How much allowance for a 10-year-old?

Taking over a few costs

At ten, a child can start paying for things you used to buy without much thought: a snack at an outing, a pack of pencils, a small present for a friend. Agree on the list ahead of time so the change is clear. The allowance then has a purpose beyond treats.

Ten-year-old amounts, with Dutch comparison

Nibud's 2023 survey of Dutch kids shows 10-year-olds typically getting €2.30 to €2.80 a week. Nibud describes it as what kids get, not a recommendation.

Costs a 10-year-old might cover

• Snacks at the weekend sports match
• Small gifts and cards for classmates
• Craft supplies for a hobby

Weekly or every two weeks

Weekly still works, though some ten-year-olds do well with a payment every two weeks once they have shown they can plan. Try it for a month and go back to weekly if the money runs out early.

A goal that includes a cost

Example: $30 over ten weeks at $3 a week, saved while still covering the weekend snack. Making them do both teaches them about trade-offs. Pouch's one-goal-per-kid setup can keep the number in view.

Writing the cost list together

Sit down for ten minutes and list what the allowance now covers. Keep it short, perhaps three items. Put an approximate cost beside each and add them up. If the total is more than the allowance, you have a real discussion: raise the allowance or shrink the list. Doing the math together shows the child that the figure is not arbitrary. Revisit the list after a month, since some costs turn out to be bigger or smaller than expected.

Chores as part of the deal

By ten, some kids can keep up with a weekly routine. Families split on whether to pay for it; the chores-and-allowance comparison sets out three approaches. See chores for 10-year-olds for ideas.

Ages on either side

Before you settle on a number, glance at allowance for 9-year-olds and allowance for 11-year-olds. The calculator is there if you want to try different rates.