Emergency Fund Calculator

Estimate a household emergency savings target from your essential expenses, chosen months of coverage and planned savings pace.

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  • Runs in your browser
  • Updated

Essential monthly expenses

Target cushion & savings pace

Emergency fund target
$17,400

Monthly essentials$2,900
Covered right now1.2 mos
Still to save$13,900

Safety net progress

Runway milestones

StageTargetStatus / ETA

Model: essential monthly expenses × selected coverage months; fixed APY; month-end savings; no withdrawals, tax, fees or inflation. Presets are planning examples. Estimates stop at 50 years. Currency selection changes labels, not exchange rates.

Official sources: CFPB: building an emergency fund · CFPB: annual percentage yield calculation

Size an emergency savings target

Add the essential monthly bills your household would still pay during an interruption to income. Multiply that total by your chosen coverage period. The gap subtracts savings already set aside; current coverage divides those savings by monthly essentials. Coverage presets are examples to compare, rather than rules for particular households.

Use monthly savings and an assumed APY to estimate when the target and smaller milestones could be reached. Interest is applied before each month-end deposit, with no withdrawals. Revisit the plan when your expenses or income change. Keep emergency savings safe and accessible; account protection, withdrawal access and transfer timing depend on the provider and your country.

Frequently asked questions

How many months should I choose?

Choose coverage for your own income stability, dependants, insurance and likely unexpected costs. The preset months are planning examples, not personalized recommendations.

What expenses belong in the target?

Include essential housing, utilities, food, transport, insurance, care and required debt payments. Adjust your figures for the expenses you would actually need during an emergency.

How is the completion date estimated?

The model applies an equivalent monthly yield from your APY and adds savings at each month-end. It assumes no withdrawals and stops estimates at 50 years.