Reviewed by the Penny Time editorial team
Part of our Allowance hub.
How Much Allowance (Pocket Money) by Age
Quick answer: Most U.S. families pay $1-$3/week at ages 4-5, scaling up to $15-$25/week for teens 15-17. The national average across all ages is $14.72/week (Greenlight, 7M+ families). The right amount depends on what the allowance covers, not just the kid's age.
| Age | Typical weekly amount | What it usually covers |
|---|---|---|
| 4-5 | $1-$3 | Coins to hold, small treats |
| 6-8 | $5-$8 | Toys, save/spend/give jars |
| 9-11 | $8-$12 | Snacks, apps, outings |
| 12-14 | $10-$20 | Entertainment, clothing extras |
| 15-17 | $15-$25 | Most discretionary spending |
Updated June 2026. Data: Greenlight (2023, 2025), RoosterMoney Pocket Money Index (2025), Till Financial (2025).
According to Greenlight's 2023 data, the national average allowance was $14.72 per week across ages 5 to 19.
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Allowance by single age: a weekly amount for each age 4 to 17
Want the number for one specific age? Here is a single-year guideline. These amounts follow the $1-per-year rule and the survey ranges in this guide. Treat them as starting points, not exact survey averages, and adjust for what the allowance covers and your own budget.
| Age | Guideline weekly amount |
|---|---|
| 4 years old | $1 to $2 |
| 5 years old | $2 to $3 |
| 6 years old | $5 to $6 |
| 7 years old | $6 to $8 |
| 8 years old | $7 to $9 |
| 9 years old | $8 to $10 |
| 10 years old | $9 to $12 |
| 11 years old | $10 to $13 |
| 12 years old | $11 to $15 |
| 13 years old | $12 to $18 |
| 14 years old | $13 to $20 |
| 15 years old | $15 to $22 |
| 16 years old | $17 to $25 |
| 17 years old | $20 to $25 |
Every parent googles this at some point. Whether you call it allowance, pocket money, or spending money, the question is the same: how much should your kid get each week?
The national average is $14.72 per week according to Greenlight's 2023 data across 7 million families, but that number is basically useless on its own. It lumps 5-year-olds getting $2 with 17-year-olds getting $25.
The real question is what makes sense at your kid's age. Below is a breakdown by age band, with survey data from Greenlight, RoosterMoney's 2025 Pocket Money Index, and Till Financial's 2025 U.S. averages.
Ages 4-5: Starting small
Typical range: $1-$3 per week
According to research by Dr. David Whitebread and Dr. Sue Bingham at the University of Cambridge (2013), children as young as 3 can grasp basic concepts like value and exchange, and core financial behaviors begin forming by age 7. Starting allowance at 4 or 5 gives your child a head start.
At this stage, the goal is not budgeting. It is holding real coins, understanding that a toy costs money, and practicing the physical act of paying. Give them a few dollars and let them hand cash to the cashier next time you buy something small together.
One jar, one purpose: saving up for something small they picked. When they have enough, let them buy it themselves.
Ages 6-8: Building the save-spend-give habit
Typical range: $5-$8 per week
RoosterMoney's 2025 data shows 6-year-olds receiving an average of $3.50/week (UK-adjusted), but U.S. families typically pay more. The $1-per-year rule puts a 7-year-old at $7/week, which lines up with what most American families report.
This is when the save-spend-give system starts clicking. Three jars (or three categories in an app) teach kids to divide money before spending it. A common split: 70% spending, 20% saving, 10% giving.
Let kids make real choices at this age. The sting of blowing $6 on something they regret teaches more than any lecture.
Ages 9-11: Expanding responsibility
Typical range: $8-$12 per week
How much allowance for a 10 year old?
According to Till Financial's 2025 data, most 10-year-olds receive between $7 and $10 per week. Some families go higher by expanding what the allowance or pocket money covers: snacks, app purchases, outings with friends.
The more categories your child's allowance covers, the more practice they get making tradeoffs.
This is also a good age to introduce savings goals. Help them pick something that costs $30-$50 and track weekly progress. Three to five weeks of saving builds patience in a way that talking about it never will.
How much allowance for an 11 year old?
Most 11-year-olds get $8 to $12 per week. Till Financial's 2025 data puts 9 to 11 year-olds at $7 to $10 typical, and the $1-per-year rule lands an 11-year-old at $11. Nudge it higher if the allowance covers snacks, apps, or outings with friends.
Ages 12-14: Real budgeting (middle school allowance)
Typical range: $10-$20 per week
Allowance for a teenager: how much at 12, 13, 14?
Till Financial reports that the typical range for a 13-year-old is $12-$18 per week. This is the age when pocket money transitions from spending cash to a real budget. Some parents switch to biweekly or monthly payments to practice longer-term budgeting. Expect them to run out early the first few months. That is part of the process.
Consider covering specific categories: their phone bill, clothing beyond basics, entertainment. When they choose between a movie ticket and a shirt they want, they learn tradeoffs faster than conversation could teach.
How much allowance for a 12 year old?
A typical 12-year-old gets $10 to $20 per week, and the $1-per-year rule suggests $12. Twelve is often when allowance becomes a real budget, so many families pay a bit more and let the child cover their own entertainment and small extras.
How much allowance for a 13 year old?
Till Financial's 2025 data puts the typical 13-year-old at $12 to $18 per week. Thirteen is when allowance commonly shifts from spending cash to a planned budget, sometimes paid every two weeks or monthly to practice longer-term planning.
How much allowance for a 14 year old?
Most 14-year-olds get $13 to $20 per week, with the $1-per-year rule landing at $14. Families often raise it toward the teen range of $15 to $25 as the allowance starts covering clothing, social outings, and subscriptions.
Ages 15-17: Teen allowance and preparing for independence
Typical range: $15-$25 per week (or $60-$100/month)
A reasonable weekly allowance for a teenager is $15-$25, based on Greenlight's 2025 per-age averages and Till Financial's 2025 ranges. At the top end, a 2019 AICPA survey found the national average across all ages was $30 per week, though that figure was skewed by older teens with larger budgets. Here is what families actually pay at each age:
How much allowance for a 15 year old?
The average 15-year-old receives $15.26 per week according to Greenlight's 2025 per-age data. Most families pay between $15 and $25, on the lower end if the allowance only covers fun spending and on the higher end if it covers clothing or eating out with friends. For the full breakdown, including how a job changes the math and the right budgeting split, see our guide to how much allowance for a 15-year-old.
How much allowance for a 16 year old?
The Greenlight 2025 average for 16-year-olds is $17.89 per week, while Till Financial's 2025 data puts the typical range at $20-$35. The spread is wide because 16 is when allowance often starts covering gas, subscriptions, and social outings, and when part-time job income enters the picture.
How much allowance for a 17 year old?
17-year-olds average $21.47 per week in Greenlight's 2025 data, the highest of any age under 18. Many families switch to a monthly budget at this age ($80-$100/month) that covers most discretionary spending, as a final practice run before financial independence.
Teens who have managed allowance for years can handle a monthly budget that covers most discretionary spending. Some families combine this with earnings from a part-time job. The goal is to make the jump to full financial independence less abrupt.
Monthly allowance by age
Plenty of families pay monthly instead of weekly, especially from middle school up, because a monthly amount forces real budgeting: the money has to last 30 days, not 7. The figures below are the weekly ranges in this guide multiplied out to a month (roughly weekly x 4), rounded to the numbers families actually use.
| Age | Weekly range | Monthly equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 4-5 | $1-$3 | $5-$12 |
| 6-8 | $5-$8 | $20-$32 |
| 9-11 | $8-$12 | $32-$48 |
| 12-14 | $10-$20 | $40-$80 |
| 15-17 | $15-$25 | $60-$100 |
A common question is the monthly allowance for a 13-year-old: at a typical $12-$18 per week, that works out to roughly $50-$70 per month. Thirteen is a popular age to switch to monthly pay, since it is the point where allowance usually becomes a planned budget rather than spending cash.
Monthly works best once a child can plan ahead and resist spending everything in week one. Most families start weekly with younger kids and switch to monthly around ages 12-14, then to a larger monthly budget at 15-17 that covers categories like clothing, eating out, and subscriptions. If your child runs out halfway through the month at first, that is the lesson doing its job; resist topping them up early.
How much allowance by age: quick reference table
| Age | Weekly range | National average (source) | What it typically covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-5 | $1-$3 | ~$2 (RoosterMoney 2025) | Small treats, coins to hold and count |
| 6-8 | $5-$8 | $3.50-$5 (RoosterMoney 2025) | Toys, small purchases, save/spend/give jars |
| 9-11 | $8-$12 | $7-$10 (Till Financial 2025) | Snacks, apps, outings with friends |
| 12-14 | $10-$20 | $12-$18 (Till Financial 2025) | Entertainment, clothing extras, phone costs |
| 15-17 | $15-$25 | $20-$35 (Till Financial 2025) | Most discretionary spending, savings goals |
Use the allowance calculator to get a personalized amount based on your child's age and your family's approach.
Want the national averages rather than what to give? Our average allowance by age (2026 data and guidelines) breaks down what families actually pay at each age, with the source for every figure.
Skip the spreadsheet
Set the amount once and Penny Time pays it out on schedule, shows kids a balance they can watch grow, and asks for your OK before any cash-out. Free for the whole family.
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What matters more than the dollar amount
1. Consistency. Pick a day and stick to it. A T. Rowe Price survey found that kids who receive a regular allowance are more "money savvy" than those who do not. The regularity matters more than the size. If you forget for three weeks and then hand over $30, the lesson is lost.
2. Let them fail. Your 7-year-old will blow their allowance on something pointless. According to the T. Rowe Price Parents, Kids & Money Survey, only 3% of kids actually save their monthly allowance. That is fine. The $6 mistake now prevents a $6,000 mistake later. Resist the urge to bail them out.
3. Talk about it. The same T. Rowe Price research found that 56% of parents are reluctant to discuss financial matters with their children. But asking "what are you saving for?" opens a conversation. "Did you save your money?" sounds like a test.
Should allowance be tied to chores?
Parents argue about this one constantly, and the research backs up both camps.
The case for paying for chores: According to a 2019 AICPA survey, 80% of parents who give allowance require kids to earn it. Research from Brigham Young University found that children on a "wage allowance" system often developed a strong connection between effort and income.
The case against: Daniel Pink, in his book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us (2009), argues that extrinsic rewards can reduce intrinsic motivation. A meta-analysis of 128 studies cited in the book found that tangible rewards had a "significantly negative impact" on intrinsic motivation. In the context of chores, this means kids may stop helping around the house unless they are paid.
The middle ground: A base amount given regardless, plus the option to earn extra for tasks beyond everyday responsibilities. Our chores vs. no chores guide breaks down both approaches with specific examples.
Key takeaway
According to AICPA data, 66% of American parents give their kids an allowance. The 34% who do not are not wrong. But for the families who do, the evidence suggests that a regular, age-appropriate amount with room to make mistakes teaches more about money than waiting until college.
Start small, increase yearly, and let your child practice while the stakes are low. The allowance calculator and the readiness quiz can help you figure out where to begin.
Sources
- Greenlight: Average Weekly Allowance by Age (2023)
- NatWest RoosterMoney: Pocket Money Index (2025)
- Till Financial: Average Allowance for Kids and Teens (2025)
- T. Rowe Price: Kids Who Get An Allowance Are More Money Savvy
- AICPA Allowance Survey (2019)
- Whitebread & Bingham, University of Cambridge: Habit Formation in Young Children (2013)
- BYU: How Household Chores Shape Children's Financial Attitudes
- Pink, D. H. (2009). Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. Riverhead Books.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The $1-per-year rule means giving your child $1 per week for every year of age. A 6-year-old gets $6/week, a 10-year-old gets $10. According to Greenlight data from 2023, the actual national average ($14.72/week across ages 5-19) runs slightly above this rule for older kids and below it for younger ones. Use it as a baseline and adjust for your budget.
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Yes. Tying increases to birthdays teaches kids that growing up means more money and more responsibility. RoosterMoney's 2025 Pocket Money Index shows a clear upward curve from age 6 to 17, rising from roughly $3.50/week to $10.50/week (UK data, converted). Even a small annual bump sends the right message.
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It depends on what the allowance covers. According to Till Financial's 2025 data, most 10-year-olds get $7-$10/week, so $20 is above average. But if that $20 replaces you buying snacks, school supplies, and small toys separately, it may actually save money. The key question is whether the amount matches the responsibility.
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Research supports both approaches. According to a 2019 AICPA survey, 80% of parents who give allowance require kids to earn it. However, Daniel Pink, author of "Drive" (2009), argues that paying for household chores can reduce intrinsic motivation to contribute. Many families split the difference: a base amount for learning money skills, plus extra earnings for tasks beyond everyday responsibilities.
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Most families phase out allowance between ages 16 and 18, when teens can earn income through part-time work. Till Financial's 2025 data shows that 16-year-olds receiving allowance typically get $20-$35/week, often covering specific budget categories like clothing and entertainment rather than pure spending money.
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Most 11-year-olds get $8 to $12 per week. Till Financial's 2025 data puts 9 to 11 year-olds at $7 to $10 typical, and the $1-per-year rule lands an 11-year-old at $11. Adjust higher if the allowance covers snacks, apps, or outings with friends.
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A typical 12-year-old gets $10 to $20 per week, and the $1-per-year rule suggests $12. Twelve is often when allowance becomes a real budget, so many families pay a bit more and let the child cover their own entertainment and small extras.
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Till Financial's 2025 data puts the typical 13-year-old at $12 to $18 per week. Thirteen is when allowance commonly shifts from spending cash to a planned budget, sometimes paid every two weeks or monthly to practice longer-term planning.
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Most 14-year-olds get $13 to $20 per week, with the $1-per-year rule landing at $14. Families often raise it toward the teen range of $15 to $25 as the allowance starts covering clothing, social outings, and subscriptions.
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A typical 13-year-old gets $12 to $18 per week, which works out to roughly $50 to $70 per month. Thirteen is a common age to switch from weekly to monthly pay, because allowance has usually become a planned budget by then rather than spending cash. Expect them to run out early the first month or two; that is part of learning to make money last.
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Pay weekly for younger kids (under about 12), since a shorter window is easier to manage and the lesson lands faster. Switch to monthly around ages 12 to 14, when a child can plan ahead and make money last 30 days. A monthly amount is simply the weekly figure times about four: a $10/week allowance is roughly $40/month, and a $20/week teen allowance is about $80/month.
Put these numbers into practice
Penny Time automates weekly allowance, lets kids track their balance, and gives parents control over every cash-out. Free for the whole family.
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