Emergency Fund Calculator
Work out how large an emergency fund you need from your monthly expenses.
A cushion against the unexpected
An emergency fund is money set aside to cover essential expenses if income stops or a large unexpected cost hits, and it is the foundation of financial resilience. This works out a target from your monthly expenses and the number of months you want covered, so you have a concrete figure to build toward.
Enter your monthly expenses and target months to see the amount.
How many months, and where to keep it
A common guideline is three to six months of essential expenses, leaning toward more if your income is variable or your job less secure, and less if you have very stable income and other safety nets. The figure is based on essential spending — the costs you could not avoid — not your full lifestyle, so it is smaller and more achievable than covering everything. Just as important is where it sits: an emergency fund needs to be accessible quickly and safe from loss, so it belongs in easily reached savings, not tied up in investments that might be down exactly when you need the money. Building it is often the sensible first financial priority, before investing.
Questions & answers
How big should an emergency fund be?
Commonly three to six months of essential expenses — more if your income is variable or your job less secure, less if income is very stable.
Where should I keep it?
In easily accessible, safe savings — not investments that might be down when you need the money. Quick access and safety matter more than return.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The calculation happens in your browser.