How big should my emergency fund be — and how long until I get there? Add up your monthly essential expenses, pick how many months of cover you want, and this calculator shows the target for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months and how long your monthly contributions will take to get you there.
Work out your emergency fund
Monthly essential expenses
Fill in the items below and they are added up for you — or, if you already know your total, enter it in the “Total monthly essentials” field and that number is used instead.
Your fund
Your numbers never leave your browser.
How to use this calculator
List the essentials you would still have to pay if your income stopped — housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, phone and internet, minimum debt payments and any other essentials. The calculator adds them up. If you already know your monthly essentials total, enter it in the “Total monthly essentials” field instead and that number is used. Then choose 3, 6, 9 or 12 months of cover, enter what you have saved so far and what you can contribute each month, and press “How much do I need?”
Frequently asked questions
How many months should my emergency fund cover?
Three months is a common starter goal, six months is a widely used rule of thumb, and nine to twelve months suits a single income, self-employment or an irregular paycheque. This calculator shows all four targets so you can compare them.
What counts as an essential expense?
Only what you must pay to keep a roof over your head, keep the lights on and keep working: housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, phone and internet, and minimum debt payments. Dining out, streaming and holidays are not essentials for this calculation.
Where should I keep my emergency fund?
In a separate high-interest savings account you can reach quickly, so it is not mixed up with everyday spending. It should not be invested in anything that can fall in value just when you need it.
What if I already have enough saved?
The calculator tells you your fund is already funded for the months of cover you chose, with no negative numbers and no months to wait. You can then try a longer cover period to see the next goal.
What happens if I contribute $0 a month?
At a 0% interest rate, the calculator says plainly that you will not reach your target at $0 a month. With interest above 0%, your balance still grows, and the calculator works out how long interest alone would take.
Is the projected date a promise?
No. It is the month and year you would reach your target if your expenses, contribution and interest rate stay exactly as entered. Change any of them and the date moves.
Methodology and sources
Methodology: Your monthly essentials are either the sum of the itemized essential expenses or the total you enter directly, if you enter one. Each target is your monthly essentials multiplied by 3, 6, 9 or 12. The amount still needed is the chosen target minus your current savings, never below $0. Months to reach the target are found by stepping month by month: each month your balance earns interest at the annual rate divided by 12, then your monthly contribution is added at the end of the month, until the balance reaches the target. The projected date is that many months after today.
Methodology verified November 11, 2026.
How we keep this calculator honest: The targets and the months to reach them are checked against hand-calculated examples, including $3,850 a month of essentials, $5,000 already saved and $400 a month — 46 months to a 6-month target at 0% interest, and 42 months at 3%.
Your numbers never leave your browser. This calculator runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to us or stored.
General information only — not financial advice.
Related tools
Check what you can afford to set aside with the Budget Calculator, see how interest builds your savings with the Compound Interest Calculator, and clear the debts that are eating your essentials with the Debt Payoff Calculator.