Chore chart for adults
A household chores list with time estimates, and a splitter that divides the week by minutes, not by number of chores, so “I did six things” and “I did the laundry” can finally be compared.
Fair chore splitter
Add the adults in the home and how many minutes each can give per week. Chores are assigned so everyone’s share matches their available time.
Alex 159′/wk
57% of the work · 57% of the free time
- Dishes / load or unload dishwasherDaily54′
- Wipe counters and stovetopDaily18′
- Empty trash and recyclingWeekly5′
- Clear out fridge and wipe shelvesMonthly5′
- Spot-mop kitchen floorWeekly5′
- Scrub sink and faucetWeekly4′
- Degrease range hood and backsplashMonthly4′
- Wipe appliance fronts and cabinet handlesEvery 2 weeks3′
- Clean inside the microwaveEvery 2 weeks3′
- Laundry: sort, fold, put away (hands-on)Weekly26′
- Clean washer seal, detergent drawer, lint trapMonthly3′
- Vacuum everywhere, mop hard floorsEvery 2 weeks15′
- Vacuum high-traffic floorsWeekly12′
- Shake out mats, clear the entrywayEvery 2 weeks2′
Sam 121′/wk
43% of the work · 43% of the free time
- Five-minute living-room resetDaily36′
- Dust ceiling fans, vents and baseboardsMonthly8′
- Dust surfaces and electronicsEvery 2 weeks5′
- Wipe light switches, doorknobs, remotesEvery 2 weeks4′
- Vacuum sofa and under cushionsMonthly3′
- Make the bedDaily12′
- Change bed sheetsEvery 2 weeks10′
- Put away clothes, clear nightstandsWeekly10′
- Dust bedroom surfacesEvery 2 weeks6′
- Clean toilet: bowl, seat and baseWeekly6′
- Scrub shower or tub and glassEvery 2 weeks5′
- Mop bathroom floorWeekly5′
- Wipe bathroom sink, faucet and mirrorWeekly4′
- Wash shower curtain, descale showerheadMonthly4′
- Swap towels and bath matWeekly3′
Household total: 4 h 40 min of work a week vs 7 h available. Fits.
Household chores list
Every recurring chore used on this site, grouped by how often it comes round. Invisible jobs (planning meals, noticing that the bin is full, buying soap) are real work too; add them to your chart as their own line if they fall to one person.
Daily
- Dishes / load or unload dishwasher 7′
- Wipe counters and stovetop 3′
- Make the bed 2′
- Five-minute living-room reset 5′
- Pet bowls and litter or pet bed 5′
- Toy reset (kids help) 8′
Weekly
- Empty trash and recycling 4′
- Scrub sink and faucet 4′
- Spot-mop kitchen floor 5′
- Wipe bathroom sink, faucet and mirror 4′
- Clean toilet: bowl, seat and base 6′
- Mop bathroom floor 5′
- Swap towels and bath mat 3′
- Put away clothes, clear nightstands 5′
- Vacuum high-traffic floors 10′
- Laundry: sort, fold, put away (hands-on) 20′
- Lint-roll and vacuum pet hair off furniture 10′
Every 2 weeks
- Wipe appliance fronts and cabinet handles 6′
- Clean inside the microwave 5′
- Scrub shower or tub and glass 10′
- Change bed sheets 10′
- Dust bedroom surfaces 6′
- Dust surfaces and electronics 8′
- Wipe light switches, doorknobs, remotes 6′
- Vacuum everywhere, mop hard floors 25′
- Shake out mats, clear the entryway 4′
Monthly
- Clear out fridge and wipe shelves 15′
- Degrease range hood and backsplash 15′
- Wash shower curtain, descale showerhead 15′
- Vacuum sofa and under cushions 10′
- Dust ceiling fans, vents and baseboards 25′
- Clean washer seal, detergent drawer, lint trap 10′
Quarterly
- Clean the oven 40′
- Scrub grout and caulk lines 25′
- Vacuum mattress and rotate it 15′
- Wash pillows and duvet 20′
- Wash inside windows and sills 30′
Making a chore chart work between adults
- Split by time, not count. “Take the bins out” and “do the laundry” are not the same size.
- Own a zone, not a task. Owning “bathrooms” means you notice when the soap runs out. That removes the reminding.
- Agree the standard first. Most chore fights are about what “clean” means. Pick one of our three standards together.
- Rotate the worst jobs monthly if nobody wants them.
- Review after a month. Adjust minutes when work schedules change.
Questions people ask
What chores should adults do each week?
Weekly: bathrooms, kitchen surfaces and sink, trash and recycling, vacuuming busy areas, laundry, and changing sheets every one to two weeks. Daily: dishes, counters and a quick tidy. The list above has times for each.
How do you split chores fairly between adults?
Divide by time rather than by number of tasks, weighted by how much free time each person has, and give each person ownership of whole zones so nobody has to manage the other. The splitter above does the arithmetic.
What’s a good chore chart for roommates?
Shared spaces only (kitchen, bathroom, living room, bins), split by minutes, with the worst jobs rotating monthly. Each person handles their own room and dishes.