Average Pocket Money for Kids: An 8-Year Comparison

Pranjal Dixit July 11, 2026
average pocket money for kids

Pocket money — or "allowance," as it's known in the United States — has always been more than a few coins in a jar. It's often a child's first real lesson in earning, saving, spending, and budgeting. But how much are parents actually giving their kids today compared to eight years ago? And how does pocket money in the UK compare to allowance trends in the USA and Europe?

In this article, we break down average pocket money and allowance data from 2018 to 2026, using figures from trusted sources like NatWest Rooster Money, GoHenry, Halifax, Santander, Greenlight, T. Rowe Price, Wells Fargo, and Germany's Deutsches Jugendinstitut (DJI). Whether you're a parent trying to decide a fair weekly allowance or simply curious about global money trends for kids, this guide has the numbers you need.

Why Pocket Money Trends Matter for Personal Finance

Pocket money isn't just a parenting decision — it's a mirror of the wider economy. When inflation rises, the cost of a child's weekly treats rises too, and many parents adjust allowance amounts accordingly. Tracking pocket money over an 8-year window also reveals bigger shifts: how digital banking apps have replaced cash, how chores-based earning has grown in popularity, and how financial literacy has become a bigger priority for families worldwide.

For personal finance readers, this data offers a useful lens into household spending habits, generational money attitudes, and how children are being prepared — or not — for adult financial responsibility.

UK Pocket Money Trends: 2018 vs 2026

The UK has some of the most detailed pocket money tracking in the world, largely thanks to apps like NatWest Rooster Money and GoHenry, which monitor real transaction data from hundreds of thousands of families.

Key UK Data Points

  • As of mid-2024, the average weekly pocket money given to UK children stood at around £5.00, according to Statista.
  • NatWest Rooster Money's 10th Annual Pocket Money Index found that children aged 6 to 17 were averaging £9.74 a week in overall pocket money — a 6.7% year-on-year increase — pushing the average annual income for a UK child to £506.48.
  • Regular weekly pocket money alone (excluding chore payments and bonuses) averaged £3.94, with 17-year-olds earning the most at £7.95 a week and 6-year-olds earning the least at £2.69 a week.
  • Chores still pay well: mowing the lawn was ranked the top-paying task for the third year running, at £3.52 per session, followed by car washing at £3.36.
  • Regional differences are significant. A 2024 Santander survey found that children in London received an average of £95.90 per month — roughly £22.30 a week — well above the national average.
  • A separate GoHenry study found UK pocket money rose 8% between 2024 and 2025, with children aged six to eighteen all benefiting from the increase, even as cash usage dropped and allowances shifted onto prepaid cards.

The 8-Year Shift in the UK

Looking back roughly eight years, pocket money in the UK has followed a clear upward trend, but not a smooth one. Increases have often tracked inflation and cost-of-living pressures rather than outpacing them. What has changed more dramatically is how pocket money is delivered: cash has become far less common, replaced by prepaid debit cards and apps that let parents automate payments and link them to chores or savings goals. Cash now reportedly accounts for just 9% of pocket money transactions in the UK — a record low.

USA Allowance Trends: 2018 vs 2026

Allowance data in the United States varies more widely than in the UK, largely because different surveys measure different things — some track only "regular" allowance, while others include gifts, chores, and bonuses.

Key US Data Points

  • Greenlight's 2025 data shows the average weekly allowance for kids ages 5–19 was $13.15, with a clear age-based climb: 5-year-olds averaged $6.18 a week, 13-year-olds averaged $11.59, and 17-year-olds averaged $21.47.
  • Greenlight's broader 2023 dataset, drawn from over 7 million families, put the national average allowance at $14.72 per week across ages 5 to 19.
  • A 2019 AICPA survey found that 66% of American parents give their children an allowance, with a national average of roughly $30 a week across all ages once chores and bonuses are factored in.
  • T. Rowe Price data puts the average weekly allowance at $19.39 per child.
  • A 2025 Wells Fargo survey conducted with Ipsos found that 71% of parents with children aged 5 to 17 give an average weekly allowance of $37 — even though 51% of parents admit they struggle to talk about money with their kids in a way they'll understand.

The 8-Year Shift in the US

The spread between these numbers — from roughly $13 a week to $37 a week — highlights how differently allowance is defined and measured across studies. But the general direction is consistent: American allowance has trended upward over the past eight years, partly driven by inflation and partly by the rise of youth-focused fintech apps (Greenlight, GoHenry, Till Financial) that make it easier for parents to track and top up payments digitally. Compared to 2018, when allowance was still overwhelmingly cash-based, most US families now manage pocket money through a debit card or app, often tied to savings and investing features designed to build financial literacy early.

Europe Pocket Money Trends: Germany and Beyond

Continental Europe offers a slightly different picture, with Germany's "Taschengeld" system being one of the most well-documented in the region thanks to the Deutsches Jugendinstitut (DJI), which publishes an official recommended pocket money table every four years.

Key European Data Points

  • The DJI updated its recommended pocket money table in September 2024, raising suggested amounts noticeably. For 15- to 17-year-olds, the recommended monthly amount rose by about €10 compared to 2020, and for 16-year-olds specifically, the recommendation jumped from €39–47 to €50–60 per month.
  • Recommendations for 6- to 9-year-olds rose by €1, and for 10- to 14-year-olds by €4, reflecting several years of accumulated inflation rather than a philosophical shift in how much children "deserve."
  • One 2024 study found children aged 3 to 13 in Germany received an average of €16.60 per month — a 5.2% increase compared to the previous year — while a separate study found that children and teens aged 6 to 16 received a fairly stable €31 per month.
  • Economic pressure has hit some households harder than others. One dataset showed average monthly pocket money for 6- to 16-year-olds actually falling from €69 in 2022 to €58 in 2024 — a drop of more than 15% — reflecting tighter household budgets during a period of high inflation.
  • On gender, a DIW Berlin study found that boys and girls in Germany receive, on average, essentially the same amount of pocket money across all age groups from seven to nineteen, even after accounting for parental income and who manages household finances. This contrasts with reports of a pocket money "pay gap" of around 13% in France and New Zealand.

The 8-Year Shift in Europe

The German data tells a more complicated story than the UK or US. While official recommended amounts have risen to keep pace with inflation, real household spending on pocket money has been squeezed in some years by broader economic pressures — energy prices, housing costs, and general inflation in 2022–2023 in particular. This suggests that while parents want to increase pocket money to match rising prices, many simply can't always afford to.

Side-by-Side: Weekly Pocket Money Comparison (Approximate)

Age Group UK (Regular Allowance) UK (Overall Income incl. chores) USA (Greenlight Avg.) Germany (Converted to Weekly)
6–7 years ~£2.70–£2.80 ~£5.00 ~$6.00–$6.20 ~€1–2
10–11 years ~£3.50–£4.00 ~£7.00–£8.00 ~$8.00–$10.00 ~€4–4.60
13 years ~£4.50–£5.00 ~£11.50 ~$11.60 ~€5.60–7
16–17 years ~£7.95–£8.31 ~£23.50–£24.00 ~$20.87–$21.47 ~€12–14

Figures are approximate and rounded from the sources cited above; exact averages vary by survey methodology, region, and whether chores/bonuses are included.

What's Driving Pocket Money Growth Globally?

A few consistent themes emerge across the UK, US, and Europe over the past eight years:

  1. Inflation is the biggest single driver. As the cost of snacks, outings, and small purchases has risen, parents have gradually increased pocket money just to preserve its buying power — not necessarily to give kids more spending freedom.
  2. Digital payments have replaced cash almost everywhere. Prepaid debit cards and allowance apps (Rooster Money, GoHenry, Greenlight, Till Financial) now dominate how pocket money is delivered, especially in the UK and US.
  3. Chores and "side hustles" are playing a bigger role. Rather than a flat allowance, more families are linking payments to chores, school performance, or entrepreneurial activities like reselling items or tutoring.
  4. Regional and income-based gaps remain wide. Children in London receive noticeably more pocket money than the UK average, while in Germany, lower-income households have sometimes given more pocket money than higher-income ones — reflecting different parenting philosophies around financial independence.
  5. Financial literacy is now part of the pitch. Apps and banks increasingly market pocket money as a financial education tool, not just spending money, with built-in "save, spend, give" categories becoming standard.

How Much Pocket Money Should You Give Your Child in 2026?

There's no single "correct" figure, but the data above offers a reasonable starting range for parents:

  • Ages 6–9: A small, simple amount — often under $10 / £5 / €5 per week — mainly to teach the basics of saving and spending.
  • Ages 10–13: A moderate increase, often doubling the younger age bracket, as kids start covering small social expenses like snacks or outings with friends.
  • Ages 14–17: The largest jump, frequently reflecting a wider range of responsibilities — clothing budgets, entertainment, and sometimes school-related costs.

A common rule of thumb used across several of the surveys cited above is roughly $1 (or £1) per year of age per week, though real-world averages tend to run a little higher once children reach their teenage years, particularly in the US and UK.

Final Thoughts

Comparing eight years of pocket money data across the UK, USA, and Europe shows a consistent upward trend, shaped less by generosity and more by inflation, changing payment technology, and a growing emphasis on financial education. Whether you're in London, Los Angeles, or Berlin, the underlying goal remains the same: giving children a safe, real-world way to practice managing money before they're doing it on their own.

If you're deciding on a pocket money amount for your own child, use the ranges above as a starting point — then adjust based on your budget, your child's responsibilities, and what the allowance is actually meant to cover.

Sources

United Kingdom

United States

Germany / Europe

  • Deutsches Jugendinstitut (DJI) Taschengeldtabelle 2024 update, via Allianz: allianz.de
  • Taschengeld averages and trend data, via Easyfolio: easyfolio.de
  • DIW Berlin – Gender and pocket money in Germany (weekly report): diw.de

Note: Some figures are drawn from proprietary app/transaction data (e.g., Rooster Money, Greenlight) rather than independent government statistics, and methodologies differ between "regular allowance only" and "total income including chores/bonuses." Treat all averages as directional rather than exact.

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Pranjal Dixit

Posted by: Pranjal Dixit

Helping readers grow wealth through investing, budgeting, family finance, and practical money habits.

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