Emergency Fund Sizer
Size a starter, baseline, and resilient cash reserve from your essential costs and household risks.
Free · No sign-up · Your inputs stay in your browser
Your numbers
Describe your safety net
Your target range
Build in stages
Stage 1 · Starter buffer
$2,000
A first shock absorber based on $1,000 or your largest deductible.
Stage 2 · Baseline (4.5 months)
$15,300
$12,800 left from your current balance.
Stage 3 · Resilient reserve
$22,100
Extra room for a longer disruption or overlapping costs.
About this tool
Method, assumptions, practical next steps, and limits.
Size the fund from risk, not a slogan
Three to six months is a starting range, not a diagnosis. A two-income household in stable work has a different cash risk from a sole earner with variable income and dependents.
The staged targets
The starter buffer is the larger of $1,000 or one meaningful deductible. The baseline uses essential monthly costs and a risk-adjusted number of months. The resilient target adds room for dependents and overlapping deductibles.
What this fund is for
Use emergency savings for unexpected, necessary expenses or a loss of income. Predictable annual bills belong in sinking funds, even when they are inconvenient.
