Recurring Chores in Google Calendar: Complete Setup Guide
Master Google Calendar's repeat settings for household chores. Daily, weekly, monthly, and custom intervals—plus the limitations you need to know about.
Google Calendar Repeat Options
Google Calendar offers several built-in repeat frequencies, plus a powerful custom option for non-standard schedules.
Daily
Tasks that happen every day
Examples:
Make bed • Wipe counters • Load dishwasher
How to: Select "Daily" from the repeat dropdown
Weekly on [Day]
Tasks that happen on a specific day each week
Examples:
Vacuum (Monday) • Trash day (Thursday) • Laundry (Saturday)
How to: Select "Weekly on [current day]" - change the day if needed
Monthly on [Date]
Tasks that happen on the same date each month
Examples:
Pay rent (1st) • Deep clean (15th) • Check smoke alarms (1st)
How to: Select "Monthly on the [nth]" from dropdown
Monthly on [Day of Week]
Tasks that happen on a specific weekday each month
Examples:
Clean oven (1st Saturday) • Organize garage (last Sunday)
How to: Select "Monthly on the [first/second/third/fourth/last] [day]"
Annually
Yearly maintenance tasks
Examples:
HVAC service • Chimney cleaning • Spring cleaning
How to: Select "Annually on [date]"
Custom
Non-standard intervals
Examples:
Every 2 weeks • Every 3 days • Mon/Wed/Fri only
How to: Select "Custom" → Set interval and days
Custom Schedule Examples
The "Custom" option lets you create almost any schedule you need. Here are common household patterns:
| Schedule | How to Set Up | Example Chores |
|---|---|---|
| Every other day | Custom → Repeat every 2 days | Water plants, alternating laundry |
| Every 2 weeks (biweekly) | Custom → Repeat every 2 weeks | Deep clean bathrooms, mow lawn |
| Monday, Wednesday, Friday | Custom → Weekly → Check Mon, Wed, Fri | Vacuum high-traffic areas, clean kitchen |
| Weekdays only | Custom → Weekly → Check Mon-Fri | Pack lunches, homework check |
| Every 3 months (quarterly) | Custom → Repeat every 3 months | Deep clean carpets, rotate mattresses |
| First of every month | Monthly on the 1st | Check fire extinguisher, test alarms |
Step-by-Step: Desktop
Step-by-Step: Mobile App
Limitations to Know About
Google Calendar recurring tasks have some significant limitations for family chore management:
Shared tasks can NOT repeat
If you share a task with someone, you lose the ability to set it as recurring.
Workaround: Create the recurring task first, then share. Or use a chore app that supports both.
No end time for recurring tasks
Tasks can have a start time but not an end time, so they don't block calendar time.
Workaround: Use Events instead of Tasks if you need time blocks.
Can't stop and restart a series
If you stop a recurring task from repeating, you must create a new series to restart.
Workaround: Skip individual instances instead of stopping the whole series.
Recurring tasks can't move between lists
Once created, you can't move a recurring task to a different task list.
Workaround: Plan your list structure before creating recurring tasks.
No rotation/alternation between people
Google Tasks can't automatically alternate who does a chore week-to-week.
Workaround: Use a chore app with rotation features, like ChoreSplit.
Key Takeaways
- Use "Daily", "Weekly", or "Monthly" for standard chore schedules
- Use "Custom" for specific days (Mon/Wed/Fri) or intervals (every 2 weeks)
- Shared tasks cannot be set to repeat—a major limitation for families
- Recurring tasks can't alternate between family members automatically
- For family chore rotation and assignment, use ChoreSplit with auto-sync