Allowance by age calculator
A starting point for how much pocket money to give, and how to link it to chores. These are general suggestions: set the amount by your family's budget and what the money has to cover.
Suggested weekly allowance at 8
$9
≈ $39 a month · $468 a year
Saving $3.60 a week adds up to $187.20 in a year, before any interest.
Allowance chart by age ($1-per-year rule)
| Age | Weekly | Monthly (approx.) | What it often covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $5 | $21.67 | Small treats, a savings jar |
| 6 | $6 | $26 | Small treats, a savings jar |
| 7 | $7 | $30.33 | Small treats, a savings jar |
| 8 | $8 | $34.67 | Treats, small toys, gifts for friends |
| 9 | $9 | $39 | Treats, small toys, gifts for friends |
| 10 | $10 | $43.33 | Treats, small toys, gifts for friends |
| 11 | $11 | $47.67 | Snacks out, games, some outings |
| 12 | $12 | $52 | Snacks out, games, some outings |
| 13 | $13 | $56.33 | Snacks out, games, some outings |
| 14 | $14 | $60.67 | Outings, clothes extras, phone top-ups |
| 15 | $15 | $65 | Outings, clothes extras, phone top-ups |
| 16 | $16 | $69.33 | Outings, clothes extras, phone top-ups |
| 17 | $17 | $73.67 | Outings, clothes extras, phone top-ups |
The $1-per-year-of-age rule is a popular convention, not a standard or a survey result. Adjust for local costs and for what you expect the allowance to pay for.
Linking chores and money without the arguments
Decide what is unpaid. Making your own bed and clearing your own plate are part of living in a family. Many parents pay only for jobs beyond that list.
Pay on a fixed day. Same day every week, straight from the chore tracker totals, so there's no haggling.
Let them make small mistakes. Spending a whole week's money on something disappointing at 8 is a cheap lesson compared with the same mistake at 18.
Allowance questions
How much allowance should a child get by age?
There is no official figure. A widely used rule of thumb is $1 a week for each year of age (so $8 a week at 8), sometimes halved for younger children. Surveys of US parents tend to report averages in a similar range. Pick an amount your budget can sustain and that matches what the child is expected to pay for.
Should allowance be tied to chores?
Three common models: a fixed allowance with chores expected anyway, allowance fully earned by chores, or a hybrid with a small base plus paid extra jobs. The hybrid is popular because basic contribution isn't "for sale" but extra effort is rewarded.
At what age should kids start getting an allowance?
Many families start around 5 or 6, when children can count money and understand that things cost something. Consumer finance educators such as the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggest using allowance to practise saving and spending choices.
What is a spend / save / give split?
Dividing each payment into jars (for example 50% spend, 40% save, 10% give) makes budgeting concrete for children. Adjust the split as they get older and start saving for bigger goals.