Where should I keep my emergency fund?

Prefer liquid or overnight mutual funds and a savings buffer - not equity SIPs or locked FDs for the core emergency amount.

How long should building an emergency fund take?

Aim for 6–12 months by setting aside a fixed amount every month. The calculator shows the timeline for what you can add.

Emergency Fund Calculator India

An emergency fund calculator shows how much cash to keep for job loss, medical bills or urgent travel, and how long building it takes. Enter your must-pay monthly expenses, your life stage, your current emergency savings and what you can add each month.

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How the Emergency Fund Calculator India works

The target is your must-pay monthly expenses multiplied by a number of months that depends on your life stage. More dependants mean a longer cushion.

The calculator uses 3 months if single, 6 if married, 9 with children and 12 if you are over 50.

It subtracts what you have already saved and divides the gap by your monthly saving to show how many months it will take to close.

Formula

Target = monthly must-pay expenses × months for your life stage

Months = 3 (single), 6 (married), 9 (with children), 12 (50+)
Months to close the gap = (target − current fund) ÷ monthly saving

Worked example: Married couple with ₹60,000 of must-pay expenses a month

Target = ₹60,000 × 6 months = ₹3,60,000.
With ₹2,00,000 already saved, the gap is ₹1,60,000.
Adding ₹15,000 a month closes it in 11 months.

Emergency fund target by life stage
Life stage	₹30,000 a month	₹60,000 a month	₹1,00,000 a month
Single (3 months)	₹90,000	₹1.8 lakh	₹3 lakh
Married, no children (6 months)	₹1.8 lakh	₹3.6 lakh	₹6 lakh
Married with children (9 months)	₹2.7 lakh	₹5.4 lakh	₹9 lakh
Pre-retirement, 50+ (12 months)	₹3.6 lakh	₹7.2 lakh	₹12 lakh

Illustrative, assuming a constant rate. Actual returns and rates vary.

Tips

Count only must-pay costs: rent or EMIs, groceries, utilities, school fees and insurance premiums.
Move up a level if your income is irregular or you are the only earner.
Refill the fund after every withdrawal, and review your monthly number at least once a year.
Health insurance and an emergency fund work together; one does not replace the other.

Want to know if your whole plan is on track? Get your free money score in about two minutes. No PAN, no Aadhaar.

About the Emergency Fund Calculator India

Free emergency fund calculator India. Find your target corpus by life stage and monthly expenses. Know how much safety buffer to keep liquid.

Frequently asked questions

How much emergency fund do I need in India?: The calculator uses 3 months of expenses if single, 6 if married, 9 with children and 12 if you are over 50. Add more if your income is irregular.
Where should I keep my emergency fund?: Prefer liquid or overnight mutual funds and a savings buffer - not equity SIPs or locked FDs for the core emergency amount.
How long should building an emergency fund take?: Aim for 6–12 months by setting aside a fixed amount every month. The calculator shows the timeline for what you can add.

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