Piggo
Pocket Money Calculator: How Much Allowance by Age?
Updated August 2026 · Written by Mark, dad of three and the maker of Piggo
There is no single "right" amount – but there is a sensible range for every age, and it depends mostly on what the money is supposed to cover. Use the calculator for a concrete suggestion, then check the table of real-world averages below.
Allowance by age: averages and our recommendation
The averages hide big differences between families. Here is our recommended range, assuming pocket money only covers treats and fun – tick the boxes above if it should cover more:
| Age | Per week | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 | £1–£2 | £4–£9 |
| 6–7 | £2–£3 | £9–£13 |
| 8–9 | £3–£5 | £13–£22 |
| 10–11 | £4–£7 | £17–£30 |
| 12–13 | £6–£9 | £26–£39 |
| 14–15 | £8–£12 | £35–£52 |
| 16–17 | £10–£15 | £43–£65 |
Sources: NatWest Rooster Money's Pocket Money Index and GoHenry's annual figures (2025), which put regular UK pocket money around £4/week and total child income around £10/week including chore earnings. The recommended ranges are Piggo's own.
Four rules that matter more than the amount
1. A fixed amount on a fixed day
Pocket money only teaches kids about money if it's predictable. Pick a weekday or the 1st of the month – and don't skip weeks or "top up" when they beg. Irregular pocket money teaches children to negotiate, not to plan.
2. Decide whether chores and pocket money are linked – and say it out loud
There are two good schools: unconditional allowance (the money is for learning to manage; chores are what you do because you're part of the family) and pay-per-chore (the money is for learning to earn). Both work – what doesn't work is ambiguity. Many families combine them: a small fixed base plus the chance to earn extra on special jobs.
3. Split the money into "spending" and "saving" from day one
Agree that 10–20 % goes towards a savings goal your child picks themselves – a bike, a game, an experience. Reaching a goal you saved for yourself is the single most important money lesson there is, and it can't be taught theoretically.
4. Raise the amount once a year – on their birthday
That turns the pocket-money conversation into one predictable annual negotiation instead of constant pressure. Birthdays are the natural moment: new age, new amount, maybe new responsibility ("you pay your own mobile plan now – and get £10 more a month").
Questions and answers
At what age should children start getting pocket money?
Most families start between 5 and 7 – once a child can count and starts to understand that things cost money. Start small: the ritual matters more than the amount.
Should pocket money depend on chores?
That's your family's call – both models work (see rule 2). The research mostly suggests that what matters is that children regularly manage money of their own, not where it comes from. Pick the model you can enforce consistently.
Cash or digital?
For the youngest (4–7), physical money is pedagogically stronger – you can watch it disappear. From around 8, children's money lives digitally in practice, and the job becomes giving them the overview cash used to give: a balance they can see themselves, and a history of what came in and went out.
Should siblings get the same?
Same rules, not the same amount. A 14-year-old should get more than an 8-year-old – children accept that readily when the rule is the same for everyone ("the amount follows your age"). What feels unfair is different rules.
Put it on autopilot – for free
Piggo is your family's own pocket-money app: automatic allowance on a fixed day, chores with rewards, savings goals with progress bars, and a clear overview for kids and parents alike. No bank account, no payment card, no real money inside the app – you stay in charge, Piggo keeps track. Free while in beta.
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