# 50 30 20 Budget Calculator

> 50/30/20 budget calculator: split your after-tax income into needs, wants, and savings with exact dollar amounts for each of the three. Free, no signup.

- **Canonical URL:** https://boringtoolskit.com/50-30-20-budget-calculator/
- **Category:** Finance & Investing
- **Evidence level:** authored-methodology
- **Reviewed:** July 26, 2026
- **Last verified:** 2026-10-12
- **Privacy:** Inputs and results stay in this browser unless the page clearly labels an external request.

## How it works

Needs = 50% of after-tax income; Wants = 30%; Savings and debt payoff = 20%.

## Worked example

On $5,000 of monthly take-home pay: $2,500 for needs, $1,500 for wants, $1,000 to savings and debt.

## Assumptions

- Use after-tax (take-home) income, not gross.
- Needs are essentials only: housing, food, utilities, insurance, minimum debt payments.

## Related tools

- /budget-calculator/
- /emergency-fund-calculator/
- /paycheck-calc/

## Sources

- [Budgeting and creating a plan](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/budgeting-tools/)
- [Calculation methodology](/methodology/)

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*Local planning estimate. Verify current terms, rates, and policies before acting.*