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Cash Runway Calculator

Estimate time until a chosen cash reserve is reached under constant monthly flows, with explicit states for zero burn and growing cash.

By PriceAndProfit Editorial Updated

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Fill in the fields: the result appears under the form, with the formula below it.

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Formula and cost boundary

Net burn = monthly payments − monthly receipts; runway = (cash − reserve) ÷ positive net burn

Starting cash must cover the chosen reserve. When payments do not exceed receipts there is no finite depletion date under these assumptions; the tool says so instead of dividing by zero. This does not mean unlimited liquidity because timing and one-off payments can still create gaps. The quotient assumes smooth monthly flows and is not a survival prediction.

Worked example: Positive net burn

The following inputs are hypothetical values for checking the calculation. They are not recommended prices, wages, margins or platform charges. Keep the units and period shown in each label when replacing them with your own records.

Inputs for this worked example
InputExample value
Available cash balance $30,000
Cash to keep outside runway spending $6,000
Recurring monthly cash receipts $10,000
Recurring monthly cash payments $14,000
Outputs from the displayed inputs
ResultCalculated value
Months until the reserve threshold 6 months
Monthly net cash burn (negative means growth) $4,000
Cash above reserve $24,000

Using the result

Save the input set alongside the source date of each quote or cost record. Review the cost boundary before comparing this result with another report: a contribution measure may exclude overhead, and a cash measure follows payment dates. Display rounding does not change the underlying assumptions. Recalculate when an input changes; the tool does not predict future sales or collections.

Are any rates supplied automatically?

No. Numeric fields are your inputs. Example values demonstrate arithmetic only. Check your contracts and records for the amounts that apply to your business.

Why might a result be unavailable or negative?

A missing denominator or inconsistent inputs can make the calculation undefined. Those combinations are rejected or labeled explicitly. A valid negative result remains visible because it may identify a loss or cash shortfall.

Method reference: OpenStax: Financial Budgets. Checked October 22, 2026. Dated receipts and payments; no borrowing or investment model is implemented.

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