Chores for 16-year-old teens
Sixteen-year-olds should be practising the full independent-living set: meals, laundry, cleaning, shopping and budgeting.
Good starting point: Plan and shop for a family meal; manage a weekly budget.
A sample week for a 16-year-old
Every day
- Book own appointment
- Descale the kettle
- Change a light bulb
- Set a morning alarm and get up
- Budget own allowance
- Clean the TV and screens
Once a week
- Pay a household bill online with a parent
- Clean the oven
- Clean own bathroom weekly
- Iron or steam clothes
Chore list for 16 year olds, room by room
Everything a typical 16-year-old can manage alone.
Bedroom
- Put toys in bins ~10 min
- Put dirty clothes in hamper ~2 min
- Help make the bed ~5 min
- Make own bed ~5 min
- Tidy bookshelf ~10 min
- Put away clean clothes ~10 min
- Change bed sheets ~20 min
- Declutter closet and donate ~45 min
- Vacuum bedroom ~15 min
- Dust bedroom surfaces ~10 min
Personal
- Pick out tomorrow's clothes ~5 min
- Pack school bag ~5 min
- Pack own lunch ~10 min
- Set a morning alarm and get up ~2 min
- Brush teeth without reminders ~4 min
- Book own appointment ~10 min
- Do own laundry start to finish ~60 min
- Budget own allowance ~10 min
- Clean own bathroom weekly ~30 min
- Put shoes on the rack ~2 min
Kitchen
- Wipe up own spills ~3 min
- Carry plate to the sink ~2 min
- Set the table ~5 min
- Clear the table ~5 min
- Load the dishwasher ~10 min
- Unload the dishwasher ~10 min
- Hand-wash dishes ~20 min
- Wipe kitchen counters ~5 min
- Sweep kitchen floor ~10 min
- Mop kitchen floor ~20 min
- Take out trash and recycling ~5 min
- Put groceries away ~10 min
- Wash fruit and vegetables ~5 min
- Make a simple breakfast ~15 min
- Cook a family dinner ~60 min
- Clean out the fridge ~30 min
- Wipe microwave inside ~10 min
- Wipe kitchen cabinet fronts ~15 min
- Descale the kettle ~10 min
- Clean the oven ~45 min
- Help wipe the table with a cloth ~3 min
Living areas
- Empty small wastebaskets ~5 min
- Dust low shelves ~10 min
- Fluff and straighten cushions ~5 min
- Vacuum living room ~20 min
- Wipe light switches and door handles ~10 min
- Clean mirrors and glass doors ~10 min
- Water houseplants ~5 min
- Tidy shoes by the door ~5 min
- Sort mail and paper clutter ~15 min
- Vacuum stairs ~15 min
- Wipe baseboards ~25 min
- Wash windows inside ~40 min
- Clean the TV and screens ~5 min
- Put books back on the shelf ~5 min
Bathroom
- Hang up bath towel ~2 min
- Wipe bathroom sink ~5 min
- Clean bathroom mirror ~5 min
- Refill toilet paper and soap ~3 min
- Scrub the toilet ~10 min
- Clean shower or tub ~25 min
- Mop bathroom floor ~10 min
- Wash bath mats ~5 min
Laundry
- Sort laundry by colour ~10 min
- Match socks ~10 min
- Fold towels and washcloths ~10 min
- Run the washing machine ~10 min
- Move laundry to the dryer or line ~10 min
- Fold and put away family laundry ~25 min
- Iron or steam clothes ~20 min
Pets
- Feed the pet ~5 min
- Refill pet water bowl ~2 min
- Brush the pet ~10 min
- Walk the dog ~30 min
- Clean the litter box ~10 min
- Clean the fish tank ~30 min
- Pick up dog poop in the yard ~10 min
Outdoor
- Water the garden ~15 min
- Pull weeds ~20 min
- Rake leaves ~30 min
- Mow the lawn ~45 min
- Sweep porch or balcony ~10 min
- Wash the car ~40 min
- Shovel snow ~30 min
- Bring bins to the curb ~5 min
Family help
- Help a younger sibling get dressed ~10 min
- Read to a younger sibling ~15 min
- Make a grocery list ~10 min
- Plan one family meal ~20 min
- Babysit a sibling for an hour ~60 min
- Pay a household bill online with a parent ~15 min
- Change a light bulb ~5 min
- Replace vacuum bag or empty canister ~5 min
- Help carry light shopping bags ~5 min
Chores for 16 year olds: FAQ
What chores can a 16 year old do?
Typical chores for 16 year olds include book own appointment, descale the kettle, change a light bulb, set a morning alarm and get up, budget own allowance. Sixteen-year-olds should be practising the full independent-living set: meals, laundry, cleaning, shopping and budgeting.
How many chores should a 16 year old have?
As a general suggestion, a few daily jobs and one or two bigger weekly ones. Start with fewer and add one new job at a time once the first ones are routine.
Should a 16 year old get paid for chores?
Many families pay a small allowance at 16; a common rule of thumb is $1 a week per year of age (so about $16 a week), but this is a convention, not a standard. See the allowance by age calculator.
Age guidance here is general, based on common advice such as the AAP's HealthyChildren.org. Every child is different; prioritise safety. See all ages.