Net Worth Calculator
By the Bureau of Wealth team Updated
This calculator is general information, not financial advice. Check your own figures with the provider or a qualified adviser before acting on them.
List what you own and what you owe to see your net worth today, a single figure you can check each year to see whether your finances are moving forward.
What this calculator assumes
- Net worth is the total of everything you enter under what you own minus the total of everything you enter under what you owe. The calculator does no other adjustment.
- Every value is the figure you type in. The calculator does not look up home prices, account balances or car values, so the result is only as accurate as your estimates.
- Traditional 401(k) and IRA balances are counted in full. Taxes you will owe when you withdraw pre-tax money are not deducted unless you reduce the value yourself.
- Costs of selling, such as agent commission on a home, are not taken off automatically.
- Future income, such as your salary or expected Social Security benefits, is not an asset here. Net worth is a snapshot of what you have now.
You might also want to check
-
Emergency Fund Calculator
If your net worth is mostly in a home or retirement accounts you cannot spend quickly, check you also have enough cash set aside for emergencies.
-
50/30/20 Budget Calculator
Net worth grows from what you save and repay each month, and a 50/30/20 budget shows how much of your take-home pay could go to that.
How net worth is worked out
Your net worth is what you own minus what you owe. Investor.gov, the SEC's investor education site, describes it as a net worth statement: list your assets on one side and your liabilities on the other, then subtract. If your assets are larger, your net worth is positive. If your debts are larger, it is negative.
The calculator adds up each row under what you own, adds up each row under what you owe, and shows both totals with the difference. Add a row for anything that is not listed, such as a car or a loan from family.
A worked example
Say your home is worth $350,000, you have $12,000 in checking and savings, $85,000 in retirement accounts and investments, and a car worth $15,000. You owe $260,000 on your mortgage, $18,000 in student loans and $4,000 on a credit card. What you own totals $462,000, what you owe totals $282,000, and your net worth is $180,000.
Notice how much of that figure is home equity. That money is real, but you can only reach it by selling or borrowing against the home.
What to include and how to value it
Your home: use a realistic sale price, based on what similar homes nearby have recently sold for rather than asking prices or the highest online estimate. If you would sell through an agent, you may want to knock off the commission and closing costs you would pay.
Retirement accounts: use the current balance from your latest 401(k), 403(b) or IRA statement. The IRS explains that withdrawals from a traditional pre-tax 401(k) are subject to income tax, while qualified distributions from a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA are not taxed. So $100,000 in a traditional 401(k) is worth less to you than $100,000 in a Roth account. Some people enter pre-tax balances at a reduced figure to reflect this.
Other assets: include cash, brokerage accounts, HSA balances and a car at what it would sell for today. Leave out everyday belongings unless they have a clear resale value.
Debts: use the payoff balance on each loan, not the original amount borrowed. Include every card balance, even if you pay it in full each month.
Why tracking it every year matters
A single net worth figure says little on its own. The same calculation repeated once a year shows the direction you are moving in, and Investor.gov suggests updating your net worth statement every year for exactly this reason. Pick a fixed date, value things the same way each time, and keep a note of the result. Paying down debt raises your net worth just as surely as saving does.
A negative figure is common early on, especially with student loans or a new mortgage. What matters is whether it improves over time.
Putting the figure to use
A high net worth tied up in a home and retirement accounts can still leave you short of cash for a surprise bill. Check how much of your total you could reach within a few days, and compare it with your essential spending. The emergency fund calculator shows how much cash to keep on hand and how long it will take to build.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good net worth for my age?
There is no single right number, because income, housing costs and debts vary so much. A more useful test is whether your own net worth is rising from one year to the next. Compare yourself with your past self rather than with averages.
Should I include my home in my net worth?
Yes, as long as you also include the mortgage. Use a realistic sale value, so the equity you show is money you could actually get. Many people also look at their net worth without the home, because that shows how much they have outside it.
How should I count my 401(k) or IRA?
Use the balance on your latest statement. Money in a traditional account will be taxed as income when you withdraw it, while qualified Roth withdrawals are tax-free, so you may want to count pre-tax balances at a lower value.
Does a car count as an asset?
Yes, at what it would sell for today, which is usually much less than you paid. If you have a car loan, include the payoff balance under what you owe.
Is a negative net worth a problem?
Not necessarily. Student loans or a new mortgage with a small down payment often make net worth negative for a few years. It becomes a concern if the figure keeps falling year after year.
Sources
Figures come from institutions millions of people rely on. How we keep calculators accurate.