What is the average tooth fairy payment in 2026?

The Delta Dental 2026 Tooth Fairy Poll puts the U.S. national average at $5.84 per tooth, with a first-tooth average of $7.17. That is a 17% increase from 2025's $5.01. Regional variation is real, with the Northeast leading at $6.45 and the Midwest lowest at $5.27.

Should the first tooth pay more than the rest?

Most families do, and the Delta Dental data backs it up. The first-tooth average is about $1.33 above the regular-tooth average. Once you set the first-tooth amount, every subsequent tooth has a baseline to land near. Pick the first-tooth number on purpose. The rest of the teeth take their cue from it.

Is it OK to give a small gift instead of cash?

Yes, but pick one or the other, not both, unless your household has the budget for it. Mixed cash-plus-gift starts an escalation pattern that compounds across siblings. A small flat amount, repeated reliably, teaches more than a variable surprise.

What about kids who lose a tooth at school or on vacation?

The tooth fairy is famously forgetful in travel households. A note left on the pillow ("The tooth fairy works on a route. She will catch us in [city] tomorrow.") buys you 24 hours. Inflated amounts as apology rarely help. Predictability is the lesson.

How do I handle siblings who lose teeth at different rates?

Same amount per tooth, regardless of who. The variability comes from biology, not from one kid being more deserving. If a sibling notices the gap, the answer is, "You will lose yours; the amount is the same."

When should I tell my kid the truth about the tooth fairy?

Most kids work it out somewhere between 6 and 9. When they ask directly with a real question ("is it really you?"), tell them. Frame it as joining the team: now they can be the tooth fairy for a younger sibling. The reveal is rarely the trauma adults dread.

★ For the parent of a wiggly-tooth kid

Tooth Fairy: How Much Per Tooth in 2026?

Tooth fairy: how much per tooth in 2026? The Delta Dental national average is $5.84, the first-tooth average is $7.17, plus regional variation and what to do with the cash.

Sprout Saver Team · 9 min read

A faceless child with curly hair, in green-and-yellow star pajamas, asleep in bed with their head resting on a yellow pillow. A magical trail of pink, blue, and gold sparkles spills out from under the pillow and curls up into a starry galaxy on the wall behind. A small drawstring pouch with a tooth icon and a few green dollar bills sit on the nightstand next to a tooth-fairy ticket and a wand. A pink bunny stuffie waits at the foot of the bed. The window shows a sunset sky.

In this guide

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★ Key takeaways

Tooth fairy how much per tooth in 2026: the Delta Dental national average is $5.84 per tooth, up 17% from $5.01 in 2025.
First-tooth average is $7.17. Most families pay more for the first tooth than the rest.
Regional spread is real. Northeast leads at $6.45; Midwest is lowest at $5.27.
The amount matters less than the moment. The first cash event is the kid's first chance to learn the jar split.

Ready?

Tooth Fairy money that outlives bedtime.

Drop the dollar into Sprout Saver and the three-jar split decides what gets spent, saved for the next reward, and shared. The story stays magic; the money stays useful.

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Tooth Fairy: How Much Per Tooth in 2026?

Tooth Fairy money that outlives bedtime.

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