Term Life Insurance Cost Estimator

A ballpark monthly premium based on national averages — see real quotes once you know your target coverage.

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The ledger
Estimated monthly premium$0
Estimated annual premium$0
Cost per $1,000 of coverage$0
Total over the full term$0

This is a national-average estimate for illustration only — not a quote. Your actual rate depends on underwriting: medical exam results, family history, occupation, and the specific insurer.

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How this estimate is built

Term life premiums are priced almost entirely on mortality risk — how likely the insurer is to pay a claim during the term. This estimator starts from published national-average rates by age band, then adjusts for the factors that move your price the most: gender, smoking status, self-reported health, coverage amount, and term length.

Monthly premium ≈ base rate (age band) × (coverage ÷ $100,000) × term multiplier × gender multiplier × smoker multiplier × health multiplier

Why smoking status matters so much

Smokers typically pay 2-3x what non-smokers pay for the same coverage, reflecting significantly different mortality risk. If you've quit, most insurers require 12+ months smoke-free to qualify for non-smoker rates — worth confirming with an actual insurer if you're close to that mark.

What this estimate doesn't include

Actual underwriting looks at your medical exam results, family history, occupation, hobbies (e.g. piloting, scuba diving), and driving record — any of which can move your real quote above or below this estimate. Treat this as a starting point for budgeting, not a number to plan around exactly.

Why did my quote come back higher than this estimate?

Underwriting factors this calculator can't see — a recent health issue, family history of certain conditions, a risky occupation or hobby, or a lower health class than self-assessed — can all push a real quote above a national-average estimate.

Does term life get more expensive every year?

No — most term policies lock in a level premium for the entire term (10, 20, or 30 years). The trade-off is that renewing or buying new coverage after the term ends is priced at your then-current age, which is usually significantly more expensive.

Is a medical exam always required?

Not always — some insurers offer "no-exam" policies, typically with lower coverage limits and higher premiums than fully underwritten policies, in exchange for a faster approval process.

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