Career Break Calculator
How many months could you live without income? Enter a few numbers to get a simple estimate.
- 100% private
- Instant result
- No sign-up
Your numbers
Leave anything that doesn't apply empty - it counts as 0.
ExampleType your numbers to see yours.
Add your savings and your monthly cost to see how many months they cover.
What this number includes
- Your savings, minus the buffer and one-off costs
- Your monthly cost during the break
- Any income during the break
Calculated in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent.
What this number doesn't tell you
The calculator gives you the number. Career Break Runway gives you the plan.
Which expenses you could reduce.
A break-mode budget broken into categories, so you see what actually moves the number.
How your runway changes month by month.
A running balance across the whole break, flagged when the numbers call for a decision.
What happens when your income changes.
Higher costs, a surprise bill, extra income - see how far each one moves your runway.
How much buffer you may want to keep.
A plan for the return to income, and the pre-break checklist that comes with it.
Go from a number to a plan.
Career Break Runway is the full spreadsheet system behind the number: budget, runway, scenarios and the way back.
- Break-mode budget, category by category
- Month-by-month runway
- Best, base and worst case scenarios
- A return plan and a pre-break checklist
- Career Break Playbook, a 12-page PDF
Questions, answered.
Quick answers on how the number is worked out and what it leaves out.
How is my career break runway calculated?
Available savings (savings minus your safety buffer minus one-off start costs) divided by your net monthly draw (monthly cost minus any income during the break) gives your runway in months.
Does this calculator store or send my data anywhere?
No. Every calculation runs in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing you type is saved, uploaded, or sent to a server - closing the tab clears it.
What's the difference between a career break and a sabbatical?
A sabbatical is usually arranged with your current employer with an agreed return date. A career break more often means leaving your job with no guaranteed role to return to. See our guide on career break vs sabbatical for the full breakdown.
What does this calculator not do?
It gives you one number - your runway in months. It doesn't break your budget into categories, model best/worst-case scenarios, or plan your return to work. Career Break Runway covers all of that.
Should I count my emergency fund as part of my savings?
Generally no - keep it as your safety buffer instead, entered separately, so it stays untouched by the break.
Related guides
Bright Sorted tools and products are for general planning purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. For guidance specific to your situation, talk to a qualified financial adviser.