According to anonymised data from GoHenry, children aged seven to 18 received an average of £9.90 per week between January and April 2026. This reflects a modest increase of 1.2% from the £9.78 reported during the same period in 2025. Interestingly, a slight gender gap persists, with girls earning an average of £9.89 weekly, while boys receive £9.91.
Despite this increase, the annual percentage rise in pocket money is notably lower than the consumer prices index (CPI) inflation rate, which stood at 2.8% in April, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This trend may suggest that parents are feeling the financial strain of rising living costs.
Regional Variations in Pocket Money
Geographically, children in the South East of England enjoy the highest weekly pocket money, averaging £12.88. In contrast, those in the East of England receive the least, with an average of £8.57. This disparity highlights the regional differences in financial allowances for children.
When it comes to earning their pocket money, children are most commonly rewarded for tidying their bedrooms, which yields an average payment of £1.14. Music practice, however, tops the list as the highest-earning chore, with an average payment of £1.84.
In terms of savings goals, holidays emerge as the most popular choice among children, followed closely by birthdays and electronics. The data also reveals that grocery stores and supermarkets are the primary venues where children choose to spend their money, followed by restaurants, clothing shops, transport, and health and beauty outlets.
Louise Hill, founder of GoHenry, remarked on the significance of these findings: “This mid-year snapshot shows something really important. Despite the rising cost of living, kids are still setting money aside week after week, saving an average of £3.93 per week, and it’s become second nature for them.” She added, “It’s exciting to watch their world grow alongside their financial independence.”
Hill noted that children are increasingly making independent choices about their spending, reflecting a growing autonomy and confidence in managing their finances.
Age-Based Pocket Money Insights
The analysis, which included a sample of over 600,000 children using GoHenry, compared data from January 1, 2025, to April 15, 2025, with the same period in 2026. The following are the average weekly pocket money payments by age for 2026:
- Seven: £4.30
- Eight: £4.44
- Nine: £4.78
- Ten: £5.38
- Eleven: £6.46
- Twelve: £8.12
- Thirteen: £10.68
- Fourteen: £12.86
- Fifteen: £14.54
- Sixteen: £16.66
- Seventeen: £18.61
- Eighteen: £16.57
Additionally, here are the average weekly pocket money payments by region from January to April 2026:
- East Midlands: £9.47
- East of England: £8.57
- London: £10.02
- North East: £8.75
- North West: £9.74
- Scotland: £10.67
- South East: £12.88
- South West: £8.69
- Wales: £8.89
- West Midlands: £9.90
- Yorkshire and the Humber: £8.93
Finally, the most popular tasks that lead to pocket money payments in 2026 include:
- Tidying bedroom: £1.14
- Helping around the house: £1.21
- Brushing teeth: £1.31
- Doing homework: £1.39
- Looking after pets: £1.42
