Free Printable Chore Chart
Keep your household organized and everyone accountable with this free printable chore chart. Ten common household chores are listed with daily checkboxes for Monday through Sunday. Print a new copy each week and post it where the whole family can see it.
Why Chore Charts Work for Families
A visible chore chart transforms household responsibilities from vague expectations into clear, trackable commitments. When chores are written down and posted in a common area, every family member knows exactly what is expected of them each day. Research from the University of Minnesota found that the single best predictor of young adult success was whether they participated in household chores beginning at age three or four. A chore chart is the simplest tool to make that happen consistently.
This printable chore chart includes ten of the most common household tasks that work for family members of nearly any age. The Monday-through-Sunday checkbox format makes it easy to track completion at a glance, and the "Name" field at the top lets you print personalized charts for each family member.
How to Set Up Your Chore Chart System
Print one chart per family member each week. Sit down together and review who is responsible for which chores. Post the charts on the fridge or a family bulletin board. At the end of each day, have everyone check off their completed tasks. Many families find that a weekly review on Sunday evening — celebrating what was completed and adjusting for the week ahead — keeps the system running smoothly.
Getting Buy-In From the Whole Family
- Let kids have a voice. Allow children to pick two or three of their chores from a list. When they have some choice, they feel ownership over the task.
- Be specific about standards. "Clean your room" means different things to different people. Define what "done" looks like for each chore.
- Keep it consistent. Do the same chores at the same time each day to build routine. Consistency is what turns chores into habits.
- Praise effort, not perfection. A bed made by a five-year-old will not look like a hotel bed, and that is perfectly fine. The habit matters more than the result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chores are age appropriate?
Ages 2-3: pick up toys, put clothes in the hamper. Ages 4-5: make their bed, set the table, feed pets. Ages 6-8: vacuum, take out trash, wipe counters. Ages 9-11: do dishes, help with laundry, clean the bathroom. Ages 12 and older: cook simple meals, mow the lawn, wash the car. The key is to start simple and increase responsibility as children develop competence and confidence.
How do you motivate kids to do chores?
Make chores visible with a printed chart posted in a common area. Let kids choose some of their chores from a list. Set consistent daily expectations and use positive reinforcement — praise and acknowledgment — rather than punishment for incomplete tasks. Doing chores together as a family normalizes the work and makes it more enjoyable. Above all, keep tasks age-appropriate so children can succeed and feel accomplished.
Should chores be tied to allowance?
Parenting experts are divided on this. Some suggest baseline chores should be expected as part of family membership with no pay attached, while extra tasks beyond the basics can earn money. Others use a direct chore-to-allowance system to teach work ethic and financial responsibility. A popular middle approach is to give a base allowance for financial literacy education and then offer bonus earning opportunities for extra tasks that go beyond the regular chore chart.