Emergency Fund Calculator
Work out your emergency fund target and how long it will take to build
How this calculator works
An emergency fund lets you absorb a job loss or medical bill without borrowing at high interest rates or selling investments at a loss. The common rule of thumb is 3 to 6 months of essential expenses, kept somewhere you can withdraw at any time.
Base the target on what you must spend each month (housing, food, utilities, insurance, minimum debt payments), not on your income. Enter what you have saved and what you can add each month, and the calculator shows the gap and the time needed, including interest.
The 3 to 6 month figure is a widely used guideline, not an official standard. Self-employed people or single-income households may want more.