How Much to Give for First Communion

How Much to Give for First Communion

You've been invited to a child's First Communion, and now you're stuck on the one question no invitation ever answers: how much to give. It's a milestone that matters to the family, so you want to get the amount right — generous enough to mean something, without overthinking it or overspending.

The good news is there's a comfortable, well-understood range for a first communion gift amount in Australia, and it mostly comes down to how close you are to the child. Money is a completely normal and welcome gift here, especially when families are collecting contributions through a religious milestone wishing well rather than a pile of physical presents.

This guide walks you through typical amounts by relationship, the etiquette around giving cash, and a few Australian-specific factors that nudge the number up or down. No judgement, no stuffiness — just clear numbers and the reasoning behind them.

Last updated: July 2026.

Key takeaways

• A typical first communion gift amount in Australia sits between $30 and $150, depending on your relationship to the child.
• Grandparents and godparents usually give the most — commonly $100 to $200 — while aunts, uncles and family friends land around $30 to $80.
• A first holy communion gift of money is completely acceptable and often preferred by parents saving for the child's future.
• You're never obliged to match a wedding-sized gift — communions are more modest by tradition, and thought matters more than the total.
• Group gifting is common among relatives who prefer to pool one meaningful contribution instead of several small ones.

In this guide

• First communion gift amount at a glance
• What a First Communion is and why money works
• How much to give based on your relationship
• Communion money gift etiquette
• Regional and family factors that shift the amount
• Giving a communion money gift the modern way
• Frequently asked questions
• Final tips

First communion gift amount at a glance

The table below is the quickest answer to how much to give. These ranges reflect what's common for a monetary First Communion gift in Australia, sorted by how closely you're related to the child.

Methodology note: these ranges reflect real gifting patterns seen across PocketWell wishing wells, alongside widely recognised Australian gift-etiquette norms for religious milestones. Across PocketWell, the average monetary gift has sat in roughly the $130 to $175 range in recent months, though religious milestone gifts like communions typically sit at the lower, more modest end than weddings — which is exactly what you'd expect for a child's celebration.

What a First Communion is and why money works

A First Communion (or First Holy Communion) is the Catholic sacrament where a child, usually around seven or eight, receives the Eucharist for the first time. It's one of the key religious milestones in a young Catholic's life, celebrated with a church ceremony followed by a family lunch or party. You can read more about the sacrament through the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

Giving money for a First Communion is both traditional and practical. Many families put communion cash toward the child's education, a savings account, or a keepsake the child will appreciate later — so a communion money gift rarely feels impersonal when it's paired with a card and a warm message.

If you'd prefer to give something physical alongside the cash, keepsakes like a personalised rosary, a children's Bible, jewellery with religious symbolism, or an engraved keepsake box are all popular. Plenty of guests do both: a small keepsake plus a modest amount of money.

Not sure whether to give cash or a gift? A card with a thoughtful message and a modest amount of money is always a safe, welcome choice.

How much to give based on your relationship

Your relationship to the child is the single biggest factor in deciding the amount. Here's how the tiers usually break down — what event planners call gift-amount norms by relationship tier, meaning the closer the bond, the higher the customary gift.

Grandparents typically give the most, often $100 to $200, and sometimes more if they're helping start a savings fund. As the child's grandparents, a generous gift is expected and appreciated.

Godparents hold a special religious role in a First Communion, so a godparent gift usually mirrors a grandparent's — commonly $100 to $200, frequently paired with a religious keepsake like a rosary or a cross.

Aunts, uncles and close family generally give $50 to $100. If you're a very involved aunt or uncle, leaning toward the top of that range is a lovely gesture.

Family friends and more distant relatives usually give $20 to $80. A close friend of the family might give $50, while a work colleague or acquaintance invited to the party might give $20 to $40.

This same relationship-tier logic applies to other religious milestones too — the pattern is similar to what guests weigh up for how much to give at a christening, where closeness to the family drives the amount.

Communion money gift etiquette

Money is a genuinely welcome gift at a First Communion, and giving cash is not seen as thoughtless or lazy — this is the heart of religious milestone gift etiquette in Australia. What matters is presentation and sincerity, not the format.

A few simple etiquette points keep you on the right side of thoughtful:

• Always include a card. A handwritten message makes even a small amount feel personal. Mention the child by name and the significance of the day.
• Give what's comfortable for you. Never stretch your budget to impress. A heartfelt $30 gift from someone on a tight budget is worth as much as $150 from someone who can spare it.
• Match the tone to the celebration. A big family party may carry a slightly higher expectation than an intimate lunch, but even then, communion gifts stay modest by tradition.
• Consider the family's wishes. If the parents mention they're saving for the child's future or collecting via a digital wishing well, a monetary gift is clearly the preferred route.

For broader context on how much guests give across Australian celebrations, gift-giving remains a steady part of household spending, as reflected in Australian Bureau of Statistics household expenditure data — but a communion gift should always fit your own budget first.

Regional and family factors that shift the amount

The base ranges hold across the country, but a few things nudge the number. Being aware of them helps you land on an amount that feels right rather than guessed.

City and cost of living. Guests in Sydney and Melbourne sometimes give a little more than the national average, simply because everyday costs run higher there. In Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and Canberra, the mid-range amounts in the table above are a comfortable fit.

Cultural and family traditions. Some families place strong emphasis on religious milestones and give more generously; others keep First Communion low-key. When in doubt, ask a relative what's customary in that particular family.

Whether you're attending. If you're invited but can't make it, a smaller monetary gift with a warm card is a lovely gesture and entirely optional — the same courtesy applies as with any milestone you can't attend in person.

Group gifting. Relatives often prefer to pool their money into one larger, more meaningful gift — what's known as group-gift pooling. Several aunts, uncles and cousins might combine $30 each into a single contribution toward the child's savings, which is easy to coordinate through an online group gift collection.

Giving a communion money gift the modern way

More Australian families are skipping envelopes altogether and setting up a digital wishing well for religious milestones. Instead of handing over cash on the day, guests give securely from their phone using Apple Pay, Google Pay or a card, and leave a message for the child.

For you as a guest, this is genuinely convenient — no scrambling for an ATM, no worrying about cash going astray at a busy party. You give the amount you've chosen, add your note, and you're done.

It's worth knowing how the money side works so there are no surprises. On PocketWell, hosting is free for the family — they receive 100% of your gift. Guests cover a small platform fee (3.5% from January 2026) plus standard payment processing, shown clearly before you pay. The family's payouts arrive weekly, sent on Tuesdays via Stripe. You can read the full breakdown on the fees and payouts FAQ.

Giving digitally doesn't change the amount you'd give — a $50 communion gift is still $50 whether it's in an envelope or sent online. The etiquette and the ranges stay exactly the same.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How much money do you give for a First Communion in Australia?

A: A typical first communion gift amount in Australia ranges from $30 to $150, depending on how close you are to the child. Grandparents and godparents usually give the most — often $100 to $200 — while aunts, uncles and family friends commonly give $30 to $80. There's no fixed rule, so give what fits your budget and your relationship comfortably. A modest amount paired with a heartfelt card is always well received, and communion gifts are traditionally more modest than wedding or milestone-birthday gifts.

Q: Is it appropriate to give money for a First Holy Communion?

A: Yes, giving money for a First Holy Communion is completely appropriate and often preferred. Many parents put communion cash toward the child's education or savings, so a monetary gift is practical as well as generous. To make it feel personal, include a card with a warm message and, if you like, pair it with a small religious keepsake such as a rosary or children's Bible. If the family is collecting contributions through a religious milestone wishing well, money is clearly the gift they're hoping for.

Q: How much should a godparent give for First Communion?

A: A godparent usually gives one of the more generous gifts — commonly $100 to $200 — reflecting their special religious role in the child's life. Many godparents also add a meaningful keepsake like an engraved cross, a rosary or jewellery with religious significance. If your budget is tighter, don't stress: your presence and ongoing role matter far more than the dollar figure, and a smaller amount with a heartfelt message is still a lovely gift.

Q: How much do grandparents give for a First Communion?

A: Grandparents typically give $100 to $200, and sometimes more if they're contributing to a savings account or education fund for the grandchild. As one of the closest relationships to the child, a generous gift is expected and warmly appreciated. Some grandparents prefer to give a keepsake plus a smaller amount of money, which works beautifully too.

Q: Do you give a gift if you can't attend the First Communion?

A: Giving a gift when you can't attend is a thoughtful gesture but entirely optional. A smaller monetary gift — say $20 to $50 — with a warm card acknowledging the milestone is perfectly appropriate. If the family has set up a digital wishing well, you can send your gift and message online even from interstate, which is one of the easiest ways to take part when you can't be there in person.

Q: Is cash or a gift better for a First Communion?

A: Both are fine, and many guests give a bit of both — a small keepsake alongside a modest amount of money. Cash is practical because parents can direct it toward the child's future, while a religious keepsake offers something lasting to remember the day. If you're unsure, a card with money is the safest, most flexible choice. Some families make it easy by collecting monetary gifts online, in which case cash is the clear preference.

Q: How much should a coworker or acquaintance give for a First Communion?

A: If you're invited as a work colleague, family friend or acquaintance, $20 to $40 is a comfortable and appropriate amount. You're not expected to match what close family gives, and a modest gift with a friendly card is genuinely appreciated. If several colleagues are invited, pooling into one group gift is a great option that lets everyone contribute without any one person overspending.

Final tips

The right first communion gift amount is simply the one that fits your relationship to the child and your own budget — somewhere between $30 and $200 for nearly everyone. Add a card, keep the tone warm, and you'll have given a gift the family remembers.

Don't overthink the number. Communions are modest, joyful family occasions, and your presence and good wishes carry as much weight as the dollar figure. When in doubt, the midpoints in the table above are a safe, generous landing spot.

Been asked to help collect the gifts, or planning a milestone of your own? Set up a free wishing well with PocketWell — it's free for hosts, takes minutes, and guests can give a communion money gift straight from their phone with a message attached.