Emergency Fund Calculator
Based on essential spending, not income.
Work out Emergency Fund. Based on essential spending, not income. Free, with no account and nothing to download.
Rent or mortgage, food, utilities, transport, insurance — not discretionary spending.
Target fund
12,000
7,000 short · 2.5 months covered so far
Base the target on essential spending rather than income. What matters in a crisis is what you must pay, not what you normally earn, and the two can differ by a wide margin. Three to six months is the common guidance, but the right figure depends on how replaceable your income is. A salaried worker in a large field can hold less than a freelancer with lumpy income or a single earner supporting a household. It should sit somewhere instantly accessible. An emergency fund locked in a fixed-term account or invested in something that might be down 30% when you need it is not doing the job it exists for.
How the Emergency Fund Calculator works
Enter essential monthly spending and the months of cover you want. The target is built from what you must pay rather than what you earn, because those can differ substantially and only one of them matters in a crisis.
Also known as: how much emergency fund do i need · 3 to 6 months expenses calculator · rainy day fund calculator · savings buffer calculator
Not financial advice. This calculator is for planning and illustration, not financial advice. Real products carry fees, taxes, and terms it does not model. Confirm figures with your lender or a qualified adviser before committing.
Frequently asked questions
How big should an emergency fund be?
Three to six months of essential spending is the usual guidance. The right figure depends on how replaceable your income is — a salaried worker in a large field can hold less than a freelancer or a sole earner.
Should I base it on income or expenses?
Expenses, and essential ones. What matters when income stops is what you are obliged to pay, which is usually well below what you normally spend.
Where should it be kept?
Somewhere instantly accessible and not at risk of falling in value. A fund locked in a fixed term, or invested in something that might be down 30% exactly when you need it, is not doing its job.
Should I build this before paying off debt?
A small buffer first — often one month — then high-interest debt, then the rest. Without any buffer the next unexpected bill goes back on the card, which is how people cycle.
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