The short answer for 2026: about $5.84 per tooth — a little more for a first tooth, and it varies by where you live.
The going rate, at a glance (2026):
National average: $5.84 per tooth · First tooth: $7.17 · By region: $5.27–$6.45.
If there's a tooth under the pillow tonight and you just want a number, that's it — you can stop here. If you'd like the number tailored to your region and whether it's a first tooth, the free calculator does it in five seconds:
🧮 Tooth Fairy Rate Calculator Get your exact going rate — free, no signup →These figures are from the 2026 Delta Dental Original Tooth Fairy Poll — the 28th annual edition of the most widely cited survey on the subject. Importantly, they describe what parents report leaving, not what anyone should leave. Think of it as a benchmark that takes the guesswork out of a 10pm decision, not a bill.
The first lost tooth is a milestone, and the data shows parents treat it that way: about 38% deliberately leave extra, pushing the national first-tooth figure to roughly $7.17. Leaning into that is lovely — a first tooth only happens once. More on the first tooth →
It does, modestly. The Northeast runs highest (~$6.45) and the Midwest lowest (~$5.27), with the West and South in the middle. See the full regional breakdown →
The amount matters less than what happens next. LumiJar turns tonight's coins into money habits — and remembers the fairy never forgets. Free to start.
LumiJarA money-and-healthy-teeth app for growing families, built by a periodontist and UCLA educator.