How Much Allowance Should a Kid Get by Age?
By Alex Thompson, founder of Kids Financial Guide · Updated November 2026
The short answer
A common rule of thumb is $1 a week for each year of age, so $5 a week at 5, $10 at 10 and $15 at 15. Greenlight's 2025 data for kids using its app is close to that rule: a little above it at 5 and 6 ($6.18 a week at 5), a little below it from 7 to 14 ($8.53 at 10), and above it from 15 ($21.47 at 17). The right amount depends on what you expect the allowance to cover, so decide that first, then set an amount that makes saving for something possible but not easy.
An allowance is one of the simplest ways to teach money: a child who gets a set amount each week has to choose, wait and sometimes run out. The amount matters less than being regular and agreeing what it is for.
Below is a chart by age, with the $1 per year rule next to what Greenlight reports its families pay, and our suggestions for what the money could cover. Use it as a starting point, not a target.
Allowance by age chart
All amounts are per week.
| Age | $1 per year of age | Greenlight average (2025) | What it could cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $5 | $6.18 | Small treats; saving for a toy |
| 6 | $6 | $6.44 | Small treats; saving for a toy |
| 7 | $7 | $6.79 | Small treats; saving for a toy |
| 8 | $8 | $7.22 | Snacks, small toys, gifts for friends |
| 9 | $9 | $7.86 | Snacks, small toys, gifts for friends |
| 10 | $10 | $8.53 | Snacks, small toys, gifts for friends |
| 11 | $11 | $9.35 | Games, books, outings with friends |
| 12 | $12 | $10.37 | Games, books, outings with friends |
| 13 | $13 | $11.59 | Games, books, outings with friends |
| 14 | $14 | $13.13 | Going out, some clothes, phone extras |
| 15 | $15 | $15.26 | Going out, some clothes, phone extras |
| 16 | $16 | $17.89 | Going out, some clothes, phone extras |
| 17 | $17 | $21.47 | Going out, some clothes, phone extras |
Averages are Greenlight's 2025 figures for kids using its app (Greenlight, May 2026), not a national survey. The last column is our suggestion.
How to set the amount
Start with what the allowance has to pay for. If it only covers treats, a few dollars a week is plenty at 6. If at 14 it has to cover going out with friends and some clothes, it needs to be much bigger, because you are handing over money you would have spent anyway.
Then check it against your budget and the $1 per year of age rule. Aim for an amount that lets your child buy small things each week and save for a bigger thing over a few weeks. If they can buy everything they want straight away, there is nothing to learn from waiting.
Raise it on a set day, such as each birthday, and add new responsibilities with each raise. That keeps the conversation about money and choices rather than about asking for more.
If money is tight, a smaller amount works just as well. A child learns as much from choosing how to spend $2 as $20, and a regular small amount teaches more than a large one that comes and goes.
What other families pay
Figures vary a lot between surveys. Greenlight's 2025 data for kids using its app shows weekly averages rising from about $6 at 5 to about $21 at 17. A 2025 Wells Fargo survey of 1,587 US parents, with data collected by Ipsos, found that 71% of parents of kids 5 to 17 give an allowance, with an average of $37 a week across all those ages. Greenlight's figures are what parents send through its app, while Wells Fargo's are what parents report giving, averaged across every age from 5 to 17, and a few large allowances can pull an average up. Averages tell you what others pay, not what fits your family, so use them as a check rather than a target.
Should allowance be tied to chores?
Families do it both ways, and both can work. Paying for chores links money to work. A fixed allowance with no chores attached treats it as a teaching budget, with chores expected because everyone in the family helps. Many families mix the two: a base allowance, plus pay for extra jobs beyond the usual ones. Whatever you choose, keep the rules simple and stick to them.
Split it: spend, save and give
Splitting each payment into spending, saving and giving makes saving a habit rather than a punishment. A simple split for young kids is half to spend, a third to save and the rest to give. Let your child help choose the split, and let them make small mistakes with the spending share: running out before payday teaches more than a lecture.
How to choose
- Pay on the same day every week, and pay it even when it's inconvenient, so your child can plan.
- Pay young children in cash so they can see and count it, and move to an app or card around 8 to 10.
- Don't top up spending money when it runs out early; waiting for payday is the lesson. Keep essentials like lunch or bus fare separate.
- Review the amount and what it covers once a year.
Apps that pay allowance automatically
These apps pay allowance on a schedule and split it between spending and saving, so you never forget payday. They hold real money and collect your family's data, so read each one's fees and privacy policy.
Greenlight Kids & Teen Banking
Schedule a recurring allowance, tie pay to chores and split each payment between spending, saving and giving, with a debit card and strong parent controls, from $5.99 a month for up to five kids. Core pays a 2% savings reward (the rate can change). The app collects a lot of family data, including location and contacts.
BusyKid
Kids check off chores, Friday is payday, and each payment is split between Save, Share and Spend using percentages you set. $48 a year covers up to five kids, with an optional prepaid card and real stock investing that can lose value. Its App Store label says identifiers may be used to track you across other companies' apps and sites.
FamZoo
Automate allowance and chore pay, and pay your own interest on your kids' savings so they can watch it grow. You can use it without cards to start, for $5.99 a month for the family.
Capital One MONEY Teen Checking
A free checking account and debit card for kids 6 and up with automatic allowance transfers and savings goals. It has no chore lists or lessons.
Frequently asked questions
How much allowance should a 10-year-old get?
About $10 a week by the $1 per year of age rule. Greenlight's 2025 data shows an average of $8.53 a week for 10-year-olds using its app. Pick an amount that covers the things you expect your child to buy, such as snacks and small toys, with a little left to save.
How much allowance should a 13-year-old get?
About $13 a week by the $1 per year of age rule. Greenlight's 2025 data shows an average of $11.59 a week for 13-year-olds using its app. If the allowance also covers outings with friends or some clothes, it may need to be higher.
What age should kids start getting an allowance?
Many families start around 5 or 6, once a child can count coins and wants to buy things. Start small, pay in cash so they can see it, and give them a jar or app to save in. Even 3- and 4-year-olds can start with a few coins in a clear jar to count and save.
Is $20 a week too much allowance?
Not for an older teen who pays for some of their own costs. Greenlight's 2025 data shows an average of $21.47 a week at 17. For a young child with few expenses, $20 a week is more than most families give (Greenlight's averages are $6 to $9 a week for ages 5 to 10), so tie the amount to what the allowance covers.
Should you pay kids for chores?
Both approaches work. Paying for chores links money to work; a fixed allowance treats it as a budget to learn with. Many families give a base allowance and pay extra for jobs beyond the usual ones.