There's no single right number, but a structured estimate beats a guess. A widely used starting point is the DIME method — Debt, Income, Mortgage, Education.

Debt: add up balances you wouldn't want to leave behind. Income: multiply your annual income by the number of years your dependents would need support. Mortgage: include the remaining balance so your family could stay in the home. Education: estimate future schooling costs for each child.

Add those together, then subtract savings and any coverage you already have. The result is a ballpark target. Our coverage estimator runs exactly this calculation for you.

Treat the figure as a conversation starter, not a verdict. A licensed agent can tailor it to your situation, and the right policy type — term or permanent — depends on budget and goals.