How Much Allowance Should a Kid Get? Allowance by Age and Whether to Pay for Chores

Sooner or later, every parent hears it: "Can I get an allowance?" And right behind it come the harder questions. How much is fair? Should it depend on chores? What if they spend it all on candy on day one?

There's no single right answer, but there are a few proven approaches. This guide walks through the main allowance models, a simple way to decide how much allowance to give by age, and how to use points and rewards to teach money habits before kids ever touch a debit card.

The Three Main Allowance Models

Before deciding on an amount, decide what the allowance is for. Most families end up using one of these three models.

1. Unconditional allowance

Kids get a fixed amount every week, no strings attached. Chores are expected because "everyone in the family helps," not because they're paid.

Pros: Separates money lessons from chore battles. Kids learn budgeting with a predictable income.
Cons: Some kids see no link between effort and earning.

2. Paid per chore (commission)

Kids earn money for each completed chore, like a small job.

Pros: Clear connection between work and reward. Motivating for many kids.
Cons: Kids may refuse chores when they "don't need the money," and basic family contributions can start to feel optional.

3. Hybrid: base chores plus paid extras

Everyday chores (making the bed, clearing plates, tidying their room) are unpaid family responsibilities. Bigger or extra jobs, like washing the car or cleaning out the garage, earn money or points.

Pros: Kids learn both "we all pitch in" and "extra effort earns extra rewards."
Cons: Requires a clear list of which chores are basic and which are paid.

Many parents find the hybrid model the easiest to keep going long-term, because it avoids the "I don't want money this week, so I won't do anything" problem.

How Much Allowance by Age?

A popular rule of thumb is half to one unit of your currency per year of age, per week. So a 6-year-old would get 3–6 a week and a 12-year-old would get 6–12 a week, whether that's dollars, euros, pounds or złoty.

Treat that as a starting point and adjust for three things:

What the allowance has to cover. If it only covers treats and toys, it can be smaller. If a teenager buys their own clothes, phone credit or bus tickets with it, it needs to be bigger.
Your family budget. Allowance should be sustainable every single week. Consistency matters more than the amount.
Local cost of living. Prices differ a lot between countries and cities.

Here's how the rule of thumb looks in practice:

Ages 4–5: 2–5 per week. Mostly about learning that money is exchanged for things.
Ages 6–8: 3–8 per week. Small treats, saving up for a toy.
Ages 9–11: 5–11 per week. Saving for bigger goals, simple budgeting.
Ages 12–14: 6–14 per week, often plus some expenses they now manage themselves.
Ages 15+: Often a monthly amount that covers specific costs, like activities, clothing or transport.

What Allowance Should Cover at Each Age

Allowance teaches the most when kids are responsible for real decisions.

Young kids (4–7): Small treats, stickers, a toy they save up for over a few weeks.
Middle childhood (8–11): Snacks, books, games, gifts for friends' birthdays.
Tweens (12–14): Entertainment with friends, some clothing extras, apps or in-game purchases (with your rules).
Teens (15+): Part of their clothing budget, phone plan, transport, hobbies.

The key is to agree on this upfront. If you still pay for everything they want, allowance becomes free extra money and teaches very little.

Should You Pay Kids for Chores?

This is the big debate. Here's the honest summary.

Arguments for paying:

It mirrors real life: work earns income.
It can be very motivating, especially for older kids saving for something specific.
It gives kids a way to earn more if they want something bigger.

Arguments against paying:

Kids may start asking "what do I get?" for every small favor.
Basic contributions to family life, like clearing your own plate, shouldn't feel optional.
Motivation can drop once kids have enough money.

A middle path many families like: basic chores are unpaid, extra jobs earn rewards, and the allowance itself is separate. That way kids learn both responsibility and the value of effort.

Points First, Money Later: A Gentler Way to Start

For younger kids especially, cash can be abstract and easy to lose. Points work as a "practice currency" that teaches the same lessons:

Earning: Each chore is worth a set number of points.
Saving: Kids decide whether to spend points now or save for something bigger.
Choosing: Different rewards cost different amounts, so kids learn trade-offs.
Delayed gratification: Waiting two weeks for a big reward instead of grabbing a small one today is a real money skill.

You can mix experiences and money in the same rewards list. For example:

30 minutes of extra screen time: 20 points
Choosing what's for dinner: 30 points
A trip to the ice cream shop: 50 points
Pocket money (5 in your currency): 100 points
A family movie night they pick: 150 points

This is how a lot of families use Famiyo. You give each chore or event a point value, kids check off what they've done, and points land on their balance. In the family rewards shop you set your own rewards and prices, and you can limit how many times a reward can be redeemed or when it's available. Kids can see how many points they still need for the next reward, which is a surprisingly powerful motivator.

Teaching Real Money Skills Along the Way

Whatever amount you choose, these habits make allowance a learning tool instead of just spending money:

Use three jars or accounts: spend, save and give. Even a simple split like 50/40/10 builds the habit.
Let them make small mistakes. Spending everything on day one and having nothing left on day four is a cheap and memorable lesson.
Don't bail them out. If they run out, they wait until next week.
Set a savings goal together. Write it down and track progress.
Talk about money openly. Explain how you plan for groceries, holidays or a new bike.

Common Allowance Mistakes to Avoid

Being inconsistent. Forgetting payday tells kids the system isn't serious.
Using allowance as punishment. Taking money away for unrelated misbehavior muddies the lesson.
Giving too much too early. Start small and increase it with age and responsibility.
Paying for everything anyway. If you still buy every treat, allowance has no purpose.
Changing the rules every week. Pick a model, try it for at least a month, then adjust.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age should kids start getting an allowance?

Many families start between ages 4 and 6, when kids can count and understand that money buys things. Starting with points or a very small amount works well at this age.

How much allowance should a 10-year-old get?

Using the common rule of thumb of half to one unit of currency per year of age per week, a 10-year-old would get around 5–10 per week. Adjust based on what they're expected to pay for.

Should allowance be tied to chores?

It can be, but many families keep basic chores unpaid and only reward extra jobs. This keeps everyday family contributions non-negotiable while still rewarding extra effort.

Is it better to give points or money?

Points are great for younger kids and for experience-based rewards. Older kids benefit from handling real money. Many families use both: points for daily chores, with some rewards that convert points into pocket money.

The Bottom Line

The perfect allowance amount matters less than having a clear, consistent system. Decide what the allowance covers, pick a model that fits your family, and start small. Whether you use cash, points or both, the real goal is the same: helping kids learn that effort, patience and good choices pay off.

Looking for a list of chores to pair with your allowance system? See our guide to age-appropriate chores for kids.