Free Printable Chore Charts for Kids and Adults

These free printable chore charts for kids and adults can help motivate everyone to complete their daily tasks and build helpful habits!

There’s just something so satisfying about checking items off a list, right? You’ve worked hard, completed a task, and getting to put a little X or checkmark in the box is like the icing on the cake. Sometimes we’ll even add items to the list that we’ve already finished, just to get the little burst of happiness that comes with checking it off!

This exact phenomenon is what makes chore charts so helpful for kids (and adults too). And we just so happen to have free printable chore charts in two cute color schemes just for you!

Along with providing the pretty printables, we can also help you come up with the perfect age-appropriate chores for your kids. Keep reading for helpful chore ideas for children 2-18.

How to Use Printable Chore Charts for Kids

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As parents, we hate to nag. But we also need to teach our children responsibility. It’s good for them to help out with certain tasks around the house! The chore chart is a great way to get these things to happen without having to constantly nag.

1. Decide on responsibilities together.

When kids feel a sense of ownership over their tasks, they’ll be a lot more likely to complete them. So it can be helpful to have them involved in the process of coming up with their chore list.

Sit down together and brainstorm ideas of what could go on their list. (Use the ideas further down in this post to help!) Consider kids’ schedules, ability levels, and interests. Give them tasks that will challenge them to learn and grow as well as a few easy wins.

In the end, you should have a list of responsibilities that is realistic and attainable but also maybe pushes them out of their comfort zone a little bit.

2. Laminate the printable chore chart.

Rather than needing to print out a new chore chart each week, consider laminating the chart and using a wet erase marker to check off the boxes. This will allow us to simply wipe down the chart at the end of the week and start fresh each Sunday.

3. Keep the free chore chart in a place the kids will see it easily.

We kept our kids’ task lists on our kitchen island for a while because that was typically their first stop when they came in the door after school. They’d walk in, see the chart, and know exactly what they were responsible for each evening.

Having the chart in a place that they pass frequently acted as a silent reminder for them to complete their tasks– and we didn’t even have to nag!

Snag the Free Kids Chore Charts

Before we can start filling out our chore charts together, we need to print it out! Click the button below to download the free printable chore chart in two cute color schemes.

Now that we have our charts, how do we know what to put on them? What chores can kids do in each age and phase of their lives? We’re so glad you asked!

Age Appropriate Chores for Kids from 2-18

It can be hard to know which chores are appropriate for kids of different ages! Though all children are certainly unique and will hit milestones in their own time, below is a list of chore ideas for each general age group. We hope they will be helpful for you as you’re completing the chore charts with your kiddos!

Chores for Kids Ages 2-3

Children can start helping with chores from a vary young age! Though the chores may not be done perfectly, it is a great way for them to start to learn responsibility. It is also helpful to set the expectation for them to help around the house when they are very young so they can willingly continue to pitch in as they get older.

Here are some chore ideas for 2-3 year old children:

• pick up toys
• help make the bed
• put clothes in the hamper
• wipe down baseboards
• dust
• help clean up spills
• put their own dirty dishes in the dishwasher

Kids’ Chores for Ages 4-5

Preschoolers will often enter a phase where they think it’s fun to help, so take advantage of it! Though the chores may take longer with their assistance, the sense of accomplishment they’ll feel is well worth it.

Along with any of the chores from the 2-3 year old list, 4-5 year old children can:

• clean their room
• make their bed on their own
• help sort laundry
• help put laundry into the washing machine or take it out of the dryer
• empty trash cans indoors
• help sweep or mop
• set and clear the table
• load the dishwasher
• help with basic yard work like weeding or raking leaves
• feed pets
• assist with simple cooking tasks
• put away non-fragile groceries
• clean out the car

Chore Ideas for 6-8 Year Old Kids

It’s fun to see our kids be able to take on more responsibility as they get older! School aged kids will start to get faster and more adept at chores, especially if they’ve already been helping out for a while!

In addition to the chores in the lists for the 2-5 year olds, 6-8 year old kids can:

• put away laundry
• help fold simpler laundry items
• vacuum
• unload the dishwasher
• help with hand washing dishes
• wipe down sinks and counters
• exercise pets
• help cook meals
• wipe down the table after meals
• carry in groceries and put them away
• make themselves breakfast
• help make school lunches
• write thank you notes

Chores for 9-12 Year Old Kids

Late elementary / middle school kids can do a lot when given the opportunity! It is fun to see them take on more responsibility and even take initiative on their own.

Along with the chores mentioned in the younger categories, 9-12 year old children can:

• keep their room clean
• complete loads of laundry
• help fold laundry
• change their bed sheets
• wash dishes without help
• prepare simple meals
• clean bathrooms
• take out he trash
• wash the car
• help mow the lawn
• help watch younger children

Kids’ Chore Ideas for 13-18 Year Olds

Older kids will need to be prepared to run their own households in just a few years, so it’s time for them to learn to complete most (if not all!) of the chores in the house. Middle and high school kids tend to get busier with sports and activities, but it’s still important for them to help out at home.

In addition to the lists above, 13-18 year old children can:

• straighten up the house
• deep clean the kitchen
• deep clean appliances
• be responsible for the entire laundry process from start to finish
• iron clothes
• be responsible for the entire dishes process from start to finish
• wash windows
• help with simple home repairs
• make a grocery list
• complete simple shopping trips
• prepare family meals
• maintain their own car (gas, oil, fluids, tire pressure, etc.)
• mow the lawn
• babysit younger kids
• care for pets on their own

We hope that these chore lists help get your family’s wheels turning when it comes to assigning appropriate chores for each child!

Free Printable Chore Chart Template for Adults Too!

Though these chore charts were made with kids in mind, they can certainly be used for adults as well! Sometimes it’s helpful to have a set list of tasks as a reminder and motivator to complete them each day. And we get that same satisfaction of being able to check things off our list too!

Free Printable Weekly Chore Chart: Final Thoughts

Checklists are so useful for staying on top of our responsibilities and getting things done. We hope these chore charts will be helpful motivators for both kids and adults alike, allowing us to accomplish more in our days (without the nagging)!

Print the chore chart, choose your responsibilities, and let’s get started!

Want to revisit this post later? Be sure to pin the image below so you can find it easily!

Happy Organizing!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosures here.