Make Your Own Chore Chart Online Free Printable: 7 Easy Steps

By Emily Parker

Updated November 2026

You can make your own chore chart online free printable in about 20 minutes using a free design tool or a basic word processor. This guide walks you through choosing a layout, listing chores your kids can handle, building the chart, printing it, and setting it up so it gets used instead of ignored. By the end, you will have a finished chart ready to tape to the fridge or slip into a sheet protector.

Why Make Your Own Instead of Buying One?

Pre-made charts work fine, but a custom one fits your family. You can match the number of kids, the chores you actually need done, and the days you want tasks to rotate. A homemade chart also grows with your kids. When your six-year-old starts reading, you can add words to a chart that started with pictures. Making your own also means you can print as many copies as you need, which helps if you want one for each child or one for the bathroom and another for the kitchen.

Shopping for one? See our guide: Free Printable Chore Chart with Money: 5 Best Options for Busy Families.

Step 1: Decide What Kind of Chart You Need

Before opening any design tool, decide the basic format. Most families use one of three types:

• Grid chart: Chores run down the left side, days run across the top, and each box gets a checkmark or sticker. This works well for daily routines.
• Checklist chart: One box per chore for each child, with a line or checkbox. Good for a short list of weekly jobs.
• Rotating chart: Chore names sit in a column, and a different child’s name moves into each row every week. This keeps shared jobs fair.

If you are not sure, start with a grid. It is the easiest for younger kids to follow and the easiest to print. For a deeper look at grid versus checklist layouts, see Weekly Chore Chart Template Free: 7 Steps to a Printable Setup That Works.

Step 2: Gather Your Chore List

Write down every recurring job in your home before you design anything. Walk through one ordinary day and note what gets done. Then sort the list into three groups:

1. Daily tasks: making a bed, feeding a pet, clearing a plate.
2. Weekly tasks: vacuuming a room, taking out recycling, wiping bathroom sinks.
3. Occasional tasks: washing windows, raking leaves. These usually do not belong on a recurring chart.

Aim for four to six chores per child per week at first. Too many items on day one leads to quitting by Wednesday. For younger children, keep each chore to a single action they can finish in ten minutes or less.

Step 3: Pick a Free Online Design Tool

Several free tools let you build a printable chart in a browser. Canva offers chart and table templates you can customize with text and color. Google Sheets works well if you want a simple grid you can edit and print without any design skills. Microsoft Word and Google Docs both include table tools that are enough for a basic chart. Choose whichever you already have an account for, since that saves setup time.

If you want a starting point with pictures, Visual Chore Chart Free Printable: 7 Steps to a Setup Kids Can Read explains how to add icons, and Free Printable Chore Chart with Pictures PDF: 5 Best Picks for Busy Families covers picture-based options.

Step 4: Build the Chart

Once you have your tool open, follow this basic build:

Set Up the Grid

• Create a table with one row per chore plus a header row.
• Add seven columns for Monday through Sunday, or five for weekdays only.
• Add a leftmost column for chore names.
• Give each child a separate table if you have two or more, so each one has a clear space.

Add Names and Labels

Put your child’s name at the top of their table in a large font, about 24 to 28 points. Use plain labels such as “Make bed” or “Empty dishwasher” instead of vague phrases like “Help out.” For pre-readers, add a small picture next to each chore.

Leave Room for Checkmarks

Make each day box at least one inch wide and one-half inch tall so a child can write or place a sticker easily. Narrow boxes frustrate small hands.

Step 5: Choose a Print-Friendly Format

Set your page to portrait for a long list or landscape for a wide grid. Keep borders dark enough to see but not so heavy that the page looks crowded. Use a sans-serif font like Arial or Calibri at 14 points or larger for chore names. Before printing, use print preview to make sure nothing is cut off at the edges.

Step 6: Print, Laminate, and Hang

Print one copy on regular paper to test the size, then print the final version on heavier cardstock if you have it. A sheet protector or laminator lets children use dry-erase markers, which you can wipe clean each week. Hang the chart at child eye level in a spot the family passes often, such as near the kitchen or entry. Taping it to the fridge works well because it gets seen several times a day.

Step 7: Set Up a Simple Routine

A chart only works if the routine around it is clear. Walk through the chart with each child, showing exactly what “done” looks like for each chore. Agree on a check-in time, such as after dinner, when you review the chart together. Decide ahead of time what happens when chores are missed, and stick to it. Many families use a simple reward, such as screen time or a small allowance, tied to finishing the week’s chores. If money is part of your plan, Free Printable Money Chore Chart Allowance: 4 Best Options for Busy Families outlines a few ways to link tasks to pay.

Recommended gear

These supplies make the chart easier to reuse and easier for kids to mark up.

• Clear sheet protectors: They let you reuse the chart every week without reprinting. View on Amazon
• Dry-erase markers with a fine tip: They wipe off cleanly from laminated or sheet-protected charts. View on Amazon
• Cardstock paper: A heavier stock holds up better than copier paper on a fridge or wall. View on Amazon
• Magnetic strips or a magnetic whiteboard: They let you hang the chart on a metal surface and move chore tags around. View on Amazon

Common mistakes

• Too many chores at once. Start small and add one or two tasks every few weeks.
• Vague instructions. “Clean your room” means something different to every person. Break it into “pick up clothes from floor” and “put books on shelf.”
• Printing only one copy. If you have multiple kids, print one per child so each person has their own space to track progress.
• Skipping the review. A chart nobody checks quickly becomes wallpaper. Schedule a weekly review.
• Tiny text. If you cannot read the chart from across the kitchen, your kids cannot either.

Tips for Making It Last

• Keep a blank template saved in your design tool so you can update the chart in minutes when school schedules change.
• Use a different color for each child’s table to speed up scanning.
• Rotate chores every four to six weeks so no one gets stuck with the same job forever.
• Add a “bonus” row for extra help, which lets kids earn points beyond their regular list.

FAQ

What is the easiest free tool to make a printable chore chart?

Google Sheets and Canva are both free and beginner-friendly. Sheets is best if you want a simple grid, and Canva is better if you want colors and icons.

How many chores should a young child have?

Most children under seven do well with three to five simple daily tasks. Older kids can handle more, but start with a small list and expand gradually.

Can I make a chore chart without a printer?

Yes. You can build the chart in a design tool and display it on a tablet or phone, or copy the grid onto a poster board by hand.

What paper works best for a chore chart?

Cardstock or laminated paper holds up better than standard copier paper, especially on a fridge where it gets handled often.

How often should I update the chart?

Review it weekly and reprint or wipe it clean at the start of each week. Update the chore list whenever a child’s age or school schedule changes.

Should chores be linked to allowance?

That is a family decision. Some parents tie allowance to completed chores, while others keep chores as a household expectation. Choose one approach and explain it clearly.

What if my child refuses to use the chart?

Sit down together, ask what feels unfair or confusing, and adjust the chore list. Keeping the chart visible and reviewing it calmly usually helps more than pressure.

Conclusion

Making your own chore chart online with a free printable template takes less time than shopping for one and fits your family exactly. Choose a format, list your chores, build the grid, print on sturdy paper, and set up a short weekly review. Start small, keep the instructions clear, and adjust as your kids grow.

About Emily Parker

Emily Parker is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our busy-mom life guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.