Net Worth Calculator
Calculate your net worth — add up your assets (cash, investments, home, vehicles) and subtract your liabilities (mortgage, loans, credit cards) to see where you stand.
What your net worth tells you
Net worth is the single clearest snapshot of your finances: everything you own (assets) minus everything you owe (liabilities). It is not your income or your salary — a high earner who spends everything can have a smaller net worth than a modest earner who saves and invests steadily. The formula is simple: Net worth = total assets − total liabilities. The calculator above totals both columns and shows the difference live as you type, so you can see exactly which line items move the number.
Build a complete asset and liability list
The most common mistake is leaving things off. Use the checklist below so nothing important is missed. Value each asset at its fair market value — a realistic estimate of what you could sell it for today, not what you paid for it. For a home, use a recent comparable-sales estimate; for a car, a current used-value guide; for investments, today’s balance.
| Assets (what you own) | Liabilities (what you owe) |
|---|---|
| Cash, checking & savings accounts | Mortgage and home-equity loan / HELOC balance |
| Brokerage investments — stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds | Auto loans |
| Retirement accounts — 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Roth IRA | Student loans |
| Home and other real estate (market value) | Credit-card balances |
| Vehicles, boats (resale value) | Personal loans, medical debt |
| Business interests and equity | Payday and title loans |
| Cash value of whole-life insurance, valuable collectibles | Taxes owed (estimated / deferred) |
The biggest item people forget is on the right side: taxes you owe but have not paid. If you are self-employed and set aside money for estimated tax, that set-aside is a liability until it is paid. Money inside a traditional 401(k) or IRA also carries deferred income tax you will owe on withdrawal, so its after-tax value is lower than the balance shown. Everyday personal property such as clothing, furniture and electronics is usually left out, because it does not convert cleanly to cash.
A fully worked example
Take a household in their early 40s. Add up the asset column, add up the liability column, then subtract.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Home (market value) | $420,000 |
| 401(k) and IRA | $185,000 |
| Brokerage and savings | $60,000 |
| Two vehicles (resale) | $32,000 |
| Total assets | $697,000 |
| Mortgage balance | −$305,000 |
| Auto loans | −$24,000 |
| Student loans | −$41,000 |
| Credit cards | −$15,000 |
| Total liabilities | −$385,000 |
| Net worth | $312,000 |
$697,000 − $385,000 = $312,000. Notice the home contributes only its equity to net worth: the $420,000 value is partly offset by the $305,000 still owed, so it adds $115,000 net, not $420,000. That is why two people with identical homes can have very different net worth.
Liquid net worth vs total net worth
Total net worth includes everything. Liquid net worth counts only what you could turn into cash quickly without a forced sale — bank balances and most brokerage holdings, but not your home, car or a private business. In the example above, liquid net worth is closer to $60,000 (savings and brokerage) minus high-interest debt, even though total net worth is $312,000. Liquid net worth is the better measure of your emergency cushion; total net worth is the better measure of long-term wealth. Watching both is useful.
How do you compare? Federal Reserve benchmarks
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances (2022 data, the most recent release) is the authoritative source for household net worth. The median household is worth $192,700 and the mean (average) is about $1.06 million — the average is far higher because a small number of very wealthy households pull it up, so the median is the more representative figure for a typical family. Net worth normally rises with age as people pay down debt and grow retirement accounts.
| Age of head of household | Median net worth | Mean (average) net worth |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $39,040 | $183,380 |
| 35–44 | $135,300 | $548,070 |
| 45–54 | $246,700 | $971,270 |
| 55–64 | $364,270 | $1,564,070 |
| 65–74 | $410,000 | $1,780,720 |
| 75 and older | $334,700 | $1,620,100 |
Use these as context, not a verdict. They are national figures and do not adjust for where you live, your cost of living or your goals. The $312,000 household above sits well above the median for its 35–44 age band, mostly because of home equity and retirement savings.
Is a negative net worth bad?
Not by itself. A negative or small net worth is common early on — a new graduate with student loans, or a homeowner who just bought with a large mortgage, can owe more than they own on paper. What matters is the trend. As you pay down principal and your savings and investments compound, the number climbs. Recalculate every few months and watch the direction. A net worth that is rising year over year is a healthier sign than a high but stagnant one.
Growing each side of the balance sheet
Two levers move net worth: grow assets and shrink liabilities. On the asset side, investing consistently and letting returns compound does the heavy lifting over time — see the compound interest calculator and, for tax-advantaged retirement saving, the 401(k) calculator. On the liability side, paying off high-interest debt is a guaranteed return equal to the interest rate you avoid; the debt avalanche calculator (highest rate first) and the debt snowball calculator (smallest balance first) show how fast extra payments clear what you owe. Doing both at once is what makes net worth climb steadily.
For information only, not financial advice. Benchmark figures are from the U.S. Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (2022 data) and reflect national medians and means; your situation may differ. Verify tax treatment of retirement accounts and self-employment estimates with the IRS or a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good net worth for my age?
There is no single "good" number, but the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances gives useful benchmarks. Median (typical) household net worth is about $39,000 under age 35, $135,300 at 35–44, $246,700 at 45–54, $364,270 at 55–64 and $410,000 at 65–74. The overall U.S. median is $192,700 and the mean is roughly $1.06 million — the average is much higher because a few very wealthy households pull it up, so the median better reflects a typical family. Treat these as context: they are national figures and don't account for your cost of living or goals.
What is the difference between net worth and income?
Income is what you earn over a period — your salary, business profit or investment income. Net worth is what you've accumulated at a point in time: assets minus liabilities. They are not the same. A high earner who spends everything can have a low or negative net worth, while a modest earner who saves and invests the difference can build substantial net worth. Net worth, not income, is the measure of wealth, and the way to grow it is to spend less than you make and invest the gap.
Should I include my home and 401(k) in net worth?
Yes to both, but with care. Include your home at its current market value, and remember it adds only your equity — the value minus the mortgage still owed — to net worth, not the full price. Include retirement accounts like a 401(k) or IRA at their current balance. Note that money in a traditional (pre-tax) 401(k) or IRA carries deferred income tax you'll owe on withdrawal, so its real after-tax value is somewhat lower than the balance shown. Roth accounts have no such future tax.
What is liquid net worth?
Liquid net worth counts only the assets you could convert to cash quickly without a forced sale — bank balances and most brokerage investments — minus your debts. It excludes hard-to-sell assets like your home, vehicles and a private business. Total net worth includes everything. Liquid net worth is the better gauge of your short-term financial cushion and how prepared you are for an emergency, while total net worth measures your long-term wealth. It's worth tracking both.
How often should I calculate my net worth?
Every three to six months is plenty for most people, with a fuller review once a year. Net worth moves slowly, so checking it too often can be discouraging when markets dip. The goal is to watch the trend over time, not the day-to-day number. Recalculate after major events too — buying a home, paying off a loan, a big change in investments — and keep a simple log so you can see the direction your net worth is heading.
How do I calculate my net worth?
Add up everything you own (assets) — cash, savings, investments, retirement accounts, home and vehicles — then subtract everything you owe (liabilities) — mortgage, loans and credit-card debt. What is left is your net worth. Fill in the fields above and it totals it for you.
What counts as an asset or a liability?
Assets are things of value you own: bank balances, investments, retirement accounts, property, vehicles and valuables. Liabilities are debts you owe: your mortgage, car and student loans, and credit-card balances. Net worth is simply assets minus liabilities.
Is it bad to have a negative net worth?
Not necessarily — it is common early on, especially with a mortgage or student loans. What matters is the trend: as you pay down debt and build savings and investments, net worth rises over time. Recalculate periodically to track your progress.