How Much Does Whole Life Insurance Cost? Rates & Charts (2024)

Factors That Impact Your Cost

In reality, whole life insurance can be pricey. So we want to give you some ideas on managing the cost. But before we go any further, remember this:

no two companies take the same approach when providing whole life insurance quotes.

For this reason, the price offered by one company may not be identical to the next.

In a perfect world, you’ll be young and healthy when purchasing life insurance. Being young and healthy gives you the best opportunity to secure a policy at an affordable price. Maybe this is why many people buy whole life insurance for their kids, knowing that this will be a great gift to them in the future.

The main factors that determine whole life insurance costs are:

While some people are young and healthy, others don’t fall into this category.

How Much Does Whole Life Insurance Cost? Rates & Charts (1)

Age & Health Are Important Factors On Prices

Age, Health and Company

Generally speaking, here are the factors that affect your whole life insurance premium:

  • Life insurance rates are cheaper when you are young. The older you get, the more you will pay
  • Are you 100 percent healthy? Or have you run into some health concerns in the past?
  • Medical conditions can increment your rates.
  • On average, women live longer. Subsequently, they pay less for life insurance coverage.
  • Drinker or smoker? If you drink alcohol or use tobacco, you should expect your life insurance rate to be higher.
  • Many consumers overlook this detail, but it comes into play. For example, there’s a big difference between someone who works as a secretary and someone who works as a sky diving instructor.
  • Some companies offer no exam whole life insurance, but you will pay more for coverage if you go down this path.
  • Different companies have different products, some offer better rates than others, so you always have to compare.
  • The riders you chose to add to the policy. Riders are features you can add to any plan.

Since so many factors impact your cost, including the company and your overall personal and health profile, you won’t know how much you’ll be asked to pay until you receive quotes from multiple providers.

Health & Age Impact On Cost

The following chart can give you an idea of how much health and age impacts whole life insurance costs.

We used three different ratings (Standard, Preferred, Ultra) from a large life insurance company. Of course, these rates vary company by company, but at least you can get an idea of how much it changes.

The following is a quote for $250,000 whole life paid till age 100, with monthly rates:

AgeStandardPreferredUltra
35279.49260.57260.57
40348.87327.99327.99
45451.53415.86415.86
50576.81530.92530.92
55738.41677.73677.73
60947.43864.78864.78

Next are the rates for a MALE SMOKER $250,000 whole life paid till age 100, with monthly rates:

Age

Preferred

Tabacco

Standard

Tabacco

35321.68338.65
40396.72414.99
45521.13548.10
50642.06678.38
55868.91912.41
601,112.511,169.50

Here are the rates for a FEMALE $250,000 whole life paid till age 100, with monthly rates:

Age

Preferred

Tabaco

Standard

Tabacco

35254.91268.40
40323.21341.26
45403.25424.13
50511.78550.28
55658.59691.87
60847.82890.88

As you can see, costs by rating change, but incredibly they do not vary that much. The whole life insurance price is not significantly impacted by health.

As we already said, prices will change from company to company, but now you have a better understanding.

The main factor that changes price is age, not health. So if you are considering a whole life, then get it as soon as possible.

Besides, even though the price doesn’t change much with age, what does change is cash value accumulation. So the longer you wait, the less time you have for the cash value to grow inside of your policy.

So again, don’t wait if you are looking for a whole life.

Average Whole Life Insurance Rates With Cash Value

Many companies out there say they provide whole life insurance, and they only show you the prices. But, as we said in the beginning, price is not everything in whole life. You want to get good assets, not cheap assets.

We will give you some average whole life insurance rates for different ages next. The charts’ purpose is to give you an idea of the price ranges and Cash Value Accumulation.

This chart is not intended to be a quote.

Pro Tip: Do Not Trust Whole Life Insurance Rates Without Cash Value Growth… You Could Get A Bad Whole Life

Please remember all of the prices can change based on health and company.

That being said, on the following char we used one of the most solid companies.

Whole Life Insurance Rates for $250,000, Good Health & Non-smoker

Female Quote

AgeMonthly PriceCash Value @ 65Death Benefit @ 65
25$155.73$197,962$448,229
30$189.01$174,093$408,742
35$218.59$160,158$392,254
40$263.61$129,863$345,516
45$328.86$103,677$311,939
50$420.86$81,418$292,492
55$543.97$58,136$283,201
60$705.35$24,230$262,321

Male Quote

AgeMonthly PriceCash Value @ 65Death Benefit @ 65
25$177.70$225,927$452,517
30$212.50$224,859$459,121
35$260.57$191,210$408,734
40$327.99$162,496$370,916
45$415.86$132,839$335,865
50$530.92$104,912$310,216
55$677.73$70,849$287,318
60$864.78$29,754$264,222

As you can see, there is a significant difference as you age in price, cash value, and death benefit growth. So if you are considering a whole life, now is the time to take action.

Whole Life Insurance Rates Payable For 10 Years

There are many variations to whole life life insurance, but few are as interesting as a 10 pay.

When you are looking for a whole life that builds cash value, one of the best products to consider is a whole life 10 pay.

A 10 pay is a type of limited-pay whole life insurance where you only need to pay premiums for ten years. Then, after ten years, you keep your policy and all the cash in it, but you don’t have to keep paying.

10 Pay whole life is excellent to maximize cash value growth, but you should consider other products if you want a substantial death benefit.

Here are the whole life insurance rates for a 10 pay:

Male $250,000 Excellent Health

AgeCostCash @ 65
25521.78326,700
30617.05295,214
35733.19267,052
40873.48241,420
451,038.56217,402
501,227.57147,707
551,451.38174,093
601,705.4276,267

As you can see, this product builds significant cash value if you start early. However, when you are older, it becomes much more expensive. Therefore, this is the type of product someone looking for whole life in their 30’s or 20’s should consider.

How Much Does Whole Life Insurance Cost? Rates & Charts (2024)

FAQs

How Much Does Whole Life Insurance Cost? Rates & Charts? ›

How much is whole life insurance? The average cost of whole life insurance is $451 per month. That's the amount a 30-year-old who doesn't smoke and is generally in good health will pay for a $500,000 whole life insurance policy. Whole life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance that doesn't expire.

How much does a typical whole life insurance policy cost? ›

How much is whole life insurance? The average cost of whole life insurance is $451 per month. That's the amount a 30-year-old who doesn't smoke and is generally in good health will pay for a $500,000 whole life insurance policy. Whole life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance that doesn't expire.

How much is a $20,000 whole life insurance policy? ›

A $20,000 life insurance policy can cost as low as $15 monthly or as much as $300. The cost of final expense insurance depends on your age, policy type, gender, state of residence, tobacco habits (if any), and health conditions.

How much does a $250,000 whole life insurance policy cost? ›

The cost of a $250,000 whole life insurance policy is around $203 a month, or $2,436 a year, based on our analysis of whole life insurance quotes for a 30-year-old nonsmoker in good health. Whole life insurance is permanent life insurance that provides lifelong coverage, as long as you make your payments on time.

What is the cash value of $100,000 whole life insurance policy? ›

A typical life settlement is worth around 20% of your policy value, but can range from 10-25%. So for a 100,000 dollar policy, you would be looking at anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 dollars.

How much does a $1000000 whole life policy cost? ›

Average cost of a million-dollar term life insurance policy
AgeTerm lengthAverage monthly rate
40Term length10 yearsAverage monthly rate$47.41
40Term length15 yearsAverage monthly rate$61.33
40Term length30 yearsAverage monthly rate$137.89
50Term length10 yearsAverage monthly rate$112.67
5 more rows

How much does a $50,000 whole life insurance policy cost? ›

The Cost Of A $50,000 Whole Life Insurance Policy. Expect to pay $100-$500 monthly for a $50,000 whole life insurance policy depending upon your age, health, lifestyle, tobacco usage, state of residence, and the amount of coverage purchased.

What age to purchase whole life insurance? ›

As we age, we're at increased risk of developing health conditions, which can result in higher mortality rates and higher life insurance rates. You'll typically pay less for life insurance at age 25 than at age 40. Waiting until age 60 may mean an even bigger rate increase and limited policy options.

How long does it take for whole life insurance to build cash value? ›

A whole life insurance policy will begin building cash value as soon as you pay your first premium, and it will continue building throughout the life of the policy as long as there are funds in the account.

What happens after 20 year whole life insurance? ›

Unlike term insurance, whole life policies don't expire. The policy will stay in effect until you pass or until it is cancelled. Over time, the premiums you pay into the policy start to generate cash value, which can be used under certain conditions.

Can you get a million dollar whole life insurance policy? ›

With a million-dollar whole life policy, coverage lasts for life, so your beneficiaries are guaranteed a payout as long as premiums are paid up. These policies also build cash value that can be accessed while you're still alive.

Can you borrow from whole life insurance? ›

Life insurance loans are only available on permanent life insurance policies — such as whole life and universal life — that have a cash value component. You likely can't borrow against a term life insurance policy since it probably doesn't have cash value. Learn more about term vs. whole life insurance.

How soon can you borrow against a life insurance policy? ›

How long does it take to borrow against life insurance? It often takes five to 10 years to accumulate enough cash value to borrow against your life insurance policy. The exact length of time depends on the structure of your policy, including your premiums and rate of return.

Can you sell your whole life policy? ›

A life insurance policy, whether it's a term life or whole life policy, is your personal property. You can sell it just as you would anything else you own, but there are some things to consider.

Can I withdraw cash value from whole life insurance? ›

The cash value in your whole or universal life insurance policy can come in handy when you need funds for large, ongoing or unexpected expenses. There are four ways to get the cash from your policy while you're still alive: borrow, withdraw, surrender, or sell.

Does whole life insurance premium increase with age? ›

Your whole life premium stays the same for life.

But with whole life, the premium you pay when you take out your policy never increases. The younger and healthier you are when you take out your whole life coverage, the lower your rates will generally be – for life.

How much does a $1,000,000 life insurance policy cost per month? ›

The average cost for a million-dollar life insurance policy is anywhere from approximately $50 to more than $1,000 a month, depending on your age, health, annual income, policy type and other factors.

At what age is whole life insurance worth it? ›

Whole life insurance is typically worth the cost for people between the ages of 25 and 50, even if you don't yet have a lot of people depending on your income or services.

What are the disadvantages of whole life insurance? ›

While there are many whole life insurance benefits, there are some drawbacks—like higher premiums (compared to term life insurance), lack of flexibility, slower growth and potential penalties. Consider these as you choose the best product for your needs and lifestyle.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kelle Weber

Last Updated:

Views: 6234

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kelle Weber

Birthday: 2000-08-05

Address: 6796 Juan Square, Markfort, MN 58988

Phone: +8215934114615

Job: Hospitality Director

Hobby: tabletop games, Foreign language learning, Leather crafting, Horseback riding, Swimming, Knapping, Handball

Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.