Emergency Fund Calculator 🛟
Find your safety-net target.
Your situation
How to use this calculator
Enter your truly essential monthly expenses (not nice-to-haves).
Pick your number of dependents.
Pick how stable your income is.
Read the target — and a 3 / 6 / 12 month comparison.
Calculation method
Data source: Industry rule of thumb (3–6 months) per CFPB; up to 12 months for variable income per most CFP guidance.
Last data update: May 24, 2026
Worked examples
$3,000/mo · 0 deps · stable
$5,000/mo · 2 deps · stable
$4,000/mo · 1 dep · risky
Frequently asked questions
A high-yield savings account. Easy to access, FDIC-insured, and earns a little interest while it waits.
No. It needs to be available the day you need it — investing it risks selling at a loss in a crisis.
Build at least 1 month of essentials first, then attack high-interest debt, then finish the fund.
Cash equivalents (savings, money market). Anything you can withdraw in 1–2 business days without penalty or market risk.