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50/30/20 budget calculator

Enter your monthly take-home pay. The 50/30/20 guide splits it into needs (50%), wants (30%) and savings (20%) — plan your categories and see exactly where you're over or under.

  • ✓ Free, no sign-up, no bank login
  • ✓ 50/30/20 or zero-based
  • ✓ Monthly or weekly
  • ✓ Print, PDF or Excel/Sheets

My monthly budget

Monthly take-home payafter taxes
/ mo
Method
Fill it from your bank statements →
Needs bills you must pay$3,000
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Wants nice to have$900
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Savings & debt future you$950
$
$
$
$

Left after your plan

$150 / month

Needs60% · guide 50% ($2,500)
Wants18% · guide 30% ($1,500)
Savings & debt19% · guide 20% ($1,000)
  • $150 a month isn't planned yet — moving it to savings would raise your savings rate to 22%.
  • Needs take 60% of your pay (the 50/30/20 guide is 50%). Housing is usually the biggest lever.
  • You're saving 19% — $50 a month short of 20%. Even 1% more each month adds up.

Saved automatically in this browser only. Not sure of your take-home pay? Use the salary after taxes calculator.

The 50/30/20 rule in one minute

  • 50% needs — housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, minimum debt payments.
  • 30% wants — dining out, shopping, subscriptions, travel, hobbies.
  • 20% savings & debt — emergency fund, retirement, extra payments on debt.

It's a guide, not a law. If needs run high, protect your savings first and trim wants. Prefer to assign every dollar? Use the monthly budget planner in zero-based mode.

Free download · launch offerBudget Template for Google Sheets & ExcelYour whole month in one file: 50/30/20 budget, paycheck budget, couples split, debt snowball, savings goals and net worth.Get it free →

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Frequently asked questions

How does the 50/30/20 rule work?+

Split your monthly take-home pay: 50% for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings and extra debt payments. On $5,000 a month that's $2,500 for needs, $1,500 for wants and $1,000 for savings.

What counts as a need vs a want?+

Needs are what you must pay to live and work: housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, childcare and minimum debt payments. Wants are everything optional — dining out, shopping, streaming, travel, upgrades.

What if my needs are more than 50%?+

That's common with high rent or a big car payment. Keep savings as close to 20% as you can, trim wants, and look at your largest need — housing is usually the biggest lever over time.

Is the 50/30/20 rule based on gross or net income?+

On take-home (net) pay — after taxes and payroll deductions. 401(k) contributions taken from your paycheck can count toward the 20% savings.