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Allowance by ageHow much allowance should a child get?
There is no official amount. The most common rule of thumb is one dollar a week for each year of age, so about $10 a week at age 10, and many families use half of that. Choose by what the allowance has to cover and what your budget allows, not by a chart. The table below shows both rules for ages 5 to 16.
How much allowance by age?
This chart uses the two rules of thumb parents mention most. The dollar-per-year rule pays $1 a week for each year of age. The lighter rule pays 50 cents a week per year, and suits families who want the allowance to be small. Monthly figures multiply the weekly amount by 52 and divide by 12. These are starting points, not standards.
| Age | $1 per year: weekly | monthly | 50¢ per year: weekly | monthly | What it might cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $5 | $21.67 | $2.50 | $10.83 | Small treats, saving for a toy |
| 6 | $6 | $26 | $3 | $13 | Small treats, saving for a toy |
| 7 | $7 | $30.33 | $3.50 | $15.17 | Small treats, saving for a toy |
| 8 | $8 | $34.67 | $4 | $17.33 | Treats, books and games, small gifts |
| 9 | $9 | $39 | $4.50 | $19.50 | Treats, books and games, small gifts |
| 10 | $10 | $43.33 | $5 | $21.67 | Treats, books and games, small gifts |
| 11 | $11 | $47.67 | $5.50 | $23.83 | Treats, outings with friends, app or game purchases |
| 12 | $12 | $52 | $6 | $26 | Treats, outings with friends, app or game purchases |
| 13 | $13 | $56.33 | $6.50 | $28.17 | Treats, outings with friends, app or game purchases |
| 14 | $14 | $60.67 | $7 | $30.33 | Snacks, outings, clothing top-ups |
| 15 | $15 | $65 | $7.50 | $32.50 | Snacks, outings, clothing top-ups |
| 16 | $16 | $69.33 | $8 | $34.67 | Snacks, outings, clothing top-ups |
The last column is our suggestion, not a rule. Try your own numbers, including per-chore pay and a save, spend and give split, in the allowance calculator.
What age should a child start getting an allowance?
No official age exists. The CFPB guidance for ages 6 to 12 says to tell school-age children that “you can earn money through an allowance or by doing jobs for the family or others,” and to start a habit of putting money aside for things they want. For ages 3 to 5, the CFPB guidance for ages 3 to 5 is more basic: kids that young may have to wait and save before buying something they want, and they learn that you earn money by working. A practical test: can your child hold on to a coin, wait a few days, and understand that spent money is gone? If so, a small weekly amount makes sense.
How do I pick an amount for my family?
Work through these five steps. They matter more than the chart.
- Decide what the allowance covers. Treats and toys only, or also snacks, outings, apps or clothes? A bigger list needs a bigger amount.
- Start from the chart, then adjust to your budget. Pick one rule and stay below what you can afford every week for a year.
- Decide how chores connect. Flat allowance with unpaid chores, pay per chore, or a base plus paid extras. See chores by age for what to expect.
- Split it. Save, spend and give is common. The percentages vary by family; the calculator uses 30% save and 10% give as defaults, which are only examples.
- Pay on the same day, every week, and write it down. A running record settles disputes about what was paid and what is left.
Should allowance be tied to chores?
There are two reasonable positions. If allowance is separate, chores are simply what family members do, and the allowance is practice at managing money. If allowance is earned, the child sees that effort produces money. The AAP (HealthyChildren.org) says tangible rewards such as allowances and stickers can be tied to completed chores. Mixing the two works for many families: a small base for the basics, with bigger jobs paid separately, as in the chores for 10-year-olds plan.
What happens to the money after you pay it?
This is the part parents tend to skip, and it is where the lessons are. A child who gets $10 and has no way to see what is left stops tracking it quickly. Keep a written count, or use a record that both of you can see, and encourage a goal, as in how to teach kids to save money.
Common questions
What age should a child start getting an allowance?
There is no required age. Many families start when a child can count coins and wait for something, often around 5 or 6. The CFPB's guidance for ages 6 to 12 suggests telling kids they can earn money through an allowance or by doing jobs for the family.
How much allowance should a 10-year-old get?
By the common dollar-per-year rule, about $10 a week; by the lighter half-dollar rule, about $5 a week. Neither is official. Choose by what the allowance has to cover and what your budget allows.
Should allowance depend on chores?
Families do it both ways. A flat allowance teaches money handling and treats chores as part of family life. Paying per job ties money to effort. Many families mix them: a small base plus paid extras.
How often should I pay allowance?
Weekly, on the same day, is easiest for younger kids. Older kids can move to every two weeks or monthly once they can plan ahead.
Is the allowance for the child or the budget?
Both. Decide what it has to cover. A 6-year-old's allowance covers small treats and saving for a toy; a 14-year-old's might also cover snacks, outings and apps.