Net Worth Calculator
Calculate your net worth by totaling your assets and subtracting your liabilities. Track your financial progress over time.
Net Worth Formula
What is Net Worth?
Net worth is the single most important number in personal finance. It represents your total financial health by subtracting what you owe (liabilities) from what you own (assets). A positive net worth means you own more than you owe; a negative net worth means you're in debt.
Tracking your net worth over time is more meaningful than tracking income alone. You could earn $200,000 a year but have a negative net worth if you spend more than you earn. Conversely, someone earning $50,000 with disciplined saving might have a much higher net worth.
Complete Picture
See your total financial position at a glance.
Track Progress
Monitor your wealth growth over time.
Set Goals
Use as a benchmark for financial goals.
Balance Check
Understand your debt vs asset ratio.
Assets: What Counts
Assets are everything of value that you own. Include items you could sell or liquidate for cash.
Liquid Assets
Cash, checking accounts, savings accounts, money market funds, CDs. These are immediately accessible and should be counted at full value.
Investment Accounts
Brokerage accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs. Use current market value, not what you paid. Include crypto if applicable.
Retirement Accounts
401(k), 403(b), IRA, Roth IRA, pension value. Include the full balance even though there may be penalties for early withdrawal.
Real Estate
Your home, rental properties, land. Use current market value (Zillow estimate, recent appraisal, or comparable sales).
Vehicles
Cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs. Use Kelley Blue Book or similar for realistic current value, not what you paid.
Personal Property
Valuable items you could sell: jewelry, art, collectibles, electronics. Be conservative—most items depreciate significantly.
Liabilities: What Counts
Liabilities are debts and obligations you owe. Include the current balance owed, not the original loan amount.
Mortgage
Current balance on your home loan(s). Include home equity loans and HELOCs. Check your most recent statement for the exact payoff amount.
Auto Loans
Remaining balance on car loans. If you owe more than the car is worth (underwater), this significantly impacts net worth.
Student Loans
Federal and private student loan balances. Include all loans—undergraduate, graduate, parent loans if you're responsible.
Credit Cards
Total balance across all cards. This is typically high-interest debt that should be prioritized for payoff.
Personal Loans
Bank loans, online loans, family loans. If you owe money to family, include it—it's still a liability.
Other Debts
Medical bills, tax debt, legal judgments, business debts you've personally guaranteed. Include anything you're obligated to pay.
Net Worth by Age
How does your net worth compare? Here are median net worth figures by age from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances.
| Age Group | Median Net Worth | Average Net Worth | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $14,000 | $76,000 | $250,000+ |
| 35-44 | $91,000 | $436,000 | $750,000+ |
| 45-54 | $168,000 | $833,000 | $1.5M+ |
| 55-64 | $213,000 | $1.18M | $2.5M+ |
| 65-74 | $266,000 | $1.22M | $3M+ |
| 75+ | $254,000 | $977,000 | $2.5M+ |
Improving Your Net Worth
Net worth grows through two mechanisms: increasing assets and decreasing liabilities. Here are strategies for both.
Pay Down High-Interest Debt
Credit cards and personal loans often charge 15-25%. Every dollar paid reduces liabilities and saves future interest. This is often the highest-return 'investment' you can make.
Maximize Retirement Contributions
401(k) contributions are tax-advantaged and often matched by employers. Maxing out your match is an instant 50-100% return on your contribution.
Build Home Equity
Each mortgage payment builds equity (an asset) while reducing your loan balance (a liability). Extra principal payments accelerate this double benefit.
Increase Savings Rate
The gap between income and spending is what builds wealth. Aim to save 15-20% of income. Automate transfers to make it effortless.
Invest Consistently
Regular investing in index funds builds assets over time through compound growth. Time in the market beats timing the market.
Avoid New Debt
Every new loan adds liabilities. Question whether purchases requiring financing are truly necessary. If you can't pay cash, consider waiting.
Common Net Worth Mistakes
Avoid these errors when calculating and tracking your net worth.
Overvaluing Your Home
Use realistic market value, not your purchase price or emotional value. Check recent comparable sales or get a professional appraisal.
Including Non-Liquid Items
Your furniture, clothes, and everyday items have little resale value. Don't inflate net worth with items you couldn't actually sell.
Forgetting Small Debts
Include all debts: medical bills, money owed to family, buy-now-pay-later balances, back taxes. Small debts add up.
Checking Too Often
Daily market fluctuations cause net worth swings. Monthly or quarterly tracking provides meaningful data without anxiety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I include my car as an asset?
Yes, include vehicles at their current market value (use Kelley Blue Book). However, remember that cars depreciate quickly. If you have a car loan, include both the car's value as an asset and the loan balance as a liability.
Is negative net worth bad?
Not necessarily, especially when young. Recent graduates often have negative net worth due to student loans but positive earning potential. The key is trending upward—negative net worth becomes concerning if it's not improving or getting worse over time.
Should I include my spouse's assets and debts?
For household net worth, yes. For individual net worth, it depends on your legal situation. Married couples typically share finances, so combined net worth makes sense. Keep separate calculations if needed for specific goals.
How often should I calculate net worth?
Monthly or quarterly is ideal. More frequent checks cause unnecessary stress from market volatility. Less frequent misses the motivational benefit of seeing progress. Pick a regular date (first of month, end of quarter) and stick to it.
Should I count my pension?
Yes, if you have a defined-benefit pension, include its present value. This can be complex to calculate—your HR department may provide an estimate, or you can use online calculators. For defined-contribution plans (401k), simply use the current balance.
What's a good debt-to-asset ratio?
Under 50% is generally healthy, meaning your assets are worth at least double your debts. Under 30% is excellent. Over 80% indicates high financial risk. This ratio matters more than absolute net worth for financial stability.
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