Kids Chore List: Age-by-Age Chores, With Dollar Values
A good chore list for kids matches the child: short and visual at five, real responsibility (and real pay) at fifteen. Here is the list by age, what each chore is typically worth, and how to put it on a board that reminds them, checks itself, and pays on completion - free.
Chore list for kids, by age
Looking for chore list ideas that fit your kid? Start with their age. Amounts are the ranges families commonly set in Chore-List - a starting point, not a rule. Every chore below can be a one-off or a recurring routine.
| Age | Chores | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 4-6 | Put toys in the bin, feed the pet (with a grown-up nearby), carry their dish to the sink, water one plant, match socks from the laundry | $0.25-$0.50 each |
| Ages 7-9 | Make the bed, set and clear the table, empty small trash cans, fold laundry, wipe the bathroom sink, homework before screens | $0.50-$1.00 each |
| Ages 10-12 | Load and unload the dishwasher, vacuum their room, take trash to the curb, clean a bathroom, start a load of laundry, rake leaves | $1.00-$3.00 each |
| Ages 13+ | Mow the lawn, cook a simple family dinner, deep-clean a bathroom, wash the car, babysit younger siblings, grocery run with a list | $3.00-$10.00 each |
Fig. 1 - Start with two or three per age band; a short list that gets done beats a long one that gets ignored.
How to run the list without becoming the reminder
- One list per kid. In Chore-List each child gets their own list topped with their photo and current balance - nobody has to decode a shared chart.
- Make routines recurring. Daily, weekly, or monthly chores regenerate on schedule with a due time, so “take the trash out Wednesdays” never has to be said again.
- Let the board nag. Email reminders go out at the offsets you set. You stop being the alarm clock.
- Pay on completion. Finishing a chore credits the child’s balance instantly; they spend it on rewards you set (screen time, a later bedtime, cash out). The list becomes a job board, not a lecture.
- Add an Open Chores pool. Optional extra jobs anyone can claim - the motivated kid earns more without you reassigning anything.
Chores are a job, not a punishment
Search interest in chores as punishment is rising - and it is the one use that reliably backfires. A chore handed out in anger teaches “work is what happens when you’re in trouble,” and the list loses its power the rest of the week. Keep the two separate: consequences for behavior, and a chore list that stays what it is on the good days too - paid, predictable work a kid can be proud of finishing. Kids who earn from the list start asking what’s in the Open Chores pool. Kids who are sentenced to it learn to hide.
Every kid is different
- Pre-readers: photo-first lists and photo proof - a picture of the made bed is the checkmark.
- Kids who need to see what’s next: a visual board in a fixed place, few tasks visible at once, instant feedback - see the chore list for kids with ADHD.
- Teens: bigger jobs, real money, and a balance they manage themselves - the list quietly becomes a first job.
Frequently asked questions
How many chores should a kid have per day?
Two or three daily chores plus one bigger weekly job is the range most families sustain. Start below what you think they can do - consistency first, volume later.
Should kids get paid for chores?
Families split on this, and Chore-List works either way - set any chore to $0. The case for paying: money makes the feedback instant and concrete, and kids learn earning, saving, and pricing their effort years before their first job.
What if my kids are different ages?
Each child has their own list and their own rates, so a 6-year-old’s $0.50 toy roundup and a 14-year-old’s $8 lawn job live on the same board without comparison fights - everyone sees their own balance.
Is Chore-List free?
Yes - free for families while in beta, including recurring chores, reminders, rewards, and the kiosk display.
Prefer paper first? Start from a chore list template, or see the weekly chore list for a week-shaped version.
Put the list on the wall tonight.
One list per kid, set up in about a minute - free.
Last updated October 17, 2026.