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Pocket money calculator

Pocket money calculator: how much to give by age

Pick an age and a country: the calculator shows the published figure, its source and a simple rule to check it.

Work out the amount

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United Kingdom: what 8 year olds get on average

£2.88 a week

Source: NatWest Rooster Money, Pocket Money Index 2026

Per-year rule, as a cross-check

4 to 8 a week in your currency

0.50 to 1 a week for each year of age.

What it usually covers at this age

Sweets, small toys, collector cards and saving up for something a little bigger.

Next steps

In short

There is no official amount, but published guidelines follow the same shape: about 1 to 2 a week before age 6, about 0.50 to 4 a week from 6 to 9, then a monthly amount from about 10 (roughly 8 to 50 a month at 10 to 12, depending on the country). A simple rule many families use: 0.50 to 1 a week for each year of age. Pay weekly while kids are small, monthly from about 10.

How to use it

  1. Pick your child's age, from 2 to 17.
  2. Pick your country, or "Another country" to compare the 5 published tables.
  3. Choose per week or per month, then agree with your child what the money covers.

Worked example: a family in Germany with children aged 7 and 11

The DJI guideline gives 2.50 to 3 euros a week for the 7 year old and 15 to 25 euros a month for the 11 year old. The younger child gets coins on the same day every week; the older one gets a monthly amount and learns to plan over 4 weeks.

What each amount covers is agreed in advance: sweets and small toys for the 7 year old, outings with friends and saving for a bigger wish for the 11 year old. Check the amounts once a year, on each birthday for example.

How the calculator works

The figures come from published sources only: the German Youth Institute (DJI) table, the Austrian government portal, the Budget-conseil Suisse guidelines, the NatWest Rooster Money index for the UK and the Nibud surveys for the Netherlands. Each result names its source.

Germany, Austria and Switzerland switch from a weekly amount to a monthly one at 10, the Netherlands when children start secondary school at about 12. Switch the period to see any figure per week or per month: converted figures are marked.

What published guidelines say, by age

Amounts in each country's currency. Germany, Austria and Switzerland: published guidelines. UK: what children get on average (card data). Netherlands: what children typically get (Nibud surveys).

  • Under 6

    Germany (DJI)
    €1 to €2 a week
    Austria
    no guideline
    Switzerland
    no guideline
    UK, average paid
    no guideline
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    no guideline

  • 6 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €2 to €2.50 a week
    Austria
    €0.50 to €2 a week
    Switzerland
    CHF 1 a week
    UK, average paid
    £2.69 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €1.20 to €2.30 a week (Primary school)

  • 7 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €2.50 to €3 a week
    Austria
    €0.50 to €2 a week
    Switzerland
    CHF 2 a week
    UK, average paid
    £2.79 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €1.40 to €2.30 a week (Primary school)

  • 8 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €3 to €3.50 a week
    Austria
    €2 to €3 a week
    Switzerland
    CHF 3 a week
    UK, average paid
    £2.88 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €1.90 to €2.80 a week (Primary school)

  • 9 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €3.50 to €4 a week
    Austria
    €2 to €3 a week
    Switzerland
    CHF 4 a week
    UK, average paid
    £3.07 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €2.30 to €2.90 a week (Primary school)

  • 10 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €15 to €25 a month
    Austria
    €8 to €14 a month
    Switzerland
    CHF 25 to CHF 30 a month
    UK, average paid
    £3.27 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €2.30 to €2.80 a week (Primary school)

  • 11 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €15 to €25 a month
    Austria
    €8 to €14 a month
    Switzerland
    CHF 25 to CHF 30 a month
    UK, average paid
    £3.56 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €2.30 to €3.50 a week (Primary school)

  • 12 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €20 to €30 a month
    Austria
    €12 to €20 a month
    Switzerland
    CHF 30 to CHF 50 a month
    UK, average paid
    £4.01 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €2.60 to €4.70 a week (Primary school)€20 to €22 a month (Secondary school)

  • 13 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €20 to €30 a month
    Austria
    €12 to €20 a month
    Switzerland
    CHF 30 to CHF 50 a month
    UK, average paid
    £4.50 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €20 to €25 a month (Secondary school)

  • 14 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €25 to €45 a month
    Austria
    €18 to €35 a month
    Switzerland
    CHF 30 to CHF 50 a month
    UK, average paid
    £5.10 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €25 to €32 a month (Secondary school)

  • 15 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €25 to €45 a month
    Austria
    €18 to €35 a month
    Switzerland
    CHF 50 to CHF 80 a month
    UK, average paid
    £5.66 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €25 to €35 a month (Secondary school)

  • 16 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €40 to €60 a month
    Austria
    €30 to €60 a month
    Switzerland
    CHF 50 to CHF 80 a month
    UK, average paid
    £6.68 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €25 to €43 a month (Secondary school)

  • 17 years

    Germany (DJI)
    €40 to €60 a month
    Austria
    €30 to €60 a month
    Switzerland
    CHF 50 to CHF 80 a month
    UK, average paid
    £7.95 a week
    Netherlands (Nibud)
    €25 to €40 a month (Secondary school)

A simple rule: per year of age

Many families give 0.50 to 1 a week for each year of the child's age, in their own currency. It is a starting point: adjust it to your budget and to what the money has to cover.

0.50 to 1 a week for each year of age, in your own currency.
AgeA week
4 years2 to 4
5 years2.50 to 5
6 years3 to 6
7 years3.50 to 7
8 years4 to 8
9 years4.50 to 9
10 years5 to 10
11 years5.50 to 11
12 years6 to 12

When to start

The Swiss and Austrian guidelines start at age 6, when most children start school and learn to count money. The German table already lists children under 6. A good sign: your child can count coins and understands that money spent is gone.

Should pocket money depend on chores?

The German Youth Institute (DJI) advises paying pocket money regularly and reliably, without the child having to ask, and not cutting it for behaviour or school results.

Many families keep it that way: a fixed amount for learning to manage money, and chores as a normal part of family life. Some add a small bonus for extra jobs.

Kidventures counts stars, never money. Kids earn stars with quests and spend them on rewards you choose together, and Plus adds a savings jar so they learn to wait for a bigger goal.

From 12: budgets and clothing money

From 12, many families move to a monthly budget that covers more. In the Netherlands, Nibud found that a typical secondary school pupil got about 50 euros a month of clothing money, and calls 12 to 13 a good age to start. A clothing budget teaches planning: a jacket bought in October leaves less for trainers in November.

Tips that make it work

  • Agree on what the money covers: sweets, small toys, outings with friends.
  • Pay on the same day every week or month.
  • Let small mistakes happen: an empty wallet teaches more than a lecture.
  • Suggest saving a part for a goal your child chose.

Questions parents ask

  • How much pocket money for a 7 year old?

    Published guidelines suggest 2.50 to 3 euros a week in Germany, 0.50 to 2 euros a week in Austria and 2 francs a week in Switzerland. In the UK, 7 year olds get 2.79 pounds a week on average (2026).

  • How much pocket money for a 10 year old?

    15 to 25 euros a month in Germany (DJI 2025), 8 to 14 euros a month in Austria and 25 to 30 francs a month in Switzerland. In the UK, 10 year olds get 3.27 pounds a week on average (2026).

  • Weekly or monthly pocket money?

    Weekly for young children, who cannot yet plan over a month. Guidelines switch to a monthly amount from about 10, so kids learn to budget over a longer time.

  • Can I take pocket money away as a punishment?

    The German Youth Institute advises against it: pocket money should come regularly and reliably, and should not be cut for behaviour or school results. Use other consequences instead.

  • How much pocket money for an 8 year old?

    3 to 3.50 euros a week in Germany (DJI), 2 to 3 euros a week in Austria and 3 francs a week in Switzerland. In the UK, 8 year olds get 2.88 pounds a week on average (2026), and in the Netherlands 1.90 to 2.80 euros a week is typical (Nibud).

  • What should pocket money cover?

    Agree it in advance: sweets and small toys for young children; from about 10, outings with friends and saving for bigger wishes; for teenagers, sometimes clothes or a phone plan. The more it covers, the larger the amount should be.

Keep reading

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Save for a goal with stars

Kidventures adds a savings jar (Plus) and a goal kids can see fill up. Free for up to 2 kids.

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Sources

Checked on October 17, 2026