Term life insurance rates by age
Estimated monthly cost of a 20-year level term policy for a non-smoker in good health. Pick any cell for the full breakdown at that age and coverage amount — including the smoker rate and other term lengths.
| Age | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1 million | $2 million |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 25 | $10 | $21 | $42 | $83 |
| Age 30 | $11 | $23 | $46 | $92 |
| Age 35 | $14 | $27 | $54 | $108 |
| Age 40 | $18 | $35 | $71 | $142 |
| Age 45 | $26 | $52 | $104 | $208 |
| Age 50 | $41 | $81 | $163 | $325 |
| Age 55 | $64 | $127 | $254 | $508 |
| Age 60 | $101 | $202 | $404 | $808 |
Figures are per month. Add roughly 2.5× for smoker rates, and see any individual page for the 10-, 20- and 30-year term comparison.
Trust & methodology
Last reviewed: July 23, 2026
This chart shows illustrative estimates from generic, publicly-documented rating factors — not quotes, and not drawn from any insurer's filed rates.
Frequently asked questions
For a healthy non-smoker, a $500,000 20-year term policy runs roughly $20 a month at 30, $27 at 35, and $35 at 40 on these estimates. Cost is driven overwhelmingly by age and tobacco use — the same policy at 55 is several times the price it would have been at 35.
The curve is gentle through the thirties and steepens sharply after about 45: mortality cost roughly doubles each decade from there. The chart above shows the inflection clearly — the jump from 45 to 55 is far larger than the jump from 25 to 35.
Match the term to the years your dependants actually rely on your income — usually until the mortgage is paid and the children are independent. A 30-year term costs more per year but removes the risk of needing cover again at an older age, when it will be much more expensive.
No. Every figure is an illustrative estimate built from generic, publicly-documented rating factors, not from any insurer's filed rate table. Use them for budgeting and then get actual quotes from several carriers — for the same person, quotes routinely differ by 30–50%.