Emergency fund calculator
Work out your cash buffer and how long it could take to build.
Example plan · try your own numbers
Your projected balance
Enter your numbers to see the possibilities.
Progress & timeframe
Save, export & assumptions
Estimates only. Assumes unchanged rates, no withdrawals, tax or fees. Monthly approximation; your bank’s daily calculation and product rules may differ. Calculation details →
See the numbers behind the picture
How it works & common questions
A buffer for the things you can’t plan.
An emergency fund is money you can access when an urgent expense or interruption to income turns up. The right size depends on your essential expenses, income stability and other support available to you.
How this calculator works
We multiply your essential monthly expenses by your chosen number of months, subtract existing dedicated savings and divide the gap by your monthly contribution. The estimate rounds the saving time up to a whole month and excludes interest.
View formulas and limitations →
Further reading: ASIC’s Moneysmart ↗
A few good questions.
Which expenses should I include?
Start with housing, basic groceries, utilities, transport, insurance and minimum debt repayments. Convert annual bills to a monthly amount. Use your own records rather than a generic household average.
Is three months the right target for everyone?
No. Three months is a starting example, not a personal recommendation. Casual or variable income, dependants and a single-income household may change the buffer you choose.
What if I cannot contribute every month?
Set a realistic average and revisit it. At zero contributions, the tool shows the gap without inventing a completion date. Building any amount of buffer can still be useful.