Kids' Allowance: How Much to Give and What It Should Cover

How much allowance should a child get, and what should it be expected to pay for? Ask ten parents and you may get ten answers, because there is no official number. The CFPB's Money as You Grow guidance does not set an amount, and it does not say allowance has to be tied to chores. It says kids can earn through an allowance or by doing jobs for the family or others, and it encourages talking about saving, planning and comparing prices.

So treat what follows as ideas, not rules. Where you see an amount, remember it is a common rule of thumb or an opinion, not a survey result. The right figure depends on your budget, where you live and what you decide your child's money should cover.

The rule of thumb everyone quotes

U.S. Bank describes a common guideline of $1 per week for each year of a child's age. A 6-year-old would get $6 a week and a 10-year-old $10. It is easy to remember and it grows with the child. It is also an opinion. For some families a teenager getting $15 or more a week would be too much, and for others it would be too little, especially if the allowance covers real expenses.

A useful way to adjust: start with what you can comfortably afford, then decide what the money is for. The amount follows the job you give it.

Rung 1: Ages 5 to 7 (starter money)

Amount idea: Very small and frequent. By the age rule that is about $5 to $7 a week, though some parents start lower, such as a few dollars. U.S. Bank suggests starting around age five or six and says no formal allowance is needed before that.

What it could cover: Small treats and toys. A sticker, a small toy at the checkout or a treat on a family outing. Keep it simple, so the child can see the money go in and out.

What it teaches: Money is limited, and choosing one thing means not choosing another. Use clear containers, such as a jar for spending and a jar for saving, so the amounts are visible.

Watch out for: Handing over more than the child can keep track of, and rescuing them when it is gone. U.S. Bank advises not giving extra before the next allowance day, so that money running out is a lesson and not a crisis.

Rung 2: Ages 8 to 10 (saving for something big)

Amount idea: A bit more, with a goal attached. The age rule says about $8 to $10 a week, but you might choose less and add a matching bonus for saving toward a bigger goal.

What it could cover: Toys, books, small games and treats. You might also say that this money pays for things beyond your usual routine, such as a second trading-card pack or a particular toy.

What it teaches: Setting a goal and waiting for it. If your child wants a $30 item and saves $5 a week, they find out it takes six weeks, which is a practical lesson in patience. U.S. Bank describes this stage as one for budgeting and discussing trade-offs.

Watch out for: Changing the rules halfway through. If you tell a child that their allowance covers a category, stick to it.

Rung 3: Ages 11 to 13 (more choices, more responsibility)

Amount idea: Some families move to a monthly payment at this stage, because it lets a child plan across weeks. By the age rule it is about $11 to $13 a week, which comes to roughly $45 to $55 a month. That is a figure to adjust, not a target.

What it could cover: Entertainment with friends, such as snacks at a game, movie tickets or small apps and in-game items if you allow them. You decide where the line is.

What it teaches: Planning over a longer stretch. A child who spends the whole amount in the first week learns what an empty month looks like, which is far cheaper than learning it at 22. U.S. Bank describes this stage as one for planning and longer-term goals.

Watch out for: Making the allowance cover things that are not optional, such as school lunches, before you have talked about it. Decide ahead of time and write it down.

Rung 4: Ages 14 to 17 (a budget for real expenses)

Amount idea: Larger, and tied to what it has to pay for. U.S. Bank suggests that at this age, allowances can be larger and linked to actual expenses. The best way to size it is to look at what you already spend on the child's extras, such as entertainment, snacks and some clothing.

What it could cover: This is where a clear list matters. A teen might take over their own entertainment and snacks, then a set share of clothing or personal care, and eventually a phone add-on or ride-share money. For example, if you currently spend about $40 a month on your teen's outings and small clothing items, you might hand that over as a monthly sum. That figure is only an illustration.

What it teaches: Real budgeting, with consequences. If your teen blows the clothing money in the first week, they go without until next month. A teen who later has a part-time job will already know how to stretch money. We cover the paycheck side in a separate article on a teen's first seasonal job.

Watch out for: Dropping the allowance in favor of paying for everything on request. A set amount only works if it is the amount, so avoid topping it up every time they ask.

Chores: tied to allowance or not?

There is no single correct answer, and U.S. Bank lays out three options. Unconditional allowance is paid on a schedule no matter what, which keeps the focus on managing money. Chore-based allowance pays for tasks, which connects effort to pay. A hybrid gives a base amount, then pays extra for optional jobs.

Whichever you choose, be consistent and explain the rules to your child. U.S. Bank says that if the main goal is building money habits, a regular allowance often works best, with extra pay for optional chores if needed. Some parents also keep basic tasks, like making the bed, as unpaid family responsibilities. That is a matter of opinion, and it is your call.

Save, spend, give: splitting the money

A simple structure helps young children. U.S. Bank describes a one-third rule: split the allowance into equal parts for saving, spending and giving, using labeled jars. Other families pick different proportions, such as more for spending when a child is young. As children grow, you can move savings into a bank account and talk about bigger goals. What matters most is that the child makes the choices, including what to give and to whom.

Simple ground rules that work at any age

Pay on a regular day, and do not skip it. Agree in advance what the money covers. Let your child make small mistakes. Review the amount once or twice a year, because kids' needs change. And talk about your own money habits in front of them, since they learn from what you do as much as from what you say.