How to calculate your net worth
Your net worth is a snapshot of your finances on one day. It is what you would have left if you sold everything you own and paid off everything you owe.
Debt-to-asset ratio = total liabilities ÷ total assets
Liquid net worth = cash + investments − debts not secured by a home or car
Assets are things you own that have money value: cash, savings, investments, retirement accounts, your home, vehicles and other property. Use what each would be worth today, not what you paid. A car bought for $35,000 may be worth $18,000 now.
Liabilities are what you owe: your mortgage, home equity loans, car loans, student loans, credit card balances, personal loans and medical bills. Use the balance left to pay, from your latest statements.
Worked example
Here is a family with a home, a car and some debt:
| Assets | Value | Liabilities | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and savings | $15,000 | Mortgage | $240,000 |
| Investments | $25,000 | Auto loans | $12,000 |
| Retirement accounts | $85,000 | Student loans | $22,000 |
| Home value | $350,000 | Credit cards | $4,500 |
| Vehicles | $18,000 | Other debts | $0 |
| Other assets | $5,000 | ||
| Total | $498,000 | Total | $278,500 |
- Net worth: $498,000 − $278,500 = $219,500
- Debt-to-asset ratio: $278,500 ÷ $498,000 = 55.9%
- Home equity: $350,000 − $240,000 = $110,000
- Net worth without the home: $219,500 − $110,000 = $109,500
- Liquid net worth: $40,000 of cash and investments − $26,500 of student loan and card debt = $13,500
The headline number looks healthy. But half of it is tied up in the house, and the family’s quick-access money only just covers its unsecured debts. That is why the calculator shows more than one number.
Net worth by age in the US
The Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) is the most detailed official source on US household wealth. The 2025 survey was published in October 2026. These are the figures for families, by the age of the head of the family, in 2025 dollars:
| Age of head of family | Median net worth | Mean net worth |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $33,000 | $135,400 |
| 35–44 | $155,600 | $681,900 |
| 45–54 | $253,700 | $1,244,500 |
| 55–64 | $411,900 | $1,878,000 |
| 65–74 | $431,300 | $1,897,600 |
| 75 or older | $504,900 | $1,962,200 |
| All families | $215,900 | $1,241,500 |
Source: Federal Reserve, Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2022 to 2025, Table 2.
Two things stand out. First, the mean is far above the median in every age group, because a few very wealthy families pull the average up. Compare yourself with the median. Second, wealth tends to build through working life as people pay off homes and save for retirement. In the 2025 survey, the median for families under 35 fell 23% from 2022 after inflation, while families 75 or older had the highest median.
Our example family, with a head aged 38, has a net worth of $219,500. That is about 1.4 times the $155,600 median for ages 35 to 44.
What the extra numbers tell you
Debt-to-asset ratio. This shows how much of what you own is really funded by debt. Under about 30% is low. Between 30% and 60% is typical for homeowners with a mortgage. Over 100% means you owe more than you own. Lenders look at a related measure, your debt-to-income ratio, when you apply for a loan.
Liquid net worth. Your home and retirement accounts are hard to spend in an emergency. Liquid net worth counts only cash and regular investments, minus debts not secured by a home or car. If it is negative, a job loss or big bill could push you onto credit cards.
Net worth without your home. You have to live somewhere, so home equity does not pay the bills in retirement unless you sell or downsize. This figure shows the wealth you could use more freely.
How to grow your net worth
There are only two levers: raise assets or cut debts. The fastest gains usually come from:
- Paying off high-interest debt. Clearing a 25% credit card is like earning a guaranteed 25% return. The debt payoff calculator builds a plan.
- Saving automatically. Set up transfers to savings or investments on payday, before you can spend the money.
- Getting your full employer match. It is an instant return on your retirement savings. Check it with the 401(k) calculator.
- Letting compounding work. Money invested early grows the most. See how with the compound interest calculator.
- Buying fewer things that lose value. Cars and gadgets drop in value quickly, which lowers your net worth even if you pay cash.
Tips for tracking it
- Calculate it on the same date each year, or each quarter. The trend matters more than any one number.
- Use realistic values. Check recent sales near you for your home, and used-car prices for vehicles. Be conservative.
- Do not count future income or pensions you cannot cash out. Net worth is what you own today.
- Save your results. Copy the link below the calculator. It stores only the numbers, so you can open it next year and update it.
Limits
This calculator adds up the values you enter. It does not account for taxes you would owe if you sold investments or withdrew from pre-tax retirement accounts, or for selling costs on a home. The age comparison uses US data in US dollars, so it appears only when the currency is set to USD.