Emergency Fund Calculator
Find out how big your emergency fund should be, and how far you are from it.
Your inputs
A common guideline is 6-12 months of essential expenses, held in a liquid, easily accessible instrument like a savings account or liquid fund.
Estimates only. Figures are indicative and do not constitute financial advice.
About the Emergency Fund Calculator
"How much emergency fund do I need" is a question that becomes urgent right after a job loss, medical emergency, or major unexpected expense catches someone unprepared — this calculator answers it in advance, based on your actual monthly expenses rather than a generic guess.
The standard guideline is to keep 6-12 months of essential monthly expenses in an easily accessible, liquid instrument — a savings account, sweep-in FD, or liquid mutual fund — separate from your regular investments, so it's available immediately without having to sell equity at a bad time or take on high-interest debt during a crisis. This calculator takes your monthly essential expenses and desired coverage period, compares it against what you've already saved, and shows the exact gap you still need to build. This is one of the most foundational personal finance calculations to get right before focusing heavily on investing, since an emergency fund is what protects your other investments from being disrupted by a short-term crisis.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your monthly essential expenses.
- Choose your desired months of coverage (typically 6-12).
- Enter what you've already saved for emergencies.
- See your recommended fund size and remaining gap.
Frequently asked questions
›How many months of expenses should an emergency fund cover?
A common guideline is 6-12 months of essential expenses, with a longer runway suggested for those with variable income (freelancers, business owners) or a single income household.
›Where should I keep my emergency fund?
In a liquid, easily accessible instrument like a savings account, sweep-in fixed deposit, or liquid mutual fund — not in equity investments, since you may need to access it on short notice.
›Should my emergency fund include all expenses or just essentials?
Just essential expenses (rent/EMI, groceries, utilities, insurance) — discretionary spending like entertainment or dining out is usually excluded since it can be cut during an actual emergency.
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Read the full guide
How Big Should Your Emergency Fund Actually Be?