Monthly Budget Calculator (Free)
Build a practical monthly budget by assigning income percentages to the seven categories shown. No login, no storage, free forever.
Calculator results
Spending Categories
Enter zero or a positive monthly income. Results are unavailable until the input is valid.
Monthly Budget
$5,000
Housing
$1,500
Food
$500
Transport
$500
Savings
$1,000
Budget Breakdown
How this monthly budget calculator works
Method and assumptions
For each category, the calculator applies monthly income × category percentage ÷ 100. Total Allocated is the sum of the seven slider percentages. A total of 100% assigns all entered income; less than 100% leaves part unassigned; more than 100% assigns more than the entered income. Amounts are displayed as rounded currency values, while the calculation uses the entered income and whole-number slider percentages.
- Use one consistent monthly income figure and one currency for every amount. The currency selector changes the display format; it does not perform exchange-rate conversion.
- The starting percentages are examples, not recommendations or eligibility rules. The tool does not account for local costs, taxes, household size, irregular timing, or individual priorities.
- The seven categories are user-controlled planning buckets. The calculator does not compare planned amounts with actual transactions or classify them as needs or wants.
Worked example and interpretation
With monthly income of 5,000 and the starting percentages of 30%, 10%, 10%, 7%, 5%, 20%, and 18%, the category amounts are 1,500, 500, 500, 350, 250, 1,000, and 900. They total 5,000 and 100%. If “Other Expenses” is reduced from 18% to 10%, Total Allocated becomes 92%, meaning 8%—400 in the same currency—has not yet been assigned. This is a planning gap, not a prediction of money left at month-end.
Limitations and sources
Results are educational planning estimates, not a personalized budget or financial advice. Variable income, annual bills, debt interest, account balances, and unexpected expenses are outside this model. Compare the plan with actual statements and update it when circumstances change.
Public-authority reference: the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's consumer.gov guide to making a budget explains listing monthly income and expenses and reviewing the plan against actual spending. It is provided as general background; this calculator is not affiliated with or endorsed by that agency.
Methodology reviewed and worked example recalculated: . Related tools: Debt Payoff Calculator and Savings Goal Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It calculates the seven category percentages shown and does not classify them into broader groups. Choose percentages that reflect your own obligations and goals.
Enter monthly income, set category percentages, and review the dollar totals to ensure your spending plan stays within 100% of income. If the total goes over, trim nonessential categories first or move money from wants to savings.
Yes. This budget planner is free, browser-based, and does not require account creation. Your inputs stay on your device, so it is quick to test different scenarios.
Use net income when possible, because it reflects the actual amount available for spending, saving, and debt payments. If you only know gross pay, estimate taxes first so the budget does not overstate available cash.
A quick weekly review plus a full month-end review works well for most people and keeps category drift under control. Regular check-ins help you catch overspending before it becomes a bigger problem.
Yes. After mapping spending, redirect leftover cash to high-interest balances and track results with the Debt Payoff Calculator. That lets you see how extra payments change your timeline and total interest.