What is contingency in a project budget?

Contingency is reserve funding added to cover uncertainty or risk. It is often expressed as a percentage of total cost.

How do you calculate contingency amount?

Contingency Amount = Base Cost × Contingency %.

Contingency Budget Calculator

Use this Contingency Calculator to determine how much contingency (risk buffer) you should add to your base project budget.

Contingency Calculator

Base Project Cost ($) Contingency %

Why contingency matters

Contingency is a protective buffer you add to cover uncertainty, scope changes, or risk events. Many teams use 5–15%, but high-risk projects may plan higher.