When a creditor obtains a court judgment against you in Ohio and begins garnishing your wages, the amount they can take is governed by both federal law and Ohio's own exemption statutes under the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) § 2329.66. Understanding the specific limits — and the exemptions that can reduce or eliminate garnishment — is essential for anyone navigating this process in Ohio. For details on other states, check out our State Garnishment Laws page.
The Basic Garnishment Formula
Ohio follows the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) formula for wage garnishment. A creditor can garnish the lesser of two amounts: 25% of your disposable earnings for the pay period, or the amount by which your disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour), which equals $217.50 per week. Disposable earnings in Ohio are defined as your gross wages minus legally required deductions — federal, state, and local income taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and Ohio unemployment insurance contributions. Voluntary deductions like health insurance and 401(k) contributions are not subtracted. Use our Ohio Wage Garnishment Calculator to see what this means for your paycheck, or explore calculators for other states like California, Texas, and Florida.
Ohio's Exemption System Under ORC § 2329.66
Ohio provides personal property exemptions adjusted every three years. As of the most recent adjustment period (April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028), Ohio's key exemptions include approximately $500 in cash or liquid assets, a $4,000 exemption for a motor vehicle, and a $2,000 exemption for household goods. Ohio fully exempts Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, and payments from pension or retirement plans from garnishment entirely. For a deeper dive on protecting your assets, see What Assets Are Protected from Wage Garnishment in Texas and States With the Strongest Wage Garnishment Protections.
Multiple Garnishments and Priority
Ohio law allows multiple simultaneous garnishments, but the total amount withheld from any single paycheck cannot exceed the CCPA maximum of 25% of disposable earnings. Child support withholding orders always take priority over all other garnishments in Ohio regardless of the order in which they were filed, and can consume up to 50-60% of disposable earnings. To understand how child support garnishments compare by area, check our guide on Child Support Garnishment Rules by State.
How to Challenge a Garnishment in Ohio
Need Help Beyond the Calculator?
If you're dealing with wage garnishment issues in Ohio, professional help may be the fastest path forward. Visit our Resources page to explore vetted options for legal help.
Ohio's deadline is among the shortest in the country — you must file a Motion to Claim Exemption within five days of receiving the garnishment notice. At the exemption hearing, you present documentation showing the source of your income and the applicable exemption. Use our Ohio Wage Garnishment Calculator to calculate the exact maximum that can be withheld from your paycheck under the federal formula and Ohio's exemption rules. For more tips on protecting yourself, you might also want to read How to File a Wage Garnishment Exemption and How Much Can Be Garnished From My Paycheck?. Compare Ohio’s laws with other states easily using our Garnishment Law Comparison Tool.