Equity Vesting Calculator
Model an RSU or option grant across its cliff and monthly schedule — see the vested value and shares to date, what is still locked up, and what vests next.
Know what you actually hold
Equity is quoted as one big grant number, but you only ever own the part that has vested. The cliff means the first year is all-or-nothing, and the monthly schedule after it makes the value you hold change every month. Whether you are weighing a job move, planning around a vesting date, or just tracking your net worth, the vested-versus-locked split is the number that matters.
Bring the vested figure into a full package with the Dev Salary Negotiation Calculator, or weigh grants across offers with the Tech Offer Comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a standard four-year vesting schedule work?
The classic tech grant vests over 48 months with a 12-month cliff. Nothing vests in the first year; at the one-year mark, a quarter of the grant vests in a single chunk. After that it vests monthly — another 1/48 each month — until the grant is fully vested at four years. This calculator follows that cliff-then-monthly pattern using the cliff and total months you enter.
What is the difference between RSUs and options here?
For vesting purposes both follow the same schedule, so the shares-vested figure applies to either. The value differs: RSUs are worth the full share price as they vest, while options are only worth the share price minus your strike price, and only if you exercise. This tool values vested shares at the price you enter, so for options enter the spread (current price minus strike) rather than the full price to approximate their real worth.
Why does leaving early cost so much equity?
Because vesting is back-loaded by the cliff and paid out over years. Leave at 11 months and you forfeit the entire grant; leave at 18 months and you keep only about a third. Seeing the locked-up shares and their value is often the clearest argument for timing a move around a vesting date — or for negotiating a sign-on or refresher to offset what you would walk away from.
Can I rely on the value shown?
No — treat it as illustrative. The share price you enter is a snapshot, and for a private company it is genuinely uncertain and often illiquid, so the real value could be much higher, much lower, or zero. Vesting can also pause or accelerate under specific clauses. Read your actual grant documents and talk to a tax professional before making a decision on the strength of these numbers.
Illustrative estimates only. Share prices — especially private ones — are uncertain and often illiquid. Read your grant documents and consult a tax professional. Not financial or tax advice.