Age-Appropriate Chores by Age: Kids 6–16 (2026 List)

A no-fluff chore list, broken down by age band, tested in real homes. Each chore is rated on whether it photographs well — useful for any chore-tracking app, or just for keeping your kid honest.

The right chores aren’t just about what a kid can do — they’re about what they can finish, photograph, and feel ownership over. Below is a realistic, no-fluff list by age band, with a star (★) next to chores that photograph well so they fit a chore-and-screen-time system like taskr.

Skip to your kid’s age:

• Chores for ages 6–8
• Chores for ages 9–10
• Chores for ages 11–12
• Chores for ages 13–14
• Chores for ages 15–16

Chores for ages 6–8

Build the muscle. Keep tasks small and visible.

• ★ Make the bed (One photo of the made bed)
• ★ Clear plate from table after meals
• ★ Put dirty clothes in the hamper
• ★ Tidy a single area (shoes by the door, a single shelf)
• ★ Feed the pet
• ★ Set the table for dinner
• ★ Brush teeth twice daily, at fixed times
• ★ Pack lunchbox into school bag

What 6 to 8 year olds can realistically own: one or two chores per day, each finishable in under five minutes, with a clear visual end state.

Chores for ages 9–10

Add small responsibilities that take 5–10 minutes.

• ★ Empty the dishwasher
• ★ Take out the kitchen trash
• ★ Vacuum a single room
• ★ Wipe down the bathroom sink
• ★ Walk the dog (with parent if needed)
• ★ Fold and put away own laundry
• ★ Practice instrument (15–20 minutes)
• ★ Read independently (20 minutes)

The shift at ages 9 to 10: chores start to involve more than one step. Loading the dishwasher requires scraping plates first. Vacuuming requires moving furniture. Build the multi-step muscle here.

Chores for ages 11–12

Now the chores can be bigger and more visible.

• ★ Vacuum entire main floor
• ★ Clean own room (a real clean — clothes off floor, surfaces clear, bed made)
• ★ Take out all household trash and recycling
• ★ Load and run the dishwasher
• ★ Wipe down kitchen counters
• ★ Make a simple meal (pasta, eggs, a sandwich)
• ★ Mow a small lawn (with supervision)
• ★ Homework completion with no reminders

This is the age where chores can transition from “help me” to “do it yourself.” Hand off ownership of one full task, end-to-end.

Chores for ages 13–14

Give them tasks adults do. The shift to actual responsibility matters.

• ★ Clean a bathroom (sink, toilet, mirror)
• ★ Mow the lawn
• ★ Take care of a pet for the day (food + walk + water)
• ★ Wash a load of laundry (dark / light separation)
• ★ Wipe down the inside of a fridge shelf
• ★ Cook one dinner per week
• ★ Manage own homework calendar
• ★ Babysit younger sibling for short periods

Teens at this age can hold a real multi-day task. Don’t go back to babysitting their schedule; that’s the trap.

Chores for ages 15–16

By this age, chores should be peer-of-an-adult-roommate level.

• ★ Deep clean own room weekly
• ★ Cook two dinners per week
• ★ Manage own laundry start to finish
• ★ Handle a household task end-to-end (groceries, dog walks, recycling)
• ★ Drive younger sibling somewhere (if licensed)
• ★ Manage their own time and homework
• ★ Manage their own calendar and appointments

If a 15 or 16 year old isn’t doing roommate-level chores, the issue is rarely the kid. It’s usually that no one ever handed them ownership of a full task.

How to pick chores that actually stick

• Pick chores with a clear “done” state. “Clean your room” is vague. “Floor visible, clothes in hamper, surfaces clear” is photographable.
• Aim for 1–3 chores per day. A wall of chores leads to none of them done.
• Set deadlines you actually mean. If the task is due at 4 PM and you don’t enforce until 8 PM, the deadline is 8 PM. Be honest with yourself.
• Make the consequence automatic. Tied to Screen Time via taskr, the consequence happens without you needing to play cop. That’s the whole point of automating it.

When you’re ready to operationalize this list, paste any of the ★ chores into taskr as recurring tasks and let the screen-time loop do the rest. For the setup walkthrough, see our guide on blocking iPhone apps until chores are done. If the daily fight is what’s really wearing you down, jump to our 7-day plan to stop screen time fights. Curious about the iOS framework that makes this possible? See Family Controls vs Screen Time.

FAQ

What chores are appropriate for a 6 year old?

Bed-making, putting clothes in the hamper, clearing their plate, feeding a pet, setting the table. Each should take under five minutes and have a clear visual end state.

What chores should a 10 year old do?

Emptying the dishwasher, vacuuming a single room, taking out the kitchen trash, walking the dog, folding their own laundry. Aim for 5 to 10 minute tasks.

How many chores should a kid have per day?

One to three. More than three on a daily basis leads to none of them getting done well. Add weekly chores (mowing, deep room clean) on top of the daily count.

Should kids be paid for chores?

There’s no single right answer, but most parents we hear from split it: a baseline set of chores is unpaid (it’s part of being in the family), and a separate set of “extra” chores can earn money. Whatever you choose, be consistent.

What chores can a 12 year old do alone?

Loading and running the dishwasher, vacuuming the main floor, taking out all household trash, deep cleaning their own room, making a simple meal. The shift at 12 is solo ownership.

What’s a realistic chore list for a teenager?

Cleaning their bathroom, doing their own laundry start to finish, cooking one or two dinners per week, mowing the lawn, taking full ownership of pet care for the day. By 15 to 16, the standard should be roommate-level.