Chores for teens
What a 13 to 17 year old can do at home, sorted by the skill it builds, with a teen chart you can print in one tap.
Short answer: Most teenagers can do almost any household job. Give a few short daily ones (dishes, pet, own lunch) and one or two bigger weekly ones (own laundry, a bathroom, the lawn), and let them choose from a menu.
New at 13–17: life skills
The jobs that turn a helper into someone who could live on their own.
- Cook a family dinner
from age 13 · ~60 min · weekly - Iron or steam clothes
from age 13 · ~20 min · weekly - Mow the lawn
from age 13 · ~45 min · weekly - Babysit a sibling for an hour
from age 13 · ~60 min · monthly - Pay a household bill online with a parent
from age 15 · ~15 min · monthly - Book own appointment
from age 15 · ~10 min · monthly - Descale the kettle
from age 14 · ~10 min · monthly - Clean the oven
from age 14 · ~45 min · monthly
Theirs to own outright (10–12)
Skills learned before the teens that a teenager should now do without reminders.
- Change bed sheets
from age 10 · ~20 min · weekly - Declutter closet and donate
from age 12 · ~45 min · monthly - Set a morning alarm and get up
from age 10 · ~2 min · daily - Mop kitchen floor
from age 10 · ~20 min · weekly - Clean out the fridge
from age 11 · ~30 min · monthly - Sort mail and paper clutter
from age 12 · ~15 min · weekly - Vacuum stairs
from age 10 · ~15 min · weekly - Wash windows inside
from age 12 · ~40 min · monthly - Clean the TV and screens
from age 10 · ~5 min · weekly - Scrub the toilet
from age 10 · ~10 min · weekly - Clean shower or tub
from age 11 · ~25 min · weekly - Mop bathroom floor
from age 10 · ~10 min · weekly - Wash bath mats
from age 10 · ~5 min · weekly - Run the washing machine
from age 10 · ~10 min · weekly - Fold and put away family laundry
from age 10 · ~25 min · weekly - Walk the dog
from age 10 · ~30 min · daily - Clean the fish tank
from age 12 · ~30 min · monthly - Wash the car
from age 10 · ~40 min · monthly - Shovel snow
from age 11 · ~30 min · monthly - Plan one family meal
from age 11 · ~20 min · weekly - Do own laundry start to finish
from age 12 · ~60 min · weekly - Clean own bathroom weekly
from age 12 · ~30 min · weekly - Change a light bulb
from age 12 · ~5 min · monthly - Replace vacuum bag or empty canister
from age 10 · ~5 min · monthly
Everyday basics (8–9)
Quick daily jobs that keep a shared home running.
- Vacuum bedroom
from age 8 · ~15 min · weekly - Pack own lunch
from age 8 · ~10 min · daily - Hand-wash dishes
from age 9 · ~20 min · daily - Take out trash and recycling
from age 8 · ~5 min · daily - Make a simple breakfast
from age 8 · ~15 min · daily - Wipe microwave inside
from age 9 · ~10 min · weekly - Vacuum living room
from age 8 · ~20 min · weekly - Clean mirrors and glass doors
from age 8 · ~10 min · weekly - Wipe baseboards
from age 9 · ~25 min · monthly - Move laundry to the dryer or line
from age 8 · ~10 min · weekly - Clean the litter box
from age 9 · ~10 min · daily - Pick up dog poop in the yard
from age 9 · ~10 min · weekly - Rake leaves
from age 8 · ~30 min · monthly - Bring bins to the curb
from age 9 · ~5 min · weekly - Help a younger sibling get dressed
from age 8 · ~10 min · daily - Make a grocery list
from age 9 · ~10 min · weekly - Budget own allowance
from age 9 · ~10 min · weekly - Wipe kitchen cabinet fronts
from age 8 · ~15 min · monthly
daily weekly now and then
Teen chores: questions parents ask
Summer holidays are a good time to add bigger jobs; the teen summer template has them ready. For money, see allowance by age.
What chores should a teenager do?
By 13–17 most teens can do nearly every household job: their own laundry start to finish, cleaning a bathroom, cooking a family meal, mowing, and simple admin such as booking their own appointments. The aim is a teen who could run the house for a week.
What should a 13 year old do at home?
A typical 13-year-old can handle a few daily jobs (dishes, the dog, their own lunch) plus bigger weekly ones such as cleaning their own bathroom, doing their laundry and mowing the lawn. See the 13-year-old page for a ready-made chart.
How much should a teenager get paid for chores?
There is no official rate. A common rule of thumb is $1 a week per year of age (about $13–$17 a week), with extra pay for jobs beyond the everyday ones. It is a family convention, not a standard; the allowance by age calculator lets you set your own numbers.
How do I get a teenager to do chores without nagging?
Let them choose from a menu of chores, agree a deadline rather than a method, and put it in writing where both of you can see it. Check the result, not the process, and rotate the unpopular jobs weekly so nobody is stuck with them.
How many chores should a teenager have?
As a general suggestion, a few short daily jobs plus one or two bigger weekly ones. Busy weeks (exams, sport) are a good reason to trade a weekly job, not to drop chores altogether.
Lists for each age
Age guidance is general, drawn from common advice such as the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren.org. Children vary; go by what your child can do safely.