How much is zakat al-fitr and when do I pay it?

The amount

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made zakat al-fitr one sa' of dates or barley for every Muslim, young or old (Sahih al-Bukhari 1503). A sa' is a volume measure equal to four double handfuls, roughly 2.5 to 3 kg depending on the food. Multiply it by every person you pay for. A family of five pays for five people.

Food or cash?

• Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali: pay in food, the local staple like rice, wheat, dates or flour.
• Hanafi: paying the cash value is allowed, and often better if cash helps the poor more.

In Europe and the USA, most mosques and charities collect cash and either buy food packages or pass the money on. Each year they announce a fixed amount per person based on local food prices. If you follow a school that requires food, you can ask a charity that buys and distributes food on your behalf.

The deadline

It must be paid before the Eid prayer. Ibn Abbas reported that if it's paid before the prayer it's accepted as zakat, and if paid after, it's just ordinary charity (Sunan Abi Dawud 1609). The Companions used to give it a day or two before Eid (Sahih al-Bukhari 1511). Schools differ on how early you can pay:

• Maliki and Hanbali: one or two days before Eid.
• Shafi'i: any time from the start of Ramadan.
• Hanafi: even earlier, though in Ramadan is common.

Giving through a charity a week or so before Eid gives them time to deliver it before the prayer.

If you're late

If you missed the deadline, pay it as soon as possible. It's still owed, though the extra reward of on-time zakat al-fitr is lost, so seek forgiveness if it was due to carelessness. See What is zakat al-fitr?