Allowance Calculator
How much allowance is reasonable? Pick your child's age and get a suggested weekly total based on a common rule of thumb, then see how much of it chores could cover. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere.
Suggested weekly total
$7.50a week
Typical range for age 10: $5–$10 a week
Rules of thumb, not rules. Some families don't pay for chores at all, and that's a valid choice. Set chores to 0 to see a plain allowance.
How much allowance should a kid get? There's no official answer. This calculator starts from a common rule of thumb of roughly $0.75 a week for each year of age, inside a typical range of $0.50 to $1.00, and lets you decide how much of it is paid as a flat allowance and how much is earned through chores.
How the calculator works
It suggests a total weekly amount, then splits it. Every chore you pay for lowers the flat allowance by the same amount, so the total doesn't change. If you'd rather pay only for chores, set the values so the chores cover the whole amount and the flat allowance drops to zero.
Things to decide before you start
- What should the money cover? Snacks and small toys, or also clothes, games and savings? The more it covers, the higher the amount.
- Save, spend, give. Many families split each payment into those three parts.
- Paid or unpaid chores. Some families pay for extra jobs and keep everyday chores unpaid; some pay for everything; some pay nothing. Any of these can work if you're consistent.
- Consistency matters more than the number. A smaller amount paid on time teaches more than a bigger amount paid whenever you remember.
Keep track of it
Once you've picked your numbers, write them down where you'll both see them. FamilyBank is one free way to do it: it keeps a running balance for each child, can pay the allowance automatically every week or month, and logs every addition and deduction.
These are general rules of thumb, not financial advice.FAQ
How much allowance should a 10-year-old get?
With this calculator's rule of thumb, about $7.50 a week, inside a typical range of $5 to $10. Many families adjust based on what the money is expected to cover.
Should I pay kids for chores?
Families differ. Some pay for extra jobs and keep everyday chores unpaid, some pay for all chores, and some don't tie chores to money at all. What matters is being clear and consistent.
Weekly or monthly?
Weekly usually suits younger kids because the wait is shorter. Older kids and teens can practice budgeting with a monthly amount.
What if my child spends it all right away?
That's part of learning, and the stakes are small. Splitting each payment into spend, save and give can help.
Is this financial advice?
No. It's a general rule of thumb.