Chores for Teenagers: The Complete List by Age 13 to 17

Teenagers are closer to adults than to kids, and a chore list that treats them like 9-year-olds produces eye rolls for good reason. Between 13 and 17 the goal changes from helping the family to running a household: laundry, meals, money, time. This list breaks that down by age, with how long it takes and what to hand over when.

As a rule, teenagers need about 30 to 45 minutes of chores a day. That includes basics they should do without being asked, plus a few bigger weekly jobs. Younger kids' lists are in our guide to chores for tweens.

What changes at 13 and beyond

Younger children do chores because you tell them to. Teens can do them because they understand why. They also push back more, which is healthy, so the way you introduce the list matters as much as what's on it.

Three shifts to plan for:

• Ownership. A teen should own whole jobs, like all of the laundry, and not just assist with yours.
• Negotiation. Let them help write the list and pick which jobs they want. People defend what they chose.
• Schedules. Homework, sports, a job and friends fill the week. Set deadlines ("by Saturday noon") instead of tight daily times when you can.

The list at a glance

Treat the ages as guideposts. A capable 13-year-old may be ready for the 15-year-old list, and a teen who struggles with organization may need more steps and more reminders.

Chores for 13-year-olds

A young teen is still learning to self-start. Give clear jobs with clear finish lines.

1. Do their own laundry: sort, wash, dry, fold and put away.
2. Make a simple meal, such as pasta, eggs or quesadillas.
3. Clean their own bathroom sink and toilet.
4. Take out the trash and recycling.
5. Vacuum their room and one shared room.
6. Help younger siblings with a task, like reading with them.

If your 13-year-old has never done their own laundry, teach it once on a weekend, then let them run it. Our guide to how to get kids to help around the house has wording that makes the handover easier.

Chores for 14-year-olds

Fourteen is a good year to add real responsibility, since high school brings its own demands.

1. Clean the whole bathroom weekly.
2. Mow a small lawn or rake leaves (with your equipment rules).
3. Cook one family dinner a week with an adult nearby.
4. Load and unload the dishwasher daily.
5. Wash windows or mirrors.
6. Look after a pet's daily needs.

Chores for 15-year-olds

By 15, many teens can handle a task without an adult in the room.

1. Plan and cook a full family meal each week.
2. Deep clean the kitchen, including the stove top and fridge shelves.
3. Change the sheets on their bed and on a sibling's.
4. Handle more yard work, such as weeding or trimming.
5. Babysit younger siblings for short periods, where local rules and your comfort allow.
6. Manage a weekly schedule that includes homework and activities.

Chores for 16-year-olds

This is the year of errands and shared logistics.

1. Shop from a list, with a budget.
2. Wash and vacuum the car.
3. Take on a larger share of yard work, such as mowing the whole lawn.
4. Run errands if they drive, within the rules you set.
5. Cook two family dinners a week.
6. Pack their own lunches and their own bag.

Chores for 17-year-olds

At 17, the point is practice. They should be able to run their own life before they leave.

1. Do their own laundry, cooking and cleaning without prompts.
2. Plan a week of meals and shop for them.
3. Book and keep their own appointments.
4. Handle small repairs and maintenance, like changing a light bulb or a vacuum bag.
5. Teach a younger sibling a chore.
6. Manage their own budget for clothes or activities.

Paid or unpaid?

Keep everyday household jobs unpaid. Your teen lives there, and sharing the work is part of living there. A common split is to pay for big extras beyond the basics, such as clearing a whole yard or painting a fence, and to fund an allowance that covers specific expenses, such as clothes. You can read more about how a daily list works in daily chores for teenagers.

For how much to pay, many families use $15 to $25 a week as an allowance range for ages 14 and up, and separate that from jobs.

Making it stick with a teenager

• Write the list together. Offer a short menu and let them pick.
• Use deadlines, not times. "Laundry done by Sunday evening" gives freedom.
• Keep a visible checklist, so you are not the nag.
• Decide the consequence in advance. A common one is that screens and going out come after jobs are done.
• Skip the lectures. One calm sentence beats five.

Doing this with Famiyo

Famiyo is a free family app for iPhone and Android that combines a shared family calendar, chores with points and a rewards shop; kids join with a code, no email needed. You assign age-right chores with points, set them to repeat, and your teen checks them off on their own phone. You get a notification when a chore is done, and you can choose to approve it first. Points can go toward rewards you set, like a later curfew night or a favorite takeout.

See our list of the best chore apps for kids to compare.

Sit down with your teen this week, list the jobs from the table that fit their age, and let them cross off the two they'd rather not do first.