Term Life Insurance Rates by Age, Gender & Coverage in 2025

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While there are many different types of life insurance options, term life insurance is usually the best choice for most people. It’s a straightforward product and is generally the most affordable type of life insurance policy. A 35-year-old female pays $298 a year for $500,000 in coverage for a 20-year term, while a 35-year-old male pays $349.

Many people find that $1 million in term life coverage better matches their financial responsibilities. The cost, however, is higher than a $500,000 policy. A healthy 35-year-old woman pays $507 per year for $1 million in coverage, compared to $611 for a man. That’s roughly double the cost of a $500,000 policy at the same age — but also double the benefit amount.

How much a term life insurance policy actually costs varies by age, coverage amount, term length, and your smoker status. However, insurance companies look at an application holistically. They also evaluate your health, lifestyle choices, and family history to determine how much you pay for life insurance.

Term life insurance calculator

$500,000

$500,000 $750,000 $1,000,000

20 Years

10 Years 15 Years 20 Years 25 Years 30 Years

25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65

Female

Male Female

No Yes

Preferred

Preferred Plus Preferred Regular Plus Regular

Average term life insurance rates

For a 40-year-old female

$34/month

$393/year

How much a $500,000 policy costs annually for healthy, non-smokers

The gender gap is clear. Women consistently pay less than men — about 15% to 20% lower at every age bracket. For example, at age 50, a woman pays $850 annually, while a man pays $1,115. Over 20 years, that adds up to more than $5,000 in savings.

Age	Gender	$500,000 in coverage
25	Female	$247
25	Male	$305
30	Female	$258
30	Male	$320
35	Female	$298
35	Male	$349
40	Female	$393
40	Male	$481
45	Female	$571
45	Male	$741
50	Female	$850
50	Male	$1,115
55	Female	$1,281
55	Male	$1,788
60	Female	$2,178
60	Male	$3,066
65	Female	$4,168
65	Male	$5,989

How much a $500,000 policy costs annually for smokers

As you can see, smoking nearly triples your cost. At age 35, a healthy non-smoker woman pays about $298 a year for $500,000 in coverage. A smoker of the same age pays $937. For men, the difference is almost three times more for the same coverage.

Age	Gender	$500,000 in coverage
25	Female	$658
25	Male	$844
30	Female	$744
30	Male	$924
35	Female	$937
35	Male	$1,128
40	Female	$1,327
40	Male	$1,686
45	Female	$2,010
45	Male	$2,646
50	Female	$3,033
50	Male	$4,083
55	Female	$4,483
55	Male	$6,384
60	Female	$7,111
60	Male	$9,795
65	Female	$12,006
65	Male	$16,244

How much a $750,000 policy costs annually for healthy, non-smokers

Moving from $500,000 to $750,000 doesn’t mean rates jump by 50% across the board — in most age groups, the increase is slightly less than that. At age 35, for example, a non-smoker woman pays $411 for $750K versus $298 for $500K — only about a 38% bump for 50% more protection.

Over a 20-year term, that proportional savings adds up. For a 45-year-old woman, choosing $750K instead of stacking multiple $500K policies could save thousands over the life of the policy.

Age	Gender	$750,000 in coverage
25	Female	$334
25	Male	$423
30	Female	$354
30	Male	$444
35	Female	$411
35	Male	$485
40	Female	$556
40	Male	$681
45	Female	$823
45	Male	$1,074
50	Female	$1,244
50	Male	$1,643
55	Female	$1,887
55	Male	$2,647
60	Female	$3,233
60	Male	$4,584
65	Female	$6,219
65	Male	$8,949

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How much a $750,000 policy costs annually for smokers

For smokers, $750,000 in coverage can really start to pinch the budget. What feels like a comfortable middle ground for non-smokers ends up costing smokers about the same as what non-smokers would pay for $1 million or more. The good news? If you’re able to quit before applying — or reapply later after you’ve quit — you could save yourself tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the policy.

Age	Gender	$750,000 in coverage
25	Female	$946
25	Male	$1,230
30	Female	$1,083
30	Male	$1,347
35	Female	$1,368
35	Male	$1,659
40	Female	$1,959
40	Male	$2,491
45	Female	$2,984
45	Male	$3,939
50	Female	$4,525
50	Male	$6,111
55	Female	$6,690
55	Male	$9,541
60	Female	$10,631
60	Male	$14,659
65	Female	$17,975
65	Male	$24,332

How much a $1 million policy costs annually for healthy, non-smokers

A $1 million policy isn’t just for the wealthy — it’s surprisingly within reach for many families. At age 35, a healthy woman pays about $507 a year and a man pays $611. That’s roughly double the cost of a $500K policy, but when you break it down, it’s still less than what a lot of households spend on cable or streaming each month. The pricing also scales pretty fairly — you’re not being hit with an extra surcharge just because you want more coverage. For families juggling mortgages, tuition, and long-term living costs, the larger payout often feels like the more practical choice.

Age	Gender	$1 million in coverage
25	Female	$396
25	Male	$529
30	Female	$431
30	Male	$555
35	Female	$507
35	Male	$611
40	Female	$697
40	Male	$857
45	Female	$1,047
45	Male	$1,366
50	Female	$1,552
50	Male	$2,103
55	Female	$2,439
55	Male	$3,399
60	Female	$4,160
60	Male	$5,984
65	Female	$7,903
65	Male	$11,358

How much a $1 million policy costs annually for smokers

For smokers, a $1 million policy comes with a serious price tag. At age 35, a woman pays about $1,710 a year and a man pays $2,124 — more than three times what non-smokers spend for the same coverage. By age 55, that gap widens even further, with smokers paying thousands more every year.

The tough part is that what feels like a smart coverage amount for non-smokers can become a real stretch if you smoke, since those premiums creep into the territory non-smokers would pay for far more coverage. The good news is that if you’re able to quit, many insurers will let you reapply later and earn non-smoker rates, which can bring your costs back down to a much more manageable level.

Age	Gender	$1 million in coverage
25	Female	$1,188
25	Male	$1,567
30	Female	$1,356
30	Male	$1,717
35	Female	$1,710
35	Male	$2,124
40	Female	$2,493
40	Male	$3,211
45	Female	$3,823
45	Male	$5,116
50	Female	$5,777
50	Male	$7,986
55	Female	$8,624
55	Male	$12,299
60	Female	$13,668
60	Male	$18,824
65	Female	$23,048
65	Male	$30,492

How insurers determine your life insurance premium

To set your life insurance premium, you’ll need to go through the underwriting process. Life insurance companies use the underwriting process to determine how much you pay for a policy. This often includes a medical exam and background check.

During this process, insurers will evaluate the following:

Age. Life prices go up with age.
Health. Medical conditions will increase the cost of your life insurance premium, depending on the severity and treatment plan.
Lifestyle choices. Risky hobbies or a risky occupation may increase your premium.
Financial background. If your credit history shows bankruptcy, you will pay more for coverage.
Criminal history. If you have a felony on your record, you will pay more for coverage if you are eligible. However, misdemeanors shouldn’t affect your premiums.

How much life insurance should you get?

When buying term life insurance, you need to consider how much coverage you need and how long your policy’s term should last.

Term length

Getting the right term length is very important when it comes to term life insurance. If you get a term length that isn’t long enough, the coverage you’re paying for might be useless. But if you get a term length that is too long, you’re overpaying for coverage. It’s important to find the sweet spot.

For example, if you have young children you plan to support through college, then you’ll want to get a policy length that lasts at least 20 years. But if you have a 30-year mortgage, you’ll want a policy lasting at least 30 years.

Coverage amount

Getting enough life insurance coverage is just as important as getting the right term length. If the policy’s face amount is too little, it won’t provide the financial support you’re paying for. But if the policy’s face amount is too high, you’re paying more in premiums than you need to.

For example, if you make six figures annually, you need at least $1 million in coverage. But if you’re only buying coverage to pay off your funeral expenses, you will need significantly less than that.

Most people need at least 10 to 15 times their income in life insurance coverage. However, the exact amount you need will depend on your individual circumstances. To get an accurate amount, tally up:

The debts you owe
The amount of income you earn multiplied by the years you plan to provide financial support
Your mortgage
The cost of your children’s education.
Any other financial obligations

Because life insurance isn’t one size fits all, you may want to talk to a certified financial planner to ensure you’re getting the right amount of coverage.

How to get the most affordable life insurance rates

Shop around. Each insurer underwrites differently, so while one may offer you a high rate, the other may offer you its most competitive premium. Shop around with at least three to five insurers to make sure you’re getting the lowest rate possible. Check out our list of Best Life Insurance Companies to get an idea of which insurer is right for you.
Apply ASAP. Life insurance prices increase as you age, so getting coverage as soon as possible will save you money in the long run.
Get healthy. The healthier you are, the lower your rates. Exercising, eating healthy, and drinking lots of water will help you perform better on the life insurance medical exam.
Quit smoking. Smokers pay significantly more than nonsmokers. But you can’t just quit right before buying a policy — you’ll need to be nicotine-free for at least one year.

How much you’ll actually pay for life insurance will depend on your profile, but walking into the buying process knowing what to expect ensures you won’t overspend.

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