Roommate chore chart: a free template for 2, 3, or 4 roommates
Updated
Short answer
A good roommate chore chart lists each shared chore, how often it happens, and whose turn it is each week, rotating so everyone gets every chore. Copy the 4-week charts below for 2, 3, or 4 roommates, print one for the fridge, or let an app rotate it and remind people for you.
Copy one of these charts into a doc or spreadsheet, or print this page for the fridge. Each one is a four-week cycle: when you reach the end, start again at week 1. Swap in your own names and chores.
Chores to include
- Kitchen: wipe counters and stove, clear the sink, take out food scraps.
- Bathroom: toilet, sink, mirror, shower, floor, bin.
- Trash and recycling: empty the bins, take them to the curb on collection day, bring them back.
- Floors: vacuum or sweep the shared rooms and hallway.
- Fridge: throw out anything expired (monthly).
- Restock: toilet paper, dish soap, sponges, trash bags.
Leave bedrooms off. A chart is for shared space.
Chore chart for 2 roommates
| Week | Kitchen | Bathroom | Trash & recycling | Floors & restock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roommate A | Roommate B | Roommate A | Roommate B |
| 2 | Roommate B | Roommate A | Roommate B | Roommate A |
| 3 | Roommate A | Roommate B | Roommate A | Roommate B |
| 4 | Roommate B | Roommate A | Roommate B | Roommate A |
Chore chart for 3 roommates
| Week | Kitchen | Bathroom | Trash, floors & restock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roommate A | Roommate B | Roommate C |
| 2 | Roommate B | Roommate C | Roommate A |
| 3 | Roommate C | Roommate A | Roommate B |
| 4 | Roommate A | Roommate B | Roommate C |
With three people the cycle repeats every three weeks, so week 4 is week 1 again.
Chore chart for 4 roommates
| Week | Kitchen | Bathroom | Trash & recycling | Floors & restock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roommate A | Roommate B | Roommate C | Roommate D |
| 2 | Roommate B | Roommate C | Roommate D | Roommate A |
| 3 | Roommate C | Roommate D | Roommate A | Roommate B |
| 4 | Roommate D | Roommate A | Roommate B | Roommate C |
Daily chores don't belong on a weekly chart
Dishes are the most common fight, and a weekly turn doesn't fix them. The rule that works best is simple: you wash what you use, the same day. Put that in your roommate agreement and keep the chart for the weekly jobs.
When a paper chart stops working
A fridge chart breaks when people keep different hours, when someone swaps a turn and the chart isn't updated, or when nobody remembers to start the next cycle. That's when an app helps. In hausync, chores rotate on their own: you set each chore once, it puts every turn on the shared calendar, reminds the right person on the day, and keeps going without anyone redrawing the chart. It's free and runs in the phone browser.
Questions people ask
What chores should be on a roommate chore chart?
Only shared spaces and shared supplies: kitchen counters and stove, dishes left in the sink, trash and recycling, bathroom, floors in common areas, the fridge, and restocking things everyone uses like toilet paper and dish soap. Bedrooms stay off the chart.
Paper chart or app?
Paper works when everyone walks past it every day. An app is better when people keep different hours, because it reminds the right person on the right day and rotates the chart for you without anyone redrawing it.
How do we make roommates actually do their chores?
Make the turns unambiguous (one name per chore per week), make them visible, and remind on the day. Most chore fights are about whose turn it was, not about the chore.