–121108–135121–151140–175151–188
3097–121108–135121–151135–168151–188168–210
31108–135121–151135–168151–188168–210188–235
32121–151135–168151–188168–210188–235210–262
33135–168151–188168–210188–235210–262235–293
34151–188168–210188–235210–262235–293262–327
35168–210188–235210–262235–293262–327292–365
36188–235210–262235–293262–327292–365324–405
37210–262235–293262–327292–365324–405360–life
38235–293262–327292–365324–405360–life360–life
39262–327292–365324–405360–life360–life360–life
40292–365324–405360–life360–life360–life360–life
41324–405360–life360–life360–life360–life360–life
42360–life360–life360–life360–life360–life360–life
43lifelifelifelifelifelife

Months of imprisonment. Categories I to VI correspond to 0–1, 2–3, 4–6, 7–9, 10–12 and 13 or more criminal history points. Source: U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual, Chapter Five, Part A (Nov. 1, 2025).

Zones: when prison is required

ZoneBottom of the rangeWhat the guidelines allow
A0 monthsPrison is not required; probation or even a fine alone is possible (§5C1.1(b)), unless the offense is a Class A or B felony or the statute rules probation out (§5B1.1(b)).
B1 to 9 monthsThe minimum can be met with prison, or with probation that includes home detention, community confinement or intermittent confinement (§5C1.1(c)).
C10 or 12 monthsAt least half of the minimum must be served in prison; the rest can be community confinement or home detention (§5C1.1(d)).
D15 months or moreThe minimum must be served in prison (§5C1.1(f)).

Reading the table

  • Each level is roughly 12% more time. The ranges overlap, so a one-level change often moves the bottom of the range by only a few months, but three or four levels add up quickly.
  • The top of a range is at most 25% above the bottom (or 6 months, whichever is more), a limit set by statute.
  • “360–life” means 30 years to life. Level 43 is life in every category.
  • The statute can cut the table short. If the statutory maximum is below the range, the maximum becomes the ceiling; if a mandatory minimum is above it, the minimum becomes the sentence.

Frequently asked questions

What is offense level 24 in the federal sentencing table?

For someone in criminal history Category I, level 24 is 51–63 months. In Category VI it is 100–125 months.

What offense level allows probation?

Any level whose range starts at 0 months (Zone A): level 8 or below in Category I, and lower levels in higher categories. Zone B ranges (levels 9 to 11 in Category I) also allow probation with home detention, community confinement or intermittent confinement. Either way, probation is ruled out if the offense is a Class A or B felony or the statute forbids it (§5B1.1(b)).

Sources