Emergency Fund Calculator

How much should you have in an emergency fund, and how long might it take to get there? Enter your monthly expenses, months of coverage, and current emergency savings. Add a monthly contribution in advanced to estimate time to your target.

Inputs

Common targets are 3–6 months (sometimes more).

Results

Target emergency fund$18,000
Shortfall$18,000

Add a monthly contribution in advanced to estimate how long it may take to reach your target.

How it works

Your target emergency fund is your monthly expenses multiplied by the number of months of coverage you want. Shortfall is the difference between your target and your current emergency savings.

If you add a monthly contribution (advanced), we estimate how long it takes to reach your target using end-of-month contributions and monthly compounding: each month the balance grows by (annual interest rate ÷ 12), then we add your contribution.

This calculator is for emergency savings targets based on expenses. If you want to set a dollar goal and solve for required monthly savings, use the Savings Goal Calculator.

FAQ

Are these calculators financial advice?
No. All tools are for educational and estimation purposes only. Always do your own research and consider consulting a financial advisor.
Do you store my data?
No. All calculations run in your browser. We do not collect or store your inputs.
How many months of expenses should I aim for?
Many people aim for 3–6 months, but it depends on job stability, dependents, income variability, and other risks. Use this as a planning estimate, not a rule.
What counts as “monthly expenses” for an emergency fund?
Typically essentials: housing, utilities, food, insurance, minimum debt payments, and transportation. You can exclude discretionary spending if you would cut it in an emergency.
How is this different from the Savings Goal Calculator?
The Savings Goal Calculator starts with a dollar goal and a time horizon and solves for the contribution you need. This calculator derives the goal from months of expenses and shows your target, shortfall, and how long it may take to reach it if you add a monthly contribution.
How is this different from the Compound Interest Calculator?
The Compound Interest Calculator projects how much you could have after a fixed number of years. This calculator is built around an emergency fund target based on expenses and estimates the time it may take to reach that target.

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Calculators are for education and estimation only. Not financial advice.