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The federal sentencing table
survivingthefeds.com/tools/sentencing-table · Not complete yet · Free to copy and mail inside

Tool · USSG ch. 5, pt. A

The federal sentencing table

The whole table, readable on a phone, with the row and column you need picked out.

Print this. Copy it. Mail it to someone inside. That’s what it’s for. Just don’t sell it.

How to mail it inside, and what the mailroom rejects

Or tap any number in the table. Nothing you choose leaves this page.

Prints on one page, with the zones explained.
Sentencing Table, in months of imprisonment. Rows: offense level. Columns: criminal history category (points).
LevelI0 or 1II2 or 3III4,5,6IV7,8,9V10,11,12VI13 or more
10–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A
20–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A1–7, Zone B
30–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A2–8, Zone B3–9, Zone B
40–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A2–8, Zone B4–10, Zone B6–12, Zone B
50–6, Zone A0–6, Zone A1–7, Zone B4–10, Zone B6–12, Zone B9–15, Zone B
60–6, Zone A1–7, Zone B2–8, Zone B6–12, Zone B9–15, Zone B12–18, Zone C
70–6, Zone A2–8, Zone B4–10, Zone B8–14, Zone B12–18, Zone C15–21, Zone D
80–6, Zone A4–10, Zone B6–12, Zone B10–16, Zone C15–21, Zone D18–24, Zone D
94–10, Zone B6–12, Zone B8–14, Zone B12–18, Zone C18–24, Zone D21–27, Zone D
106–12, Zone B8–14, Zone B10–16, Zone C15–21, Zone D21–27, Zone D24–30, Zone D
118–14, Zone B10–16, Zone C12–18, Zone C18–24, Zone D24–30, Zone D27–33, Zone D
1210–16, Zone C12–18, Zone C15–21, Zone D21–27, Zone D27–33, Zone D30–37, Zone D
1312–18, Zone C15–21, Zone D18–24, Zone D24–30, Zone D30–37, Zone D33–41, Zone D
1415–21, Zone D18–24, Zone D21–27, Zone D27–33, Zone D33–41, Zone D37–46, Zone D
1518–24, Zone D21–27, Zone D24–30, Zone D30–37, Zone D37–46, Zone D41–51, Zone D
1621–27, Zone D24–30, Zone D27–33, Zone D33–41, Zone D41–51, Zone D46–57, Zone D
1724–30, Zone D27–33, Zone D30–37, Zone D37–46, Zone D46–57, Zone D51–63, Zone D
1827–33, Zone D30–37, Zone D33–41, Zone D41–51, Zone D51–63, Zone D57–71, Zone D
1930–37, Zone D33–41, Zone D37–46, Zone D46–57, Zone D57–71, Zone D63–78, Zone D
2033–41, Zone D37–46, Zone D41–51, Zone D51–63, Zone D63–78, Zone D70–87, Zone D
2137–46, Zone D41–51, Zone D46–57, Zone D57–71, Zone D70–87, Zone D77–96, Zone D
2241–51, Zone D46–57, Zone D51–63, Zone D63–78, Zone D77–96, Zone D84–105, Zone D
2346–57, Zone D51–63, Zone D57–71, Zone D70–87, Zone D84–105, Zone D92–115, Zone D
2451–63, Zone D57–71, Zone D63–78, Zone D77–96, Zone D92–115, Zone D100–125, Zone D
2557–71, Zone D63–78, Zone D70–87, Zone D84–105, Zone D100–125, Zone D110–137, Zone D
2663–78, Zone D70–87, Zone D78–97, Zone D92–115, Zone D110–137, Zone D120–150, Zone D
2770–87, Zone D78–97, Zone D87–108, Zone D100–125, Zone D120–150, Zone D130–162, Zone D
2878–97, Zone D87–108, Zone D97–121, Zone D110–137, Zone D130–162, Zone D140–175, Zone D
2987–108, Zone D97–121, Zone D108–135, Zone D121–151, Zone D140–175, Zone D151–188, Zone D
3097–121, Zone D108–135, Zone D121–151, Zone D135–168, Zone D151–188, Zone D168–210, Zone D
31108–135, Zone D121–151, Zone D135–168, Zone D151–188, Zone D168–210, Zone D188–235, Zone D
32121–151, Zone D135–168, Zone D151–188, Zone D168–210, Zone D188–235, Zone D210–262, Zone D
33135–168, Zone D151–188, Zone D168–210, Zone D188–235, Zone D210–262, Zone D235–293, Zone D
34151–188, Zone D168–210, Zone D188–235, Zone D210–262, Zone D235–293, Zone D262–327, Zone D
35168–210, Zone D188–235, Zone D210–262, Zone D235–293, Zone D262–327, Zone D292–365, Zone D
36188–235, Zone D210–262, Zone D235–293, Zone D262–327, Zone D292–365, Zone D324–405, Zone D
37210–262, Zone D235–293, Zone D262–327, Zone D292–365, Zone D324–405, Zone D360–life, Zone D
38235–293, Zone D262–327, Zone D292–365, Zone D324–405, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D
39262–327, Zone D292–365, Zone D324–405, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D
40292–365, Zone D324–405, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D
41324–405, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D
42360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D360–life, Zone D
43life, Zone Dlife, Zone Dlife, Zone Dlife, Zone Dlife, Zone Dlife, Zone D
  • AZone A (the range starts at 0): prison is not required.
  • BZone B (starts at 1 to 9 months): probation with a halfway house, home detention or part-time jail can stand in, or a split sentence with at least 1 month in prison.
  • CZone C (starts at 10 or 12 months): at least half of the bottom of the range in prison.
  • DZone D (starts at 15 months or more): the bottom of the range in prison. A heavy line marks where a zone changes.

Source: U.S. Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, ch. 5, pt. A (Nov. 1, 2025); unchanged by the amendments effective Nov. 1, 2026 (§5A1.1). Checked Oct. 30, 2026. A range is advisory, and a mandatory minimum or statutory maximum overrides it (§5G1.1).

Print this. Copy it. Mail it to someone inside. That’s what it’s for. Just don’t sell it.

1 How this works

The Sentencing Guidelines turn a federal case into two numbers. The offense level (1 to 43) measures the crime, and the criminal history category (I to VI) measures the past. Where the row and the column cross is the guideline range, in months.1 For example, an offense level of 15 in category III is 24 to 30 months.2

The rows. The offense level starts from the guideline for the crime and goes up or down with adjustments, such as the amount of drugs or money, a weapon, a leadership role, or pleading guilty. A total below 1 counts as 1, and a total above 43 counts as 43.3

The columns. Each prior sentence earns criminal history points, and the points pick the column: 0 or 1 point is category I, and 13 or more is category VI.4 Two rules can override the points: a “career offender” is always category VI, and an “armed career criminal” gets at least category IV.5

The zones. The table is cut into four zones by the bottom number of each range. Zone A starts at 0 months, Zone B at 1 to 9, Zone C at 10 or 12, and Zone D at 15 or more.6 The zone decides whether prison time is required at all:

  • Zone A: prison is not required.
  • Zone B: the bottom of the range can be met with probation and time in a halfway house, on home detention or in part-time jail, or with a split sentence that has at least 1 month in prison.
  • Zone C: at least half of the bottom of the range has to be served in prison.
  • Zone D: the bottom of the range has to be served in prison.7

“Life” means life imprisonment. Level 43 is life in every column.

The judge has to start here. The range is advisory, so the judge can sentence outside it, but the judge has to work it out and weigh it along with everything else the law lists.8 A mandatory minimum or a statutory maximum overrides the table either way.9

The edition. This is the table in the Guidelines Manual of November 1, 2025. The amendments that take effect on November 1, 2026 move it into a new section, §5A1.1, and add a chart of the options in each zone, but they don’t change a single number.10 Every cell on this page was checked against the Commission’s own copy on October 30, 2026. The full manual is free at https://www.ussc.gov/guidelines. Someone in jail or prison can have family print the table and mail it in, or ask the lawyer for it.

2 What this can’t tell you

  • A range is not a sentence. The judge can go below it or above it. The sentencing statistics show how often that happened in 2025, by type of crime.
  • The two numbers are the hard part. This page only reads off the numbers you bring. Both are argued in the presentence report, and the judge starts from the report’s numbers once objections are decided.
  • Statutes win. A mandatory minimum or a statutory maximum can move or cut the range. The guideline range tool applies them if you enter them.
  • Career offender and armed career criminal rules can set the offense level and the category on their own, and this page doesn’t apply them.
  • Check the year. The Commission can change the guidelines every November 1. This page was last checked on October 30, 2026.
4A

The Presentence Report: The Document That Shapes the Sentence

What a federal presentence investigation report is, how to get ready for the interview, why prison runs on it, and how to object within 14 days.

Prints on 13 pagesNot complete yet14-minute read
3A

Federal Plea Deals: What You Are Really Signing

How a federal plea deal works: the three kinds, what the judge can still do, the waivers near the end, and what to check before anyone signs it.

Prints on 12 pagesNot complete yet14-minute read

This is educational information from a paralegal, not legal advice. Every case is different. Talk to a lawyer about yours.

§ Sources

  1. U.S. Sent’g Comm’n, Guidelines Manual, ch. 5, pt. A (Sentencing Table) (Nov. 2025). Back
  2. USSG §5A1.1(a) (amendment effective Nov. 1, 2026), carrying over USSG ch. 5, pt. A, comment. (n.1) (Nov. 2025). Back
  3. USSG ch. 5, pt. A, comment. (n.2) (Nov. 2025). Back
  4. USSG §4A1.1; ch. 5, pt. A (the points under each column head). Back
  5. USSG §4B1.1(b) (career offender: “shall be Category VI”); §4B1.4(c) (armed career criminal: the greatest of the Chapter Four category, Category VI in some cases, or Category IV). Back
  6. USSG §5B1.1, comment. (n.1); §5C1.1, comment. (nn.3, 4, 8) (Nov. 2025). Back
  7. USSG §5B1.1(a); §5C1.1(b)–(f) (Nov. 2025); §5A1.1(b) (amendment effective Nov. 1, 2026). Back
  8. United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 245–46 (2005); 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(4). Back
  9. USSG §5G1.1(a)–(c). Back
  10. U.S. Sent’g Comm’n, Amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines, “Sentencing Options” (Apr. 30, 2026) (new §5A1.1(c): the Sentencing Table “is unchanged by the amendment”). Back

Surviving the Feds is not a law firm and never provides legal advice. Everything here is for educational purposes only, drawn from lived experience and years of paralegal work in federal criminal cases. Using this site or app does not create an attorney-client relationship. Bilal Khan is not a lawyer. Nothing in the legal world is guaranteed, so talk to a lawyer about your own case.