What this calculator does
See what you're really worth today: everything you own, minus everything you owe. That one number, your net worth, sums up where you stand with money. Your income tells you what comes in each month. Your net worth tells you what you've actually built. Checking it once or twice a year is one of the easiest ways to see your progress. It shows whether saving, investing and paying down debt are moving you forward.
Enter what your things are worth today, called your assets. Then enter what it would take to pay off each debt, called your liabilities. You'll get your net worth and your liquid net worth, which counts only money you could reach quickly. You'll also see your home equity and your debt-to-asset ratio. A breakdown of your assets and a balance sheet let you check every line.
Where it's used
Why this math matters outside the classroom:
- Personal balance sheet. Assets of $250,000 minus liabilities of $180,000 give a net worth of $70,000.
- Debt-to-asset ratio. In that example, liabilities equal 72% of assets.
- Tracking each year. Households list what they own and owe once a year to see how their net worth changes over time.
- Liquid net worth. Counting only cash and easily sold assets shows how much could be reached quickly after debts.
How to use it
- Enter your cash and taxable investments at their current balances.
- Enter retirement accounts at their current balance. Enter your home, vehicles and other assets at what they'd realistically sell for today.
- Enter each debt at what it would take to pay it off now: mortgage, car loans, student loans, credit cards and anything else you owe. Leave unused boxes at 0.
- Read your net worth. Then look at liquid net worth and the debt-to-asset ratio for a fuller picture.
What the inputs mean
- Cash: checking, savings, CDs
- Checking, savings, money market accounts and CDs (certificates of deposit). Use the current balance.
- Taxable investments: stocks, funds, crypto
- Brokerage accounts and other investments outside retirement plans, at what they're worth today.
- Retirement accounts: 401(k), IRA, pension value
- 401(k), 403(b), IRA and similar balances. These are counted at full value, even though you may owe taxes and penalties when you take money out.
- Home and other real estate (market value)
- A realistic sale price, such as a recent appraisal or what similar homes sold for, not what you paid. Include any other real estate you own.
- Vehicles (resale value)
- What the car would sell for today, which is usually well below what you paid.
- Mortgage and home equity loans
- What it would take to pay the loan off today. Include any home equity loan or line of credit balance.
Formula and method
total assets = cash + investments + retirement + real estate + vehicles + other total liabilities = mortgage + car loans + student loans + credit cards + other debts net worth = total assets − total liabilities liquid net worth = (cash + taxable investments) − total liabilities home equity = home value − mortgage balance debt-to-asset ratio = total liabilities ÷ total assets × 100
Assets are the things you own that have money value. Liabilities are the debts you owe. Net worth is a snapshot, so it's only as accurate as the values you enter on that day. Using today's market values for assets and payoff balances for debts keeps the comparison fair.
Liquid net worth asks a stricter question. If you had to pay off every debt using only money you can reach quickly, what would be left? It leaves out retirement accounts, the home, vehicles and belongings. Turning those into cash takes time, or costs you taxes, penalties and selling fees. It's often negative for homeowners with a mortgage, and that's normal.
The debt-to-asset ratio shows how much of what you own is, in effect, paid for with debt. A lower number means more of your assets are truly yours.
Worked example
You have $15,000 in cash, $40,000 in a brokerage account, $85,000 in retirement accounts, a home worth $350,000, a car worth $20,000 and $5,000 of other assets. You owe $260,000 on the mortgage, $12,000 on a car loan, $18,000 in student loans and $3,000 on credit cards.
- Total assets: $15,000 + $40,000 + $85,000 + $350,000 + $20,000 + $5,000 = $515,000.
- Total liabilities: $260,000 + $12,000 + $18,000 + $3,000 = $293,000.
- Net worth: $515,000 − $293,000 = $222,000.
- Liquid net worth: $55,000 − $293,000 = −$238,000. Home equity: $350,000 − $260,000 = $90,000.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: $293,000 ÷ $515,000 × 100 ≈ 56.89%.
Result: Your net worth is $222,000. Debt offsets about 56.89% of your assets.
Understanding the result
A positive net worth means your assets would cover all your debts with something left over. A negative one is common early in a career, especially with student loans. It's a starting point, not a verdict. What matters most is the direction. Work it out on the same date each year and watch how it changes.
Look at the mix, not just the total. If most of your net worth is in home equity and retirement accounts, you could still be short of cash in an emergency. Liquid net worth and an emergency fund help with that. A debt-to-asset ratio that falls over time shows you own more and more of what you have.
Assumptions and limitations
- Assets are entered at today's market value, and debts at what it would take to pay them off today.
- Retirement accounts are counted at their full balance, before any tax due when you take money out.
- Liquid assets are cash and taxable investments only.
- Selling costs, taxes on gains and early-withdrawal penalties aren't taken off. So the amount you could actually walk away with is lower.
- Values such as a home or a business are estimates, and they can change quickly.
- This snapshot is for personal planning. It isn't a formal financial statement or advice.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include my home in my net worth?
Yes, at a realistic sale price, with the mortgage counted as a debt. The difference, your home equity, is a real part of your wealth. But you need somewhere to live, and selling is costly. So many people also look at their net worth without the home, which is roughly what liquid net worth shows.
Do I count my car?
Count it at what it would sell for today, and count its loan as a debt. Cars lose value quickly. So their share of your net worth usually shrinks each year, even as you pay down the loan.
Is a negative net worth bad?
Not necessarily. Student loans and a new mortgage can keep net worth negative or small for years. What matters is whether it rises over time as you pay off debt and save.
What is liquid net worth?
Your cash, plus investments you can sell quickly, minus everything you owe. It shows how well you could handle your debts without selling your home or using retirement money. For homeowners it's often negative because of the mortgage.
How often should I calculate my net worth?
Once or twice a year is enough for most people. Checking too often mostly tracks short-term ups and downs in the market. A yearly check on the same date shows the real trend.
How this calculator is checked
Method: Standard personal balance-sheet definitions: net worth = assets − liabilities; liquid net worth = liquid assets − liabilities; debt-to-asset ratio = liabilities ÷ assets. The calculation is covered by automated tests with known reference values and edge cases. Last updated 2026-10-18. Found a problem? Tell us.
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