Chore chart for teens

A teenager chore list

Start with a plain list of jobs that match real life. A teenager chore list for ages 13 to 17 should look like work a young adult might do, not a child's task. Print the list, tape it to a clipboard, and let your teen cross items off as they finish.

Choose 6 to 8 chores per week from this list. Rotate the harder ones so no one gets stuck with yard work every single week. Keep the list in a shared spot so there is no confusion about what counts.

• Cook two dinners a week
• Own laundry, wash and fold
• Clean the bathroom weekly
• Yard work, mow or rake
• Wash and vacuum the car
• Grocery run with a list
• Babysit younger siblings
• Take out trash and recycling
• Pet care, feed and walk
• Deep clean own room
• Help with a family project monthly
• Empty the dishwasher daily
• Sweep and mop the kitchen
• Change sheets and towels
• Sort and start a load of laundry
• Clean the fridge shelves

Print this list and let your teen pick their weekly set. For a ready-made layout, see the printable chore charts for teens page. You can also browse chore charts by age to compare what younger kids handle.

Why a teen chart has no stickers

A teen does not need a star to feel proud. They need a system that respects their growing independence. So this chart has three columns: check, initial, total. Your teen marks the box when the chore is done, initials it, and adds up their own total on Sunday.

The teen owns this sheet. You do not sign off on each task. You only look at the weekly total and decide what it earns. That shift changes everything. The chart becomes a contract, not a report card.

There is also a fillable PDF version if your teen prefers typing over handwriting. Either way, print at 100 percent, not fit to page. The boxes line up with a 1.5 inch sticker if you want to use one, but most teens skip the stickers entirely.

What the total earns

The reward is the whole point. A teenager will fill in a chart when the total clearly leads to something they want. You pick the reward, and you set the threshold. Keep it simple and consistent.

Here is a starting table. Adjust the totals to match your family's rhythm. The example column shows how a typical week might look.

The key is that you control the reward, not the daily nagging. For more ideas on what works, see the rewards guide. If you want to tie points directly to cash, the allowance page has a simple system.

Chores for 13 year olds versus 16 year olds

A 13 year old and a 16 year old live very diferent lives. At 13, chores are about building habits: own laundry, bathroom, trash. At 16, with a driver's license, the list grows to include errands, car care, and cooking full meals.

The comparison is simple. A 13 year old might have 4 or 5 chores a week. A 16 year old can handle 7 or 8, plus a monthly project. Add chores as the teen shows they can handle them, not all at once.

At some point, usually around 17, the chart has done its job. When your teen plans there own week without the sheet, stop the chart. Replace it with a simple family agreement. The family chore chart page shows that shift.

Getting a teenager to actually use it

The chart only works if it lives where your teen already looks. Tape it inside the closet door, on the bathroom mirror, or on the fridge. Do not hide it in a binder or a drawer.

Start with fewer rows than you want. A list of 4 chores is easier to complete than a list of 10. Once the habit sticks, add more. Hold a monthly renegotiation where you both talk about what is working and what is not.

The no nagging rule is non-negotiable. You do not remind, you do not point at the chart. You simply check the total on Sunday. If the total is low, the reward is low. Let the consequences do the talking. For more on this approach, read should kids have chores and how to make a chore chart.