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Hongbao (Red Envelope) Calculator 🧧
How much should you put in the red envelope? Choose the relationship and occasion and get lucky amounts. Weddings get even amounts, and nothing contains a 4.
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Red envelope etiquette
- Never include a 4: 40, 400 and 444 all sound like death.
- Weddings: even amounts (好事成双, “good things come in pairs”). Many guests aim to at least cover their own banquet seat.
- Funerals are the exception: a white envelope with an odd amount (for example 101).
- Use new, crisp notes. Give and receive with both hands, and don't open the envelope in front of the giver.
- Married adults give to unmarried juniors at Chinese New Year. Bosses give to staff.
Typical amounts (Chinese New Year)
| Recipient | Typical | Generous |
|---|---|---|
| Friend's child | 68 – 88 | 128 – 168 |
| Own child / close niece | 88 – 168 | 288+ |
| Parents | 888 | 1,688 – 2,888 |
| Staff | 88 – 168 | 288+ |
Values are unit-neutral. Scale them to local norms (a HK$ lai see is usually smaller than an RMB hongbao).
FAQ
How much should I give at a Chinese wedding?
Enough to cover your seat at the banquet, in an even amount with lucky digits, such as 388, 688 or 888. Close family often gives 1,688 or more.
Can I send a digital hongbao?
Yes. WeChat and Alipay red packets are now standard. The same number rules apply: 66.66, 88.88 and 168 are popular amounts.