A chore chart for adults (free printable)
A chart filled in with the chores a home really has, how often each one comes round and the minutes it takes, for one person, two, or a shared house.
The short answer
A chore chart for adults lists the chores your home really has, how often each one comes round and how many minutes it takes, with a box to tick and, if you share, a name on every row. Ours comes filled in from the minutes CozyHaus gives every chore, in three versions: just me, two of us and a shared house.
Download the PDF (US Letter) A4
4 pages, about 360 KB: a chart for one, a chart for two, a chart for a shared house and a pick list of 54 more chores. No email needed.
What makes it a chart for adults
A kids’ chart is a parent’s list with stickers. A chart for adults is an agreement: what the home needs, how often, and who looks after it. So ours has no sticker column and no row for checking anyone’s work. It has the minutes instead, because the time a chore takes is what makes a list fair or not.
The chart for one
Living alone, nobody else will spot the bath mat, so a chart is mostly a memory aid. The dishes remind you on their own; the toilet brush and the fridge coils don’t.
Page 1 of the printable is the basics CozyHaus starts a home with: 23 chores, about 5 hours a week, or 43 minutes a day. Half of it is the kitchen, and loading and unloading the dishwasher alone comes to 56 minutes a week.
| Chore | How often | Minutes | A week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Load the dishwasher | Every day | 4 | 28 |
| Unload the dishwasher | Every day | 4 | 28 |
| Wipe the counters | Every day | 3 | 21 |
| Wipe the stove and grates | After cooking | 4 | 28 |
| Make the bed | Every day | 2 | 14 |
| Plump the cushions | Every day | 1 | 7 |
| Scrub the kitchen sink | Every 2 days | 4 | 14 |
| Sweep the kitchen floor | Every 2 days | 4 | 14 |
| Run a wash | Every 3 days | 5 | 12 |
| Put the laundry away | After each wash | 6 | 14 |
| Clean the toilet | Twice a week | 5 | 9 |
| Wipe the bathroom sink and faucet | Twice a week | 3 | 5 |
| Wipe down the shower and tub | Every week | 6 | 6 |
| Clean all the mirrors | Every week | 6 | 6 |
| Fresh towels out | Every week | 2 | 2 |
| Change the sheets | Every week | 10 | 10 |
| Dust the bedroom | Every week | 6 | 6 |
| Vacuum all floors | Every week | 25 | 25 |
| Mop the floors | Every week | 20 | 20 |
| Empty the small bins | Every week | 5 | 5 |
| Wipe switches, handles and remotes | Every week | 8 | 8 |
| Water the plants | Every week | 4 | 4 |
| Clean the whole bathroom | Every 2 weeks | 35 | 18 |
| All 23 | 304 |
If 43 minutes a day is more than you have, start smaller: the 10-minute week in our weekly cleaning schedule is the floor. One person also makes fewer dishes and less laundry, so your own minutes may come in under these.
The chart for two: split by minutes
Count chores, and two lists can look even while one takes four times as long. By the app’s minutes, watering the plants, emptying the small bins, putting out fresh towels, plumping the cushions and sweeping the kitchen floor come to 32 minutes a week. Loading and unloading the dishwasher, wiping the stove and the counters and vacuuming come to 130.
So add up each person’s minutes. Here is one split of the basics that comes out even, with 9 chores on one side and 14 on the other:
| Who | Chores | How many | Minutes a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| One of you: the kitchen and the laundry | Load the dishwasher, unload the dishwasher, wipe the counters, wipe the stove and grates, scrub the kitchen sink, run a wash, put the laundry away, fresh towels out, water the plants | 9 chores | 151 |
| The other: the floors, the bathroom, the bedroom and the living room | Sweep the kitchen floor, mop the floors, vacuum all floors, clean the toilet, wipe the bathroom sink and faucet, wipe down the shower and tub, clean the whole bathroom, clean all the mirrors, plump the cushions, empty the small bins, wipe switches, handles and remotes, make the bed, change the sheets, dust the bedroom | 14 chores | 153 |
The fair check. Once you’ve shared out the chart, add up each person’s minutes a week. If the gap is within about 15% of the bigger total, call it even: the minutes are estimates, so a few either way don’t count. It’s the same rule CozyHaus uses on its shared screen. A chore you do together counts for both of you.
One owner per chore. Eve Rodsky’s Fair Play describes every household task in three parts: conception, planning and execution. On a chart, the owner of a chore takes all three: noticing it’s due, having what it needs, and doing it.
Why write it down at all? Partners see the same house differently. In Pew Research Center’s 2019 survey of married and cohabiting adults, 59% of women said they did more of the chores than their partner. The largest group of men, 42%, said the chores were shared about equally. And the split matters. In Pew’s 2026 survey of parents who both work full time, mothers who share the chores about equally were far more likely to be satisfied with it than mothers who do more: 54% against 11%.
The chores nobody sees
The dishes get done because everyone sees them pile up. The jobs that slip are the ones nobody notices until they’re overdue. CozyHaus marks 55 of its 125 chores as easily forgotten, and its stats sheet counts them as “Remembered for you”. Ten of them:
| Chore | How often | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Clean the toilet brush and holder | Every week | 4 |
| Swap the kitchen sponge | Every week | 2 |
| Clear out old food from the fridge | Every week | 6 |
| Wash the bath mat | Every 2 weeks | 3 |
| Clean the dishwasher filter | Every month | 8 |
| Clean the washing machine | Every month | 10 |
| Check the air filter | Every month | 3 |
| Wash the mattress protector | Every month | 5 |
| Descale the showerhead | Every 3 months | 10 |
| Vacuum the fridge coils | Twice a year | 10 |
Put a few on the chart, each with an owner. Give the planning jobs a row too: next week’s dinners (8 minutes a week in CozyHaus), the fridge clear-out, the shopping list.
The chart for a shared house
Start by taking the personal jobs off the chart. RPM, a property manager, sets it up this way for roommates: each person looks after their own things, bedroom and private bathroom, and only the shared spaces go on the chart. By the app’s times that keeps about 56 minutes a week each off the rotation: the bed, the sheets, the laundry and dusting your room.
The shared jobs go into four zones, and every name moves one zone along each week. In any one week the zones aren’t quite even, but over four weeks everyone does each of them once:
| Zone | What’s in it | Minutes a week |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Wipe the counters, Wipe the stove and grates, Scrub the kitchen sink, Sweep the kitchen floor | 77 |
| Bathroom and bins | Clean the toilet, Wipe the bathroom sink and faucet, Wipe down the shower and tub, Clean the whole bathroom, Clean all the mirrors, Fresh towels out, Empty the small bins, Wipe switches, handles and remotes | 59 |
| Floors and living room | Vacuum all floors, Mop the floors, Plump the cushions, Water the plants | 56 |
| Dishwasher, in and out | Load the dishwasher, Unload the dishwasher | 56 |
Three of you? Rotate the first three zones and share the dishwasher: whoever finds it clean empties it.
The other way is fixed owners: everyone keeps the same zone, and you agree when jobs can change hands. Fixed owners stop the reminding; rotation spreads the worst jobs. Either works if you agree what “done” means first, as RPM and June Homes both advise. Page 3 of the printable has the four zones with a line for what done means in each, weeks 1 to 4, and room for a swap rule.
The full household chores list
All 125 chores in CozyHaus, by room, with how often each one comes round and its minutes. Use it to fill the blank rows on your chart. Chores that only some homes need, like the ones for a dog or a garden, are in groups of their own.
Kitchen 31 chores
| Chore | How often | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Wipe the counters | Every day | 3 |
| Load the dishwasher | Every day | 4 |
| Unload the dishwasher | Every day | 4 |
| Wipe the stove and grates | After cooking | 4 |
| Wash the dishes | Every day | 10 |
| Wipe down the coffee machine | Every 2 days | 2 |
| Take out the compost | Every 2 days | 2 |
| Swap the dish towels and cloths | Every 2 days | 2 |
| Scrub the kitchen sink | Every 2 days | 4 |
| Sweep the kitchen floor | Every 2 days | 4 |
| Swap the kitchen sponge | Every week | 2 |
| Sanitize the cutting boards | Every week | 5 |
| Clean the air fryer | Every week | 6 |
| Wipe the cabinet fronts | Every week | 6 |
| Clear out old food from the fridge | Every week | 6 |
| Wipe the hood and the wall behind the stove | Every week | 8 |
| Plan next week’s dinners | Every week | 8 |
| Clean the microwave | Every week | 10 |
| Mop the floors | Every week | 20 |
| Descale the coffee machine | Every month | 5 |
| Clean the dishwasher filter | Every month | 8 |
| Wash out the kitchen trash can | Every month | 10 |
| Clean the knife block and can opener | Every month | 10 |
| Clean out the junk drawer | Every month | 10 |
| Clean the oven | Every month | 25 |
| Wash the utensil drawer tray | Every 3 months | 10 |
| Defrost the freezer | Every 3 months | 20 |
| Organize the pantry | Every 3 months | 20 |
| Wipe inside and on top of cabinets | Every 3 months | 20 |
| Deep clean the fridge | Every 3 months | 30 |
| Vacuum the fridge coils | Twice a year | 10 |
Bathroom 20 chores
| Chore | How often | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Wipe the bathroom sink and faucet | Twice a week | 3 |
| Clean the toilet | Twice a week | 5 |
| Fresh towels out | Every week | 2 |
| Wash the toothbrush holder | Every week | 3 |
| Clean the toilet brush and holder | Every week | 4 |
| Clean the other toilet | Every week | 5 |
| Wipe down the shower and tub | Every week | 6 |
| Clean all the mirrors | Every week | 6 |
| Clean the half bath | Every week | 12 |
| Wash the bath mat | Every 2 weeks | 3 |
| Clean the second bathroom | Every 2 weeks | 30 |
| Clean the whole bathroom | Every 2 weeks | 35 |
| Vacuum and wipe the bathroom fan | Every month | 5 |
| Wash the shower curtain and liner | Every month | 5 |
| Clear the shower and sink drains | Every month | 8 |
| Descale the shower doors | Monthly, with the bathroom clean | 10 |
| Deep scrub the shower and grout | Every month | 25 |
| Swap in new toothbrushes | Every 3 months | 2 |
| Descale the showerhead | Every 3 months | 10 |
| Clear out the medicine cabinet | Twice a year | 15 |
Laundry 6 chores
| Chore | How often | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Switch the laundry | Every 2 days | 2 |
| Run a wash | Every 3 days | 5 |
| Put the laundry away | After each wash | 6 |
| Clean the dryer filter and seal | Every month | 4 |
| Clean the washing machine | Every month | 10 |
| Clean the dryer vent duct | Every year | 30 |
Bedroom 12 chores
| Chore | How often | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Make the bed | Every day | 2 |
| Dust the bedroom | Every week | 6 |
| Change the sheets | Every week | 10 |
| Change the sheets in the other bedrooms | Every 2 weeks | 10 |
| Air the pillows in the sun | Every month, in spring and summer | 5 |
| Wash the mattress protector | Every month | 5 |
| Vacuum under the bed | Every month | 10 |
| Wash the duvet or comforter | Every 3 months | 15 |
| Vacuum the mattress | Every 3 months | 15 |
| Rotate the mattress | Twice a year | 10 |
| Wash the pillows | Twice a year | 15 |
| Swap summer and winter clothes | Twice a year | 30 |
Living room and around the home 21 chores
| Chore | How often | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Plump the cushions | Every day | 1 |
| Water the plants | Every week | 4 |
| Dust the bookshelf | Every week | 5 |
| Empty the small bins | Every week | 5 |
| Wipe switches, handles and remotes | Every week | 8 |
| Vacuum all floors | Every week | 25 |
| Shake the rugs outside | Every 2 weeks | 8 |
| Vacuum under the sofa cushions | Every 2 weeks | 8 |
| Test the smoke alarm | Every month | 2 |
| Check the air filter | Every month | 3 |
| Clean the vacuum cleaner | Every month | 8 |
| Dust the blinds and curtains | Every month | 10 |
| Dust the cobwebs and light fixtures | Every month | 12 |
| Wipe down the baseboards | Every month | 15 |
| Clean the windows | Every month | 30 |
| Wash the throws and cushion covers | Every 3 months | 10 |
| Wipe the doors and wall scuffs | Every 3 months | 15 |
| Vacuum the vents and radiators | Every 3 months | 15 |
| Clean the window tracks | Every 3 months | 15 |
| Replace the smoke alarm battery | Every year | 5 |
| Deep clean the carpets and rugs | Every year | 90 |
Pets 9 chores
| Chore | How often | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Feed the cat | Every day | 2 |
| Feed the dog | Every day | 2 |
| Scoop the litter box | Every day | 3 |
| Pick up after the dog outside | Every 2 days | 5 |
| Vacuum up the pet hair | Every 3 days | 8 |
| Wash the pet bowls | Every week | 3 |
| Change the cat litter | Every week | 10 |
| Clean the cage or the tank | Every week | 15 |
| Wash the dog’s bed | Every month | 15 |
Outside and garden 16 chores
| Chore | How often | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Take the bins out | Every 3 days | 3 |
| Shovel the snow | Every 3 days, in winter | 20 |
| Put the garbage bin out | Every week | 3 |
| Shake the doormat and sweep the entry | Every week | 5 |
| Mow the lawn | Every 10 days, in spring and summer | 30 |
| Put the compost bin out | Every 2 weeks | 3 |
| Put the recycling out | Every 2 weeks | 3 |
| Sweep the balcony | Every 2 weeks | 10 |
| Rake the leaves | Every 2 weeks, in autumn | 30 |
| Put the paper out | Every 4 weeks | 3 |
| Sweep the patio and paths | Every month | 20 |
| Tidy the garden | Every month | 40 |
| Rinse out the outdoor bins | Every 3 months | 15 |
| Wipe down the balcony railing and furniture | Every 3 months | 15 |
| Wash the outside of the windows | Twice a year | 45 |
| Clear the gutters | Twice a year | 60 |
Garage, attic, storage and chimney 10 chores
| Chore | How often | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Test the garage door safety | Every month | 3 |
| Dust and sweep the storage room | Every month | 10 |
| Sweep out the garage | Every month | 15 |
| Swap the seasonal decorations | Every 3 months | 20 |
| Tidy the storage room | Every 3 months | 20 |
| Check the attic for leaks and pests | Twice a year | 10 |
| Declutter the garage | Twice a year | 60 |
| Have the chimney swept | Every year, before winter, in autumn | 30 |
| Declutter the attic | Every year | 60 |
| Have the chimney inspected | Every 3 years | 20 |
Keeping it going
- Hang it where the work is: on the fridge, or inside a kitchen cabinet door if you’d rather guests didn’t read it.
- Look at it together once a week: ten minutes for what slipped, what’s due and any swaps. RPM suggests meeting regularly to talk about what’s working.
- A missed week doesn’t double. Start again on Monday with the every-day jobs, and the rest comes round in its turn.
- Reuse it: slide the chart into a clear sleeve and tick with a dry-erase pen, or print a fresh one each month.
Questions people ask
What chores should adults do every day?
In CozyHaus, six: load and unload the dishwasher, wipe the counters and the stove, make the bed and plump the cushions. About 18 minutes in all. The rest can wait a few days.
How do you split chores fairly with a partner?
By minutes, not by the number of chores. Add up each person’s minutes a week, and call it even if the gap is within about 15% of the bigger total. Then give each chore one owner, from noticing it to finishing it.
How do you split chores with roommates?
Keep the personal jobs personal and put the shared ones into zones. Then either rotate the names every week, or keep fixed owners with a trade week every month or two. Agree what done means before you start.
How much time should chores take a week?
The basics CozyHaus starts a home with come to about 5 hours a week. In the US, on days they did any household activities, women spent 2.8 hours on them and men 2.1, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2025 count, which includes cooking, lawn care and household management.
Is a chore chart for adults childish?
Not if it reads like an agreement rather than a reward chart: the chores your home really has, how often, the minutes and who looks after each. It takes the list out of everyone’s head and puts it on the fridge.
Sources
- Chores, minutes and how often: the CozyHaus chore catalogue (125 chores) and the basics it starts a home with.
- Pew Research Center, How working parents divide family responsibilities (16 June 2026)
- Pew Research Center, How married and cohabiting adults see their relationships (6 November 2019)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Time Use Survey, 2025 results (25 June 2026)
- Fair Play, The cards
- RPM Greater Madison, Roommates and chores (15 October 2022)
- June Homes, Roommate chore chart (11 September 2025)
Let your phone keep the chart
CozyHaus plans the chores that fit your home, a few small ones a day, and shares them with everyone who lives there.
See what it does