How this net worth calculator works
Net worth is one of the clearest single measures of your overall financial position. It answers a simple question: if you sold everything you own and paid off everything you owe, what would be left? In formula terms, net worth = total assets − total liabilities.
An asset is anything you own that holds value — cash and savings, investment and brokerage balances, retirement accounts, the market value of real estate, vehicles and other valuables. A liability is anything you owe — a mortgage balance, car loans, student loans, credit card debt and any other outstanding debts. This calculator adds up each side, then subtracts liabilities from assets to give your net worth.
The figure can be positive or negative. A negative net worth simply means your debts currently outweigh your assets, which is common early in a career or soon after taking on a mortgage or student loans. What usually matters most is the direction the number moves over time, not any single reading.
Reference note: results are estimates shown in US dollars and depend entirely on the values you enter, including how you estimate market values for property and vehicles. This is general math, not financial advice. The benchmarks below are illustrative only.
Illustrative net worth milestones
| Life stage | Common focus |
|---|---|
| Early career | Often near zero or negative due to student debt; building an emergency fund |
| Mid career | Growing retirement balances and home equity; paying down high-interest debt |
| Later career | Larger investment and retirement balances; mortgage closer to paid off |
| Retirement | Drawing on accumulated assets; liabilities typically low |
Frequently asked questions
- What is net worth?
- Net worth is what you own minus what you owe. You add the value of your assets — cash, investments, retirement accounts, your home and vehicles — and subtract your liabilities, such as a mortgage, car loans, student loans and credit card debt. It is a snapshot of your financial position at a point in time.
- How do I calculate net worth?
- Total your assets, total your liabilities, then subtract: net worth = total assets − total liabilities. This calculator does the arithmetic as you type, showing total assets, total liabilities and the resulting net worth.
- What counts as an asset versus a liability?
- An asset is something you own that has value — cash and savings, investments, retirement accounts, the market value of real estate, vehicles and other valuables. A liability is something you owe — a mortgage balance, car loans, student loans, credit card debt and other outstanding debts.
- Is a negative net worth bad?
- A negative net worth means your liabilities are larger than your assets, which is common early in a career or with student loans or a new mortgage. It is a starting point, not a verdict — the trend over time usually matters more than any single figure.
- What is a good net worth by age?
- There is no single correct figure, because income, cost of living, debt and goals vary widely. Some people aim to grow net worth steadily relative to income as they age, but that is general information, not advice. Comparing against your own past figures is usually most useful.
- Is my data saved or sent anywhere?
- No. Every amount you enter stays in your browser and is used only to calculate the totals on this page. Nothing is saved, stored or transmitted to any server, and the figures disappear when you close or refresh the page.