50/30/20 Budget Calculator
Apply the 50/30/20 rule to your take-home pay and compare it with what you actually spend on needs, wants and savings.
Your numbers
- Needs target (50%)
- $2,750
- Wants target (30%)
- $1,650
- Your actual savings
- $800
- Your savings rate
- 14.55%
- Needs$2,750
- Wants$1,650
- Savings & debt$1,100
- Actual
- Target
How the 50/30/20 budget calculator works
Needs get 50% of after-tax income, wants 30% and savings or debt payoff 20%. Enter actual spending to see how far each category is from the target.
Example
Using the default inputs (Monthly take-home pay: $5,500; Actual needs spending: $3,200; Actual wants spending: $1,500), the calculator returns recommended savings (20%) of $1,100. Change any field above to see your own result and charts update instantly.
Good for these goals
Frequently asked questions
Is 50/30/20 realistic in high-cost cities?
You may need to flex to 60/20/20 or 60/10/30. Treat it as a starting point, not a rule.
What counts as a need?
Housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, transportation and minimum debt payments.
Related budgeting & everyday calculators
All Budgeting & Everyday →Emergency Fund
How much to save and how fast to get there
Budgeting & EverydayNet Worth
Assets minus liabilities snapshot
Budgeting & EverydayHourly to Salary
Convert hourly pay to annual, monthly and weekly
Budgeting & EverydayTip
Tip and split the bill
Budgeting & EverydaySavings Rate
Your savings rate and years to retirement
Budgeting & EverydayCost of Living
Salary needed to move between US cities
Learn more
More Budgeting & Everyday guides →How to Create a Budget That Works
Build a realistic monthly budget in six steps: track income and spending, set priorities, choose a method and review…
Budgeting & EverydayThe 50/30/20 Budget Rule
Learn how to apply the 50/30/20 budget, with examples, pros and cons and variations for high-cost areas or heavy debt.
Budgeting & EverydayZero-Based Budgeting
How zero-based budgeting works, how to set it up and whether it is right for you compared to other budgeting methods.
Budgeting & EverydayHow to Cut Monthly Expenses Without Feeling Deprived
Practical ways to lower bills: housing, transportation, insurance, subscriptions and food, focused on the biggest…
Estimates are for educational purposes only and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Results depend on your inputs and simplified assumptions; tax figures reflect 2026 federal rules and may differ from your situation. See our disclaimer. © 2026 FinanzCalc.