Eidi is one of the warmest traditions of Eid! Money given to children, younger siblings, nieces and nephews in celebration. It is also the one part of Eid that quietly stresses people out. Almost everyone has stood in a kitchen on Eid morning wondering whether $10 reads as generous or stingy.
There is no fixed amount traditionally. Eidi is a gift, not an obligation, and the intention behind it counts for more than the number. What follows is what Muslim families in Australia actually do.
How much Eidi is normal in Australia?
Amounts vary by family, by city and by how close the relationship is, but these ranges reflect what is common:
- Babies and toddlers (under 5): $20-$50
- Primary school age: $20-$50
- Teenagers: $50-$100
- Nieces and nephews you see often: $50-$100
- Adult siblings, parents or a spouse: usually a gift rather than cash
A practical approach: decide your total Eid budget first, then divide it, rather than deciding per child and watching the total climb. Consistency matters more than the amount! Children of a similar age will compare, and they will notice.
If money is tight, give less without apology. A smaller amount handed over warmly is remembered better than a larger one given resentfully.
Who gives Eidi, and who receives it?
Eidi traditionally flows downward: from adults to children, from elders to the younger generation. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and older cousins give. Children receive.
Beyond that, families draw the line differently. Some give to anyone unmarried. Some give to anyone still studying. Some keep giving to nieces and nephews well into adulthood. None of these is more correct than the others - follow what your family already does, and when you are marrying into a new family, ask rather than guess.
When is Eidi given?
Usually on the morning of Eid, after Eid prayer, when family gather or visit each other's homes. If you will not see someone on the day itself, giving it during the days of Eid is completely normal - Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are both celebrated over several days.
Does Eidi count as Zakat or Sadaqah?
No. Eidi is a gift to family and is separate from your religious obligations.
Zakat al-Fitr is an obligatory charitable payment made by every Muslim who is able, before the Eid al-Fitr prayer at the end of Ramadan. Zakat is the annual obligatory charity on wealth. Eidi is neither. If you intend to give charity as well, keep it separate and give it to those genuinely in need.
How should you actually hand it over?
Cash pressed into a hand is fine, but it disappears in seconds. An envelope slows the moment down, and children keep them.
Our Eid money envelopes are made for exactly this - sold in packs of four illustrated designs, sized for notes or a gift card, so money arrives as a gift rather than a transaction. If you are giving a physical present as well, our Eid gift tags come in packs of six with space for names.
For anyone you want to say more to, an Eid Mubarak card alongside the envelope does the work that cash alone cannot.
Common questions
Is Eidi obligatory in Islam?
No. Eidi is a cultural tradition of gift-giving at Eid, widely practised across Muslim communities but not a religious obligation. Zakat al-Fitr, paid before the Eid al-Fitr prayer, is the obligatory giving associated with Eid.
Can you give a gift card instead of cash?
Yes, and for older children it is often more welcome. A gift card fits an Eid money envelope the same way a note does.
Do adults give each other Eidi?
Less commonly. Adults tend to exchange gifts rather than cash, though giving Eidi to adult family members who are studying or between jobs is a quiet kindness that many families practise.
How much Eidi should I give my own children?
Whatever your budget allows, kept consistent between siblings of similar ages. Many Australian families give more to their own children than to nieces and nephews, and that is entirely normal.
Everletter designs, prints and packs Islamic greeting cards, Eid money envelopes and gift tags in Sydney, Australia, with shipping Australia-wide and internationally.