If you're looking for a complete chore list for teenagers ages 13–17, this guide provides age-appropriate household chores that can be adjusted based on your teen's maturity, schedule, and abilities.
Why Chores Are Important for Teenagers
Regular household chores give teenagers an opportunity to practice real-life skills in a safe environment. Instead of simply telling teens to "help around the house," parents can give them clear responsibilities and expectations.
Chores can help teenagers learn how to:
Take responsibility for shared spaces
Manage their time
Follow routines
Care for clothing and personal belongings
Prepare simple meals
Clean and organize
Take care of pets
Help younger siblings
Understand that maintaining a home requires teamwork
Develop practical skills for independent living
The goal isn't to make teenagers responsible for everything. Instead, chores should gradually increase in difficulty as teens become more capable.
Complete Chore List for Teenagers Ages 13–17
Here's a comprehensive list of chores that can be divided into daily, weekly, monthly, and occasional responsibilities.
Daily Chores for Teens
These chores are simple enough to become part of a teenager's everyday routine.
Make their bed
Put dirty clothes in the hamper
Put clean clothes away
Keep their bedroom reasonably tidy
Pick up personal belongings
Put shoes away
Clear their dishes after meals
Load or unload the dishwasher
Wipe down the kitchen counter after use
Take out trash when needed
Feed pets
Refill pet water bowls
Keep the bathroom counter tidy after use
Put school supplies away
Help clean up after family meals
Daily chores should generally be quick and manageable. A teenager doesn't need to spend hours cleaning every day.
Weekly Chores for Teenagers
Weekly chores can teach teens how to maintain a home rather than simply clean up after themselves.
Bedroom Chores
Change bed sheets
Vacuum or sweep the bedroom floor
Dust furniture
Organize their desk
Clean mirrors
Empty the bedroom trash
Organize clothes and shoes
Put away items that don't belong in the bedroom
Bathroom Chores
Clean the bathroom sink
Wipe the countertop
Clean the mirror
Scrub the toilet
Sweep the floor
Mop the floor
Replace towels
Empty the bathroom trash
Restock toilet paper and basic supplies
Parents should demonstrate cleaning products and safe cleaning techniques before expecting a teenager to handle bathroom cleaning independently.
Kitchen Chores
Wash dishes
Load and unload the dishwasher
Wipe kitchen counters
Clean the dining table
Sweep the kitchen floor
Mop the kitchen floor
Clean the microwave
Wipe down appliances
Empty the trash and recycling
Help organize the refrigerator
Check expiration dates with a parent
Laundry Chores for Ages 13–17
Laundry is one of the most useful life skills a teenager can learn before adulthood.
Depending on your teen's age and maturity, they can gradually take responsibility for the entire laundry process.
Sort clothes by color or fabric
Check clothing labels
Load the washing machine
Add appropriate detergent
Start the washing machine
Transfer clothes to the dryer or drying area
Fold clean clothes
Hang clothes
Put clothes away
Wash towels
Change and wash bed linens
For younger teens, parents may want to supervise the use of washing machines, dryers, irons, and stain-removal products.
Outdoor Chores for Teenagers
Outdoor chores are a great way for teenagers to contribute to maintaining the property.
Depending on where you live, suitable outdoor chores may include:
Sweep the porch
Sweep outdoor walkways
Pick up leaves
Pull weeds
Water plants
Help care for the garden
Mow the lawn when age-appropriate
Trim small plants with supervision
Clean outdoor furniture
Wash bicycles
Organize outdoor equipment
Take trash and recycling bins to the curb
Bring bins back after collection
Help shovel snow in appropriate climates
Power tools and potentially dangerous equipment should only be used when a teenager is properly trained and supervised.
Cooking and Food Preparation Chores
Teenagers between 13 and 17 can gradually become more involved in preparing family meals.
Age-appropriate responsibilities can include:
Prepare simple breakfasts
Make sandwiches
Prepare salads
Wash fruits and vegetables
Measure ingredients
Make simple snacks
Help prepare dinner
Follow a simple recipe
Pack their own lunch
Clean up after cooking
Wash dishes
Wipe kitchen surfaces
Put ingredients away
Help create a weekly grocery list
Older teens can learn to prepare complete meals with appropriate supervision and instruction.
Chores for Teenagers Ages 13–14
At ages 13 and 14, teenagers are usually ready for more responsibility but may still need reminders and occasional supervision.
Suggested Chores
Make the bed
Keep bedroom organized
Vacuum bedroom
Dust furniture
Change bed sheets
Put laundry away
Help with family laundry
Wash dishes
Load the dishwasher
Empty the dishwasher
Clean the kitchen table
Sweep floors
Take out trash
Feed pets
Water plants
Clean the bathroom sink
Clean their own bathroom area
Help prepare simple meals
Pack their school lunch
Help with grocery shopping
Organize personal belongings
The emphasis at this age should be on building consistent habits.
Chores for Teenagers Ages 15–16
By 15 or 16, many teenagers can handle more complicated household responsibilities.
Suggested Chores
Complete their own laundry
Change bed linens
Clean their bedroom thoroughly
Vacuum common areas
Mop floors
Clean mirrors
Clean the bathroom
Take out trash and recycling
Help with yard work
Prepare simple meals
Follow recipes
Help plan family meals
Help with grocery shopping
Clean kitchen appliances
Organize pantry items
Care for pets
Help younger siblings with age-appropriate tasks
Keep shared spaces organized
At this stage, parents can start shifting from "I'll show you how" to "You're responsible for this task."
Chores for Teenagers Ages 17
By age 17, the focus can shift toward preparing for independent living.
Older teens can learn to manage responsibilities that they will likely encounter when living on their own.
Suggested Chores
Do their own laundry from start to finish
Iron or steam appropriate clothing
Clean their bedroom
Clean and organize a bathroom
Vacuum and mop floors
Dust furniture
Clean kitchen surfaces
Wash dishes
Load and unload the dishwasher
Prepare complete meals
Follow recipes independently
Plan simple meals
Create a grocery list
Help grocery shop
Clean out the refrigerator
Take out trash and recycling
Complete basic yard work
Care for pets
Help maintain shared household spaces
Organize personal schedules and responsibilities
The goal isn't perfection. The goal is helping your teenager become capable of taking care of themselves and contributing to a household.
Monthly Chores for Teenagers
Some chores don't need to be completed every week. Monthly responsibilities can help teens learn deeper cleaning and organization.
Clean under the bed
Organize drawers
Clean closet
Donate clothes they no longer use
Dust ceiling fans
Clean windows
Deep-clean the bathroom
Clean behind furniture when appropriate
Organize pantry shelves
Clean refrigerator shelves with a parent
Organize school supplies
Clean backpacks
Organize digital files and photos
Clean outdoor furniture
Help organize storage areas
Seasonal Chores for Teenagers
Seasonal chores can be assigned a few times each year.
Spring
Help with spring cleaning
Organize closets
Clean windows
Wash outdoor furniture
Help prepare the garden
Summer
Maintain outdoor areas
Water plants
Help with gardening
Clean outdoor spaces
Organize sports equipment
Fall
Rake leaves
Organize seasonal clothing
Clean outdoor areas
Help prepare the home for colder weather
Winter
Organize winter clothing
Help keep entryways clean
Store seasonal items
Help with appropriate snow or weather-related chores
A Simple Weekly Chore Schedule for Teens
One of the easiest ways to make chores manageable is to create a weekly schedule.
| Day | Chores |
|---|---|
| Monday | Bedroom tidy-up + laundry |
| Tuesday | Dishes + kitchen cleanup |
| Wednesday | Bathroom cleaning |
| Thursday | Vacuum common areas |
| Friday | Take out trash + organize personal items |
| Saturday | Laundry + deeper cleaning |
| Sunday | Light cleanup + prepare for the week |
You don't have to use this exact schedule. Adjust it around school, sports, homework, family activities, and your teenager's responsibilities.
How Many Chores Should a Teenager Do?
There isn't one perfect number of chores for every teenager.
A better approach is to consider:
Age
Maturity
School workload
Extracurricular activities
Family expectations
Physical ability
The size of the household
Whether chores are shared among siblings
A teenager with a busy school and sports schedule may need a different routine from a teen with a lighter schedule.
The goal is to create consistent responsibility without overwhelming your child.
Should Teenagers Get Paid for Chores?
Families have different approaches to paying teenagers for chores.
Some parents provide an allowance for completing routine household responsibilities, while others consider chores a normal part of being part of a family.
Another approach is to separate chores into two categories:
Examples of extra chores include:
Deep-cleaning the garage
Washing the car
Organizing storage areas
Cleaning windows
Helping with a large yard project
Deep-cleaning appliances
This approach can teach teenagers that regular responsibilities are part of family life while also introducing the concept of earning money through additional work.
Tips for Getting Teenagers to Do Chores
Getting teenagers to consistently complete chores can sometimes be challenging. A few simple strategies can make the process easier.
1. Make Expectations Clear
Instead of saying, "Clean your room," provide specific expectations.
For example:
Put dirty clothes in the hamper, make your bed, clear your desk, and vacuum the floor.
Clear instructions reduce confusion.
2. Create a Visible Chore Chart
A weekly chore chart can make responsibilities easier to remember.
You can use a printed checklist, whiteboard, calendar, or family task app.
3. Teach Before You Expect
Don't assume your teenager knows how to properly clean a bathroom, operate a washing machine, or prepare a meal.
Demonstrate the task first.
4. Avoid Redoing Every Task
Teenagers may not clean exactly the way you would. If the job is safe and reasonably completed, allow them to develop their own method.
5. Increase Responsibility Gradually
Start with basic chores and add more complex tasks as your teenager gains experience.
6. Be Consistent
A consistent routine is usually easier to maintain than randomly assigning chores.
7. Recognize Effort
You don't need to praise every small task, but genuine recognition can help teenagers understand that their contribution matters.
Printable Teen Chore Checklist
Here's a simple checklist parents can use as a starting point:
Daily
Make bed
Keep bedroom tidy
Put clothes away
Clear dishes
Help with kitchen cleanup
Feed pets
Pick up personal belongings
Weekly
Vacuum bedroom
Change bed sheets
Do laundry
Clean bathroom
Wash dishes
Clean kitchen
Take out trash
Vacuum common areas
Help with yard work
Monthly
Deep-clean bedroom
Organize closet
Clean windows
Organize drawers
Clean refrigerator
Help with seasonal cleaning
Final Thoughts
A good chore list for teenagers ages 13–17 should do more than keep the house clean. It should gradually prepare teenagers for adulthood.
Start with simple daily responsibilities, then introduce more advanced skills such as laundry, cooking, bathroom cleaning, grocery shopping, and household organization.
Remember that every teenager develops at a different pace. The best chore system is one that is age-appropriate, realistic, consistent, and flexible.
By the time teenagers leave home, the goal is for them to know how to clean, cook, do laundry, organize their belongings, manage responsibilities, and contribute to a household with confidence.
FAQ: Teen Chores
What chores should a 13-year-old do?
A 13-year-old can usually handle chores such as making their bed, keeping their room tidy, doing basic laundry, washing dishes, taking out trash, feeding pets, vacuuming, and helping with simple meals.
What chores should a 15-year-old do?
A 15-year-old can gradually take on more independent responsibilities, including doing their own laundry, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming and mopping, preparing simple meals, helping with grocery shopping, and caring for pets.
What chores should a 17-year-old be able to do?
A 17-year-old can work toward managing most basic household tasks independently, including laundry, cooking, cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, grocery planning, household organization, and appropriate outdoor chores.
How can I make chores less stressful for my teenager?
Keep expectations clear, use a predictable schedule, teach new tasks before assigning them independently, and divide larger jobs into smaller steps. A visible weekly chore chart can also make responsibilities easier to manage.
Should chores be age appropriate?
Yes. Chores should match a teenager's age, maturity, abilities, schedule, and level of training. Responsibilities can gradually increase as teens develop more confidence and independence.
Pinterest Description:
Looking for an easy way to teach responsibility and independence? This complete chore list for teenagers ages 13–17 includes daily, weekly, monthly, laundry, cooking, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, outdoor, and age-appropriate chores for teens. Save this practical teen chore chart and use it to create a simple weekly routine that helps your teenager build valuable life skills before adulthood. #TeenChores #ChoreChart #ParentingTeens #TeenagerChores #LifeSkills #ParentingTips #FamilyOrganization
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