Debt + Income replacement (years × salary) + Mortgage + Education, minus savings and existing cover.

Is 10× income better?

Rules of thumb hide a paid-off house or large 401(k). DIME is still a sketch — not a human-life value from an actuary.

This page sizes a need. It does not price a policy.

Runs in your browser · Last updated 4 September 2026

Life Insurance Needs Calculator (US)

Free US life insurance needs calculator. DIME sketch: debt, income years, mortgage, education, minus assets. Browser tool — nothing is uploaded.

Annual income to replace ($)Years of incomeMortgage ($)Other debts ($)Education fund ($)Savings / investments ($)Existing life cover ($)

DIME method — a needs sketch, not an illustration from a carrier.

DIME total

$1,230,000

Assets + existing cover

$90,000

Coverage gap

$1,140,000

How to use this tool

Enter income and how many years a survivor would need it.
Add mortgage, other debts, and education goals.
Subtract savings and existing coverage to see the gap.

Worked example

$90,000 income × 10 years + $250,000 mortgage + $20,000 debts + $60,000 education = $1,230,000. Minus $40,000 savings and $50,000 existing cover → $1,140,000 gap.

Frequently asked questions

What is DIME?: Debt + Income replacement (years × salary) + Mortgage + Education, minus savings and existing cover.
Is 10× income better?: Rules of thumb hide a paid-off house or large 401(k). DIME is still a sketch — not a human-life value from an actuary.
Term vs whole?: This page sizes a need. It does not price a policy.
Do you sell life insurance?: No.
Uploaded?: No.