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Free chore schedule and value calculator

A chore schedule value calculator assigns a dollar amount to household tasks based on hours worked and an hourly rate. It helps parents set allowances and shows the economic value.

Chore
Hours/week
Value/week
Washing dishes
—
Vacuuming
—
Laundry
—
Cooking
—
Grocery shopping
—
About this calculator

How to use

  1. Enter the weekly hours for each household chore in the list.
  2. Adjust the hourly rate to match your situation.
  3. Click Calculate to see the weekly, monthly, and annual value.

Formula

weeklyValue = totalWeeklyHours × hourlyRate
monthlyValue = weeklyValue × 52 ÷ 12
annualValue = weeklyValue × 52

Worked example

Default chores at $15/hour:

ChoreHours/weekValue/week
Washing dishes3.5$52.50
Vacuuming1.0$15.00
Laundry2.0$30.00
Cooking5.0$75.00
Grocery shopping1.5$22.50
Total13.0$195.00

Monthly: $195 × 52 ÷ 12 ≈ $845
Annual: $195 × 52 = $10,140

Notes

  • The hourly rate is the most important variable. A cleaning service typically charges $25–$50/hour; minimum wage is often $12–$17/hour depending on state.
  • Research by Chapman University estimates the market replacement value of unpaid household work at over $100,000 per year for a stay-at-home parent doing all tasks.
  • For allowances, the American Institute of CPAs recommends $1 per year of age per week as a starting point — see the Allowance Calculator for age-based calculations.

Frequently asked

How is chore value calculated?
Each chore's weekly value equals hours per week multiplied by your chosen hourly rate. Monthly value is weekly value multiplied by 52 divided by 12. Annual value is weekly value multiplied by 52.
What hourly rate should I use?
The default is $15 per hour, which matches many US state minimum wages and is a common benchmark for domestic labor. Use a lower rate for children's allowances — $2 to $5 per hour is typical for kids — or a market rate to understand the replacement cost of unpaid household work.
Why use $15 as the default rate?
$15 per hour is the federal minimum wage benchmark adopted by many US states and is frequently cited in household labor studies as a floor for domestic work. Adjust it to your local minimum wage or the rate a cleaning service would charge.
How do I set a fair allowance with this calculator?
Enter each chore your child does and the hours per week. Set the rate to what feels appropriate for their age — $1–$5 per hour is typical. The weekly total is a reasonable allowance amount.
Does this calculator account for task frequency?
Yes. Enter hours per week for each chore regardless of frequency — convert daily tasks by multiplying daily minutes by 7 divided by 60.
How do I share my chore schedule?
Click Share to copy the page link, or Share with my numbers to include your hours and rate in the URL.