Free calculator
Emergency fund calculator
See an illustrative emergency-fund range from your monthly essential spending, using the common three-to-six-months rule of thumb — how many months your current savings would cover, and any gap to the lower target. A starting picture to explore, not a target you have to hit.
A rainy-day buffer is money you can reach fast if life throws a surprise. Most people aim for 3–6 months of essential spending — let's see where yours sits.
This calculator, the result and the breakdown are free for everyone, no account needed.
Save this and pick up where you left off
Create a free Blooom account to save this result and reuse the figures you enter across your calculators — so you type less and see the numbers that fit you.
Blooom+ adds the ongoing layer: it keeps an eye on this figure and tells you when it changes, and gives you the deeper AI analysis across your whole money picture. See what Blooom+ does
How it works
- 1Enter your essential monthly outgoings — rent or mortgage, bills, food and transport. If you're not sure, enter your monthly income and it estimates essentials from it.
- 2Enter the accessible cash you already have set aside.
- 3The calculator multiplies your essentials by three and by six to picture a lower and upper target range.
- 4It shows how many months of essentials your current cash covers, and how far below the lower target you are, if at all.
Worked example
£1,500 of essential monthly outgoings, with £3,000 already set aside in accessible cash. The calculator shows the three-to-six-month target range, how many months the current cash covers, and the gap to the lower target.
Three-to-six months is a common guide, not a rule. The right size depends on your job security, dependants and outgoings — only you can judge that. It's a starting picture, not a number you have to reach.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I have in an emergency fund?
A common guide is three to six months of essential outgoings, held in accessible cash. The right amount depends on your circumstances. Enter your essentials and the calculator pictures a target range and how far along you are.
What counts as essential spending?
The costs you'd still have to meet if your income stopped — rent or mortgage, bills, food, transport and minimum debt payments. Non-essentials like eating out or subscriptions aren't counted toward the target.
Where should I keep an emergency fund?
The point is quick access, so an emergency fund is usually held in accessible cash rather than tied up or invested. This calculator sizes the fund; where you hold it depends on the access and rate that suit you.
Is three or six months better?
It depends on how steady your income is and who relies on it — less secure income or dependants can point to the higher end. The calculator shows the whole range rather than picking a single figure for you.