Milan Prastalo
Free calculator

Life insurance: how much do I need?

I built this so you can put a first number on the cover your family would need if you died. It uses the DIME method: Debt, Income, Mortgage and Education. Then it takes away what you already have.

D Debt

$
$

I Income

$a year
years
For example, until your youngest child is grown or your spouse retires.

M Mortgage

$

E Education

$

Minus what you already have

$
$
Estimated life insurance need $0

How the DIME method adds it up
Debt: debts plus final expenses$0
Income$0
Mortgage$0
Education$0
DIME total$0
Minus cover and savings you already have$0
Estimated need$0

This is a starting point

A simple formula cannot see your whole picture. An agent looks at all of it: your family, your income, your health, your goals and the cover you have now. I am a licensed life insurance agent. On a free call we can go through your numbers together.

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The DIME method is a common rule of thumb for a first estimate. It does not count inflation, taxes, or what invested money could earn. Income is simply your yearly amount times the number of years.

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Sources

All checked 21 Oct 2026.

  • DIME (Debt, Income, Mortgage, Education) is a common rule of thumb used to estimate life insurance needs. Every number on this page is one you enter. Nothing here is a quote, a premium or a product.

For education only. Not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Numbers are estimates based on the assumptions you enter.

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