Tooth fairy spending in the U.S. is skyrocketing and shows no signs of slowing down, according to a new survey released by Visa.
The survey found that children in the U.S. are receiving an average of $3.70 per lost tooth this year, an increase of 23% more than the $3.00 per tooth left in 2012 and up 42% from the $2.60 left in 2011. Based on this rate of return, a child would net a substantive $74 for a full set of 20 baby teeth.
To help parents determine the appropriate amount their children should receive for lost teeth, Visa has created a free Tooth Fairy Calculator available as an app from the Apple App Store and on Facebook.
Here are some additional findings from the survey:
The tooth fairy was particularly generous to kids in the Northeast, leaving an average of $4.10 per tooth. Kids in the West and South trailed with an average of $3.70 and $3.60, respectively. Midwestern children found the least under their pillows with an average of $3.30 per tooth.
10% of kids will find more than $5 per tooth under their pillow -- more than three times as many as in 2011.
Close to 33% of respondents reported that the tooth fairy left a dollar; 36% reported finding a dollar or less.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, 6% said that the tooth fairy left $20 or more including 2% who reported that an extremely generous tooth fairy gave $50.
Nationwide the tooth fairy left the most in households with young parents. The 18-24 age group reported that she left an average of almost $5 per tooth.
The tooth fairy will be visiting close to 90% of U.S. households with children -- up from 84% last year.
The survey results are based on 3,000 telephone interviews conducted nationally from July 12 to July 28, 2013, in cooperation with GfK Roper's Omnibus Service OmniTel. The margin of error is ± 3 percentage points.
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