How Much Lai See Should You Give in Hong Kong?
, by Divya Chatani de Tourani, 1 min reading time
Lai see amounts follow relationship-based norms rather than a fixed rule — here's a general guide by relationship, plus the amount-related customs (even numbers, avoiding 4) worth knowing.
There's no single fixed amount for lai see (利是) — the red packets given during Chinese New Year — but there are widely followed norms based on your relationship to the recipient. Here's a general guide.
Typical amounts by relationship
- Service staff, building security, cleaners — around HK$20 to HK$100 per packet
- Children of friends or relatives — around HK$20 to HK$100, depending on how close you are
- Junior colleagues or staff — around HK$50 to HK$200
- Domestic helpers — typically higher, often HK$500 to HK$1,000, reflecting a full year's work
- Immediate family — usually starts around HK$100 and can go much higher depending on the family
These are general norms, not fixed rules — the actual amount within each range usually comes down to how close the relationship is.
Who gives, and who receives
The core rule: married individuals and elders give lai see to unmarried people and children, moving from "old to young" and "senior to junior." If you're unmarried, you're generally a recipient, not a giver — with the exception of small tokens to service staff, which anyone can give regardless of marital status. As HISTORY notes, the modern custom of giving money in red envelopes to children dates back to the early 20th century, and was originally thought to ward off evil spirits.
A few amount-related customs worth knowing
- Even numbers are considered luckier than odd numbers — HK$20, HK$50, HK$100 rather than HK$15 or HK$99
- Avoid amounts that include the number 4, since it sounds like the word for "death" in Cantonese (so HK$40 or HK$400 would be avoided, even though the total is otherwise a round, even number)
- New, crisp banknotes are traditionally preferred over used bills
- Lai see should be given and received with both hands
For the full picture — including exact 2026 dates and who to prioritize giving to first — see our complete Lai See Etiquette guide, our Hong Kong Gifting Guide, or browse our Chinese New Year collection for gifts to pair with your red packets.