Emergency Fund Calculator
How much you should keep aside, and how long until you're covered.
✓ updated June 2026
Results are estimates for information only, not financial advice. See how we build and verify our calculators.
An emergency fund is 3–12 months of essential expenses in instantly-accessible savings — the buffer that keeps a job loss or medical bill from becoming debt. Enter your essential monthly spending, pick a cover level, and see your target, how much of it you already have, and how many months of saving will close the gap.
How to use the Emergency Fund Calculator
- Enter your essential monthly expenses (rent, food, utilities, EMIs, insurance).
- Choose months of cover — 6 months is the standard recommendation.
- Enter your current emergency savings and monthly saving capacity.
- Read your target, your funded percentage and your time to goal.
Frequently asked questions
How many months should my emergency fund cover?
6 months of essential expenses is the common target. Use 3 months if you have very stable income and low obligations; 9–12 if you're self-employed, single-income or in a volatile industry.
Where should I keep the emergency fund?
Somewhere safe and instantly accessible — a high-yield savings account or sweep-in FD. Not equities: the fund's job is availability in a crisis, not returns.
Do I count only essential expenses?
Yes — what you'd actually spend in a tight month (housing, food, utilities, insurance, loan payments), not your full lifestyle spending. That keeps the target honest and reachable.