30-Year Term Life Insurance Policies and Costs in 2025

A 30-year term life insurance policy provides coverage for 30 years. Unlike permanent life insurance, which can be expensive, term life insurance is much more affordable. With a 30-year term policy, your beneficiaries receive the death benefit if you pass away while the policy is active and premiums are current.

For instance, if you purchase a $500,000 policy at age 35, you're covered until age 65. If you pass away at 55, your beneficiaries submit a claim, and once approved, your insurer pays the death benefit as a tax-free lump sum. Your beneficiaries can use the money to cover funeral expenses, pay off debts, handle household expenses or pay educational expenses for your children.

The average cost of a 30-year term life insurance policy varies by age and coverage amount. Health and lifestyle also affect rates. The summary table below shows the average costs and cheapest rates for 30-year life policies.

A 30-year-old pays an average of $31 monthly for a $250,000 coverage policy. A 50-year-old with a $1 million coverage amount pays an average of $297 monthly. The table below shows how monthly rates increase for buyers aged 30, 40 and 50 across various coverage amounts.

Life insurance premiums depend on individual factors. To ensure you get the best rates, compare policy offers from multiple providers. The life insurance calculator below can provide you with quick estimates to help narrow down your options.

MoneyGeek’s study compared multiple life insurance quotes with various coverage amounts from different insurers nationwide. Regardless of your policy's face value, you can typically purchase the most affordable term life insurance from Transamerica. Examine how rates change across insurers based on the coverage amount to help determine how much coverage you can afford.

Life insurance for smokers costs much more than coverage for nonsmokers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking shortens your life expectancy by at least 10 years, making smokers riskier to insure.

Transamerica offers the most affordable life insurance policies for smokers. The table below compares rates from different companies to narrow your options.

MoneyGeek also compared quotes for policyholders who have poor health. Mutual of Omaha offers the lowest average rates across different coverage levels. Learning more about how much each company charges policyholders in poor health can help you find the best deal for term life insurance. Check the table below to compare rates.

The older you are, the more expensive premiums become because you're less likely to outlive your policy. Transamerica offers the cheapest average 30-year term life insurance rates for older buyers. Look at the varying rates offered by different insurers below and consider which ones suit your needs.

Note: The rates above are based on averages for a 50-year-old policyholder.

If you're still alive at the end of the 30-year term, you can either extend your coverage for another term or give it up. Before you decide which direction is most appropriate for you, you need to consider several factors.

If you choose to continue having life insurance, sometimes it's a better idea to purchase a new (and possibly shorter) policy. Renewing your existing term policy exposes you to much higher rates. You'll be 30 years older at this point, and your life expectancy is 30 years shorter.

However, if you're in worse health than when you first bought life insurance, renewing may be a better option since a renewal isn't subject to additional underwriting. On the other hand, if you decide to purchase a new policy after your term policy ends, you may be subject to medical underwriting and face the potential of being denied coverage.

Giving up coverage may be your best option if you're financially independent and don't have children or a spouse who depends on you financially. Although very helpful, life insurance isn't always necessary for everyone.

If you're looking for financial protection for your loved ones, a 30-year term life insurance policy can offer adequate coverage. But with so much information out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out the best option for you.

We break down everything you need to know about 30-year life insurance, including what it is, how much it costs and whether it's the right choice to provide financial protection for your loved ones.

A 30-year term life insurance policy is an excellent option for some buyer profiles but may not be for everyone. Understanding the answers to frequently asked questions about this type of insurance can help determine if it fits your needs.

Why Trust MoneyGeek?

We analyzed 1,488 life insurance quotes alongside customer satisfaction, financial stability reports, product offerings and more to determine the best life insurance companies for various needs.

Recency

Coverage costs and company information for life insurance providers were updated in 2025.

Methodology

MoneyGeek used a standard profile to obtain life insurance quotes:

• 40-year-old male
• Nonsmoker
• 5 feet 11 inches tall and 175 pounds
• Excellent health rating

Premiums are based on the standard profile unless otherwise noted.

We modified the profile by age, gender, height, weight, tobacco use, health rating and geographic location to collect various quotes and determine the best life insurance company for several types of customers. We also collected quotes for term life insurance with varying term lengths and coverage amounts.

We identified trends in the dataset and used those patterns to calculate projections and extend the data beyond what was originally collected.