How much do I need to invest in ASX shares for $100 in weekly passive income?

Dividend shares can pay you passive income. Here's how much you have to invest.

| More on:
A man thinks very carefully about his money and investments.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Key points

  • Most investors would know that ASX shares pay dividends
  • In fact, almost all ASX shares are dividend payers
  • But how much would you need to invest to get $100 a week in passive income?

It's a well-known fact that many, if not most, ASX shares pay their investors dividends on a regular basis. Name a prominent blue-chip ASX share, and chances are they will be giving their investors passive income in dividend form.

That's certainly the case for everything from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) to JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).

But how much would you need to gain yourself a meaningful stream of secondary, passive income? Say $100 per week?

Well, let's answer that right now.

The answer is somewhat complicated because every ASX share pays out a different dividend and thus offers a different dividend yield. Most ASX shares pay bi-annual dividends, so investors get a paycheque every six months. But some do quarterly, or even monthly, dividends.

So $100 per week works out to be $5,200 per year.

Thus, one would need $100,000 in a dividend-paying share with a 5.2% yield to gain $100 a week in dividend income.

But let's use some real-life examples. Sure, you could start with CBA. Commonwealth Bank shares currently have a dividend yield of 4.37%. This means you would need to have around $119,000 invested to get $100 per week in income.

Or else JB Hi-Fi. It's currently boasting a dividend yield of 8.36%, meaning you would only need just over $62,000 for that same level of income.

But we'll use an ASX-wide exchange-traded fund (ETF) for our analysis, since this gives a more accurate representation of what income the entire share market produces for investors.

How much do you have to invest in ASX shares for $100 a week in passive income?

So over the past 12 months, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) has doled out $6.36 in dividend distributions per share. This index fund covers every share on the ASX 300 Index (all 300 of them), so this dividend payment is a reflection of the income that these 300 shares have generated over the past year.

On current pricing, this trailing dividend record gives this ETF a distribution yield of 7.22%. So we would have needed around $72,000 invested to get our $100 per week.

But dividends from ASX shares change all the time. To illustrate, this ETF only paid out $3.42 in dividend distributions per unit over 2021. That would work out to a yield of almost half of what we had in 2022 – 3.88%.

Thus, if that was our yield, we would need around $130,000 invested to get the same dividend cash flow.

So it's hard to pinpoint an exact number to get a consistent yield of $100 per week from ASX dividend shares. But one thing is certain: if you choose quality shares, your income will go up over the long term.

Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

Scott just revealed what he believes could be the 'five best ASX stocks' for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now...

See The 5 Stocks *Returns as of 30 April 2025

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Telstra Group and Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Jb Hi-Fi. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on Share Market News

A man in a suit smiles at the yellow piggy bank he holds in his hand.
Bank Shares

CBA shares hit a new $176 record high. Too late to buy?

What can stop this bank now?

Read more »

A young man clasps his hand to his head with his eyes closed and a pained expression on his face as he clasps a laptop computer in front of him, seemingly learning of bad news or a poor investment.
Share Fallers

Why James Hardie, Mayne Pharma, Nufarm, and Resimac shares are falling today

These shares are having a tough time on hump day. But why?

Read more »

Person pointing at an increasing blue graph which represents a rising share price.
Share Gainers

Why Adriatic Metals, Catapult, Seek, and TechnologyOne shares are racing higher today

These shares are having a good time on hump day. But why?

Read more »

a group of business people sit dejectedly around a table, each expressing desolation, sadness and disappointment by holding their head in their hands, casting their gazes down and looking very glum.
Mergers & Acquisitions

This ASX 300 share is sinking 33% on takeover collapse fears

Is this takeover dead? Let's find out what is happening.

Read more »

Mum playing with her baby boy holding him on her tummy as she lays down while smiling about the Bubs share price going up today
Broker Notes

Macquarie tips 80% upside for this ASX All Ords healthcare stock

This out of favour stock could be primed for a rebound.

Read more »

A man and woman sit next to each other looking at each other and feeling excited and surprised after reading good news about their shares on a laptop.
Opinions

Where I'd invest in ASX shares after the RBA interest rate cut

These stocks look really attractive to me. Here’s why…

Read more »

A woman presenting company news to investors looks back at the camera and smiles.
Share Market News

5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

A good session is expected for Aussie investors on hump day.

Read more »

A woman's hand draws a stylised 'Top Ten' on a projected surface.
Share Gainers

Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

ASX shares returned to positive territory this Tuesday.

Read more »