Emergency fund calculator

How it works

1. 01 — We start from a three-month baseline and add months for variable income, dependents and single-earner households, capped at twelve.
2. 02 — Your target is that many months of essentials:target = monthly essential spending × recommended months
3. 03 — Coverage is your current cash divided by monthly essentials, and the time to target is the remaining gap divided by what you can save each month.

Questions people ask

How many months of expenses should an emergency fund cover?

Three months is the usual floor. Push towards six to twelve if your income is variable, if you are the only earner, or if other people depend on you. This calculator adjusts the recommendation for exactly those factors.

Should the fund be based on income or expenses?

Essential expenses. In an emergency you cut the extras, so what you need to replace is rent, food, utilities, transport, insurance and minimum debt payments — not your full salary.

Where should we keep it?

In an instant-access savings account, separate from day-to-day money so it is not spent by accident, and not invested — you need it to be there on the worst possible day.

Should couples keep one fund or two?

One shared fund sized on shared essentials is simpler and cheaper to build. Many couples add a smaller personal buffer each so neither has to ask permission for a small emergency.

Emergency fund or pay off debt first?

Build a small starter buffer of about one month first so the next surprise does not add new debt, then attack high-interest debt, then finish the full fund.

Does the calculator store my numbers?

No. It runs entirely in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere or saved.