Whole Life Cost Calculator
Estimate whole life insurance premiums by age, sex, and coverage amount. Compare the lifetime cost of whole life vs term life insurance.
Part of our Insurance Calculators collection.
Whole Life Cost Calculator
Free online calculator
$
Whole life typically $10k–$100k for final expense; more for estate planning
How to Use This Calculator
- 1
Enter your personal details and financial information.
- 2
See the estimated cost or coverage need instantly.
- 3
Adjust inputs to compare different scenarios.
How This is Calculated
Approximate whole life premium rates (per $1,000 coverage/month): Age 40: Male ~$15, Female ~$12 Age 50: Male ~$22, Female ~$18 Age 60: Male ~$35, Female ~$28 Age 70: Male ~$55, Female ~$42 Whole life = permanent coverage + cash value accumulation Premiums remain level for life
Example Calculation
See your personalised estimate
Inputs
Result
Enter values above for your estimate
Results update as you enter your information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is whole life insurance a good investment?
Generally no — the investment component (cash value) typically returns 1–4% per year, far below stock market returns. Buy term life for insurance needs and invest the premium difference. However, whole life has legitimate uses for estate planning, permanent coverage needs, and final expense insurance where coverage outlasting a term is important.
What is cash value in whole life?
A portion of each premium goes into a tax-deferred savings account. You can borrow against it or surrender the policy for cash. Growth is slow in early years (high fees) but accelerates later. It's not the same as an investment account.