How Much Lai See Should You Give in Hong Kong?
, by Divya Chatani de Tourani, 3 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. For the full version, including key CNY dates and unwritten rules, see our Complete Guide to Lai See Packets and Etiquette in Hong Kong.
How much lai see should you give, 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 lai see, and who receives it?
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.
Which customs about lai see amounts should you know?
- 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
What can you give alongside a red packet?
If you are visiting a host rather than handing an envelope to staff, a red packet pairs nicely with a small gift for the table. From our Chinese New Year collection, the Lina Teapot is a hand-painted porcelain teapot with a red dragon design, and the Lina Tray is a matching dragon-design acrylic tray.
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.
What are the lai see etiquette rules people forget?
Put a single crisp bill in each packet and never coins. Don't open a packet in front of the giver or check the amount in front of the recipient, since it can look greedy. Lai see is given from the first day of the Lunar New Year through the 15th day, so avoid handing it over outside that window. Hand it over the first time you see the person during the holiday period.
Sources: Lai see etiquette, Tatler Asia; The ultimate lai see guide, Time Out Hong Kong.
Where do you get new notes for lai see?
For Lunar New Year 2026, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced that new and good-as-new notes could be exchanged from 3 to 16 February at branches of the three note-issuing banks (HSBC, Standard Chartered Hong Kong and Bank of China Hong Kong), with extended opening hours and online booking. It also encouraged sending lai see digitally through the Faster Payment System or e-wallets. Dates change with Lunar New Year, so check the HKMA announcement each year.
Source: Lai-see services announced, GovHK News, 13 January 2026.