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.
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, or browse our Chinese New Year collection for gifts to pair with your red packets.