What are the four zones in the federal sentencing table?

Zone A (levels 1-8) allows probation. Zone B (levels 9-10) allows probation with conditions. Zone C (levels 11-12) requires at least half the minimum in prison. Zone D (levels 13-43) requires full imprisonment.

Are the federal sentencing guidelines mandatory?

No. Since United States v. Booker (2005), the federal sentencing guidelines are advisory. Judges must calculate the range but may sentence above or below it based on 18 U.S.C. Section 3553(a) factors.

How much of my federal sentence will I actually serve?

Less than the full sentence. Federal good time credit reduces sentences by up to 54 days per year of sentence imposed, approximately 15%. Eligible inmates can also complete RDAP for up to 12 additional months off.

Federal Sentencing Guidelines Chart -- USSG Sentencing Table 2025

Q: How do I read the federal sentencing guidelines chart?

Find your Total Offense Level on the left column (1-43) and your Criminal History Category across the top (I through VI). The cell where they intersect shows your guideline range in months.

How to Use This Chart

This chart works together with our Federal Sentencing Guidelines page where you work through the seven-step process to calculate your Total Offense Level and Criminal History Category. Once you have those two numbers, use this chart to find your guidelines range.

Step 1: Find your Total Offense Level in the left column (1 through 43).
Step 2: Find your Criminal History Category across the top (I through VI).
Step 3: The number where they intersect is your guideline range in months.

Once you have your range, use our Good Time Calculator to determine how much of that sentence you will actually serve after federal good time credit. If you may be eligible for RDAP, that can take an additional 12 months off on top of good time.

Zone A

Levels 1–8

Probation available. No prison time required. Judge may impose probation, fine or community service.

Zone B

Levels 9–10

Probation with conditions. May include home confinement, community confinement or intermittent imprisonment.

Zone C

Levels 11–12

Split sentence. At least half the minimum must be served in prison. Remainder may be supervised release.

Zone D

Levels 13–43

Imprisonment required. No probation option. Full guideline range served in a federal facility.

USSG Sentencing Table — 2025 Guidelines Manual

All figures are in months. Ranges shown are minimum and maximum guideline sentence. Life indicates a life sentence guideline. Effective November 1, 2025.

Offense Level	Cat. I 0–1 pts	Cat. II 2–3 pts	Cat. III 4–6 pts	Cat. IV 7–9 pts	Cat. V 10–12 pts	Cat. VI 13+ pts
ZONE A — Probation Available (Levels 1–8)
1	0–6	0–6	0–6	0–6	0–6	0–6
2	0–6	0–6	0–6	0–6	0–6	1–7
3	0–6	0–6	0–6	0–6	2–8	3–9
4	0–6	0–6	0–6	2–8	4–10	6–12
5	0–6	0–6	1–7	4–10	6–12	9–15
6	0–6	1–7	2–8	6–12	9–15	12–18
7	0–6	2–8	4–10	8–14	12–18	15–21
8	0–6	4–10	6–12	10–16	15–21	18–24
ZONE B — Probation with Conditions (Levels 9–10)
9	4–10	6–12	8–14	12–18	18–24	21–27
10	6–12	8–14	10–16	15–21	21–27	24–30
ZONE C — Split Sentence Required (Levels 11–12)
11	8–14	10–16	12–18	18–24	24–30	27–33
12	10–16	12–18	15–21	21–27	27–33	30–37
ZONE D — Imprisonment Required (Levels 13–43)
13	12–18	15–21	18–24	24–30	30–37	33–41
14	15–21	18–24	21–27	27–33	33–41	37–46
15	18–24	21–27	24–30	30–37	37–46	41–51
16	21–27	24–30	27–33	33–41	41–51	46–57
17	24–30	27–33	30–37	37–46	46–57	51–63
18	27–33	30–37	33–41	41–51	51–63	57–71
19	30–37	33–41	37–46	46–57	57–71	63–78
20	33–41	37–46	41–51	51–63	63–78	70–87
21	37–46	41–51	46–57	57–71	70–87	77–96
22	41–51	46–57	51–63	63–78	77–96	84–105
23	46–57	51–63	57–71	70–87	84–105	92–115
24	51–63	57–71	63–78	77–96	92–115	100–125
25	57–71	63–78	70–87	84–105	100–125	110–137
26	63–78	70–87	78–97	92–115	110–137	120–150
27	70–87	78–97	87–108	100–125	120–150	130–162
28	78–97	87–108	97–121	110–137	130–162	140–175
29	87–108	97–121	108–135	121–151	140–175	151–188
30	97–121	108–135	121–151	135–168	151–188	168–210
31	108–135	121–151	135–168	151–188	168–210	188–235
32	121–151	135–168	151–188	168–210	188–235	210–262
33	135–168	151–188	168–210	188–235	210–262	235–293
34	151–188	168–210	188–235	210–262	235–293	262–327
35	168–210	188–235	210–262	235–293	262–327	292–365
36	188–235	210–262	235–293	262–327	292–365	324–405
37	210–262	235–293	262–327	292–365	324–405	360–Life
38	235–293	262–327	292–365	324–405	360–Life	360–Life
39	262–327	292–365	324–405	360–Life	360–Life	360–Life
40	292–365	324–405	360–Life	360–Life	360–Life	360–Life
41	324–405	360–Life	360–Life	360–Life	360–Life	360–Life
42	360–Life	360–Life	360–Life	360–Life	360–Life	360–Life
43	Life	Life	Life	Life	Life	Life

Source: U.S. Sentencing Commission, 2025 Guidelines Manual, effective November 1, 2025. The sentencing table (USSG Ch. 5 Pt. A) has remained structurally unchanged since 1987. All figures in months. Guidelines are advisory since United States v. Booker (2005).

The Guidelines Are Advisory -- Not Mandatory

Since the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Booker (2005), the federal sentencing guidelines are advisory, not mandatory. A federal judge is required to correctly calculate the guidelines range but is not bound by it. The judge may sentence above or below the range based on the factors in 18 U.S.C. Section 3553(a), which include the nature of the offense, the history of the defendant, the need for deterrence, and the need to avoid sentencing disparities between similar defendants.

In practice, many judges -- sometimes called "guidelines judges" -- still sentence within the calculated range in most cases. However, departures are common in cases involving:

Substantial assistance to the government -- a downward departure under USSG §5K1.1 when a defendant cooperates with prosecutors
Acceptance of responsibility -- a two or three level reduction under USSG §3E1.1 for early guilty pleas
Safety valve relief -- for low-level first-time drug offenders under 18 U.S.C. §3553(f), allowing sentences below mandatory minimums
Acquitted conduct prohibition -- as of the November 2024 amendment, judges may no longer increase a sentence based on conduct the jury found the defendant not guilty of
Zero-point offender reductions -- defendants with no criminal history points may receive a downward adjustment under the 2023 amendments

Always work with a qualified federal criminal defense attorney. You can post a free legal question here.

Mandatory Minimums Are Not Shown on This Chart

The sentencing table shows the guidelines range only. It does not reflect mandatory minimum sentences set by statute, which can override the chart entirely. Common mandatory minimums include drug trafficking quantities under 21 U.S.C. §841, firearms offenses under 18 U.S.C. §924(c), and certain sex offenses. If your case involves a mandatory minimum your actual sentence floor may be higher than what this chart shows.

Recent Guidelines Changes -- What Is Different in 2025

The sentencing table grid has been unchanged since 1987. The USSC amends specific offense guidelines in Chapters 2 and 4 annually -- the rules used to calculate your Total Offense Level. Significant recent changes:

November 2025 -- Simplification of the three-step sentencing process and streamlined guidance on how courts consider individual defendant circumstances and departures
November 2024 -- Prohibition on increasing a sentence based on acquitted conduct. A judge can no longer add offense levels for crimes the jury found the defendant not guilty of
November 2023 -- Criminal history reforms reducing the impact of certain minor prior offenses, including a zero-point offender provision allowing downward departure for defendants with no criminal history

The full 2025 Guidelines Manual is at ussc.gov.

Calculate Your Actual Time Served

Your guidelines range is your sentenced time -- not what you will actually serve. Use these tools to work out your real release date:

Good Time Calculator

Federal good time credit reduces every sentence by up to 54 days per year. Calculate yours here.

RDAP Sentence Reduction

Eligible nonviolent inmates can cut up to 12 additional months through the RDAP drug treatment program.

18 U.S.C. § 3621(e)

The federal law behind RDAP. Who qualifies and how it stacks with good time credit.

Calculate Your Offense Level

Not sure of your Total Offense Level? Work through the seven-step sentencing guidelines process.

The Jail Guide Book

Going to federal prison? 144 pages covering everything from day one to release. Free excerpt available.

Find a Federal Attorney

Post a free legal question to a criminal defense attorney who handles federal sentencing.

Sentencing Chart FAQ

How do I read the federal sentencing chart? +

Find your Total Offense Level in the left column (1-43) and your Criminal History Category across the top (I-VI). The cell where they intersect is your guideline range in months. For example, Offense Level 22 with Criminal History Category II gives a range of 46-57 months. That means the judge is guided to sentence you to between 46 and 57 months in federal prison.

What do the four zones mean? +

Zone A (levels 1-8) allows the judge to impose probation with no prison time. Zone B (levels 9-10) allows probation with conditions such as home confinement. Zone C (levels 11-12) requires at least half the sentence minimum to be served in prison. Zone D (levels 13-43) requires full imprisonment with no probation option available.

Are the guidelines mandatory? +

No. Since United States v. Booker (2005) the guidelines are advisory. The judge must calculate the correct range but may sentence above or below it. Sentences within the guidelines range are common but departures happen regularly. An experienced federal defense attorney can argue for a below-guidelines sentence based on your specific circumstances.

How much of my sentence will I actually serve? +

Less than the full sentence. Federal good time credit reduces sentences by up to 54 days per year of sentence imposed -- roughly 15%. An inmate sentenced to 60 months who earns full good time would serve approximately 51 months. Eligible inmates completing RDAP can take an additional 12 months off on top of that. Use the Good Time Calculator above for your specific numbers.

Has the sentencing table changed recently? +

The actual grid of numbers in the table has been unchanged since 1987. What the USSC amends annually are the specific offense guidelines used to calculate your Total Offense Level. The most significant recent change is the 2024 prohibition on using acquitted conduct to increase sentences, and the 2023 zero-point offender provision for defendants with no criminal history.

Federal Sentencing Guidelines Chart