Not sure how much pocket money to give? Slide to your child's age and get a recommended weekly allowance based on the $1-per-year-of-age rule.
Based on the common guideline of roughly $1 per year of age per week, with adjustments for teenagers who have growing expenses.
| Age | Per Week | Per Month |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | $3 | $12 |
| 4 | $4 | $16 |
| 5 | $5 | $20 |
| 6 | $6 | $24 |
| 7 | $7 | $28 |
| 8 | $8 | $32 |
| 9 | $9 | $36 |
| 10 | $10 | $40 |
| 11 | $11 | $44 |
| 12 | $13 | $52 |
| 13 | $14 | $56 |
| 14 | $16 | $64 |
| 15 | $17 | $68 |
| 16 | $19 | $76 |
| 17 | $20 | $80 |
The most common starting point is $1 per year of age per week. A 7-year-old gets $7. A 12-year-old gets $12. Simple to remember and easy to explain to kids. But every family is different. Your household budget, local cost of living, and what the allowance is expected to cover all play a role.
According to the 2024 T. Rowe Price Parents, Kids and Money survey, 67% of parents who give their children an allowance report that their kids have a better understanding of money management. The calculator above gives you a recommended range rather than a single number. Use it as a starting point, then adjust to fit your family.
A common range is $0.50 to $1.50 per year of age each week. A 2023 RoosterMoney survey of over 10,000 families found the average allowance for a 7-year-old was $7.11 per week, closely matching the dollar-per-year guideline. The exact dollar amount matters less than consistency. What builds money skills is giving kids regular practice making spending decisions with real money they control.
Most families start between ages 4 and 6, when children can count coins and grasp that things cost money. Research from the University of Cambridge (2013) found that children's money habits are formed by age 7, making early exposure to real money decisions important. Start small. Even $1 to $2 per week gives a young child meaningful practice choosing between wants and needs.
For kids under 10, weekly works better. Young children need short feedback loops to connect money with choices. According to the American Institute of CPAs, 61% of parents who give allowance do so on a weekly basis. Monthly payments suit kids 12 and older, helping them practice budgeting closer to how adults manage money. Some families use biweekly around age 11 as a bridge between the two.
A common starting point is $1 per year of age per week, so a 7-year-old gets about $7. Adjust based on your budget and what the allowance covers. The exact amount matters less than giving kids regular practice with real money decisions.
Most families start between ages 4 and 6, when children can count and understand that things cost money. Even $1 to $2 per week gives young kids real practice with wants vs. needs.
Both approaches work. Some families pay per chore to teach that work earns money. Others give a flat weekly amount and treat household chores as a separate family responsibility. Consistency matters most.
Weekly works best for kids under 10. Young children need shorter feedback loops. Monthly payments help teens practice real-world budgeting. Some families switch to biweekly around age 11 as a transition.
Yes. An annual increase tied to their birthday teaches kids about raises and growing responsibility. Use the calculator above to see recommended amounts at every age.
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