Household Chore List for Couples
A complete “who does what” list of household chores, grouped by how often they happen. Print it, sit down together, and write a name next to every job.
Prints as a clean black-and-white checklist.
How to use this list
- Cross out what doesn’t apply and add anything specific to your home. No garden? Skip it. Three cats? Add a line.
- Check the effort numbers. Each task has a suggested weight from 1 (quick and easy) to 5 (long, tiring or dreaded). Adjust them until you both agree.
- Fill in the Who column. Use a name, “alternate”, or “both”. Try to assign whole tasks, including the noticing and planning, rather than “helping”.
- Add up the effort, not the number of rows. A week with three 1-point jobs is lighter than one with a single 5.
- Revisit after a month. What looked fair on paper sometimes doesn’t in practice. Adjust and keep going.
For the reasoning behind this approach, see how to split chores fairly.
Effort: 1 = quick and easy, 5 = long, tiring or dreaded. Write a name, “alternate” or “both” in the Who column.
Daily
Small jobs that keep the house liveable. Individually light, but they add up because they never stop.
| Task | Effort | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Cook dinner | 3 | |
| Make breakfast / pack lunches | 2 | |
| Wash up or load the dishwasher | 2 | |
| Empty the dishwasher | 1 | |
| Wipe kitchen counters and hob | 1 | |
| Tidy living areas | 1 | |
| Feed and water pets | 1 | |
| Sort the post and paperwork that arrives | 1 |
Weekly
The core rhythm of most households. These are usually where the biggest imbalances hide.
| Task | Effort | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Plan the week’s meals | 2 | |
| Write the shopping list | 1 | |
| Do the food shop and put it away | 3 | |
| Laundry: wash, dry, fold, put away | 3 | |
| Change bedsheets | 2 | |
| Clean the bathroom(s) | 4 | |
| Vacuum the whole home | 3 | |
| Mop hard floors | 2 | |
| Take out bins and recycling | 1 | |
| Clean out the fridge | 2 | |
| Water plants | 1 | |
| Clean the litter tray / walk schedule for pets | 2 |
Monthly
Easy to forget and often done by whoever notices first, which is exactly why they need an owner.
| Task | Effort | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Dust surfaces, shelves and skirting boards | 2 | |
| Clean the oven and microwave | 3 | |
| Descale kettle / clean the coffee machine | 1 | |
| Wash bins | 2 | |
| Clean windows and mirrors | 2 | |
| Wash towels, bathmats and throws | 2 | |
| Check and restock household supplies | 1 | |
| Review bank statements and subscriptions | 2 |
Occasional and seasonal
A few times a year. Big, irregular jobs that are worth planning together rather than leaving to chance.
| Task | Effort | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Deep-clean the kitchen | 5 | |
| Deep-clean the bathroom | 5 | |
| Defrost the freezer | 3 | |
| Swap seasonal clothes and bedding | 3 | |
| Declutter a cupboard or room | 4 | |
| Garden: mowing, weeding, leaves | 3 | |
| Car: wash, MOT/inspection, tyres, service | 3 | |
| Small repairs and DIY | 3 | |
| Boiler / heating service, smoke alarm batteries | 2 |
Planning and admin
The mental load. These are tasks in their own right and deserve a weight, not just a mental note.
| Task | Effort | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Keep the shared calendar up to date | 2 | |
| Pay bills and track due dates | 2 | |
| Renew insurance, contracts and memberships | 3 | |
| Book medical, dental and vet appointments | 2 | |
| Remember birthdays, buy gifts and cards | 2 | |
| Plan holidays and trips | 4 | |
| Taxes and household paperwork | 4 | |
| School admin: forms, trips, parent messages | 2 | |
| Arrange childcare and babysitting | 2 | |
| Organise tradespeople and deliveries | 2 | |
| Keep in touch with family (calls, visits, plans) | 2 |
Tips for filling it in
- Start with what each of you likes or minds least. Preference is a perfectly good reason to own a job.
- Alternate the jobs you both hate. Deep cleans and the oven are classic candidates for “odd months / even months”.
- Don’t forget the planning section. It is the part most lists leave out and the part that most often explains why one person feels overloaded. Our guide to the mental load explains why.
- Agree what “done” means for any task you have argued about before. One sentence is enough.
- Leave room for change. A new job, a baby or an injury changes what is fair. Revisit the list when life shifts.
FAQ
What chores should couples split?
Everything the household needs, not only cleaning. That includes cooking, laundry, shopping, admin, bills, appointments, gifts, car and garden jobs, and the planning behind them. If it has to happen for your home to run, it belongs on the list.
What do the effort numbers mean?
They are suggested weights on a 1 to 5 scale that combine time, energy and how much a task is dreaded. They are a starting point only. Change any number that doesn’t match how a task feels in your home.
How do we use the checklist?
Print it, sit down together, cross out what doesn’t apply, add what’s missing, adjust the weights, then write a name in the Who column for each row. Revisit it after a few weeks to see how the split is holding up.