Emergency Fund Calculator
Enter your essential monthly expenses, job stability, and whether others depend on your income. We'll suggest a target range and let you explore any month's worth of coverage.
Your situation
Your results
How this is calculated
We start from a base coverage length based on your income stability (3 months for very stable income, 4 for somewhat stable, 6 for unstable/variable income), then add 2 months if others depend on your income, capped at 12 months. The suggested range runs from that base to base + 3 months. Your target dollar amount is essential monthly expenses × number of months — discretionary spending like dining out and vacations isn't included.
Why the range, not a single number
Personal finance guidance around emergency funds is a range (commonly 3–6 months) rather than one number because your right answer depends on how easily your income could stop and how much flexibility you'd have if it did. Use the slider above to see the dollar cost of any coverage length so you can pick a monthly savings target that fits your budget.