See what actually lands in your account. This free paycheck calculator estimates your take-home pay from your gross pay, pay frequency, tax rate and pre-tax deductions — with your annual net total.
Your pay
$
%
$
Take-home pay
—
Enter your gross pay and tax rate
Gross pay
—
Taxes withheld
—
Pre-tax deductions
—
Annual take-home
—
Estimate only. Enter your own effective tax rate — exact withholding depends on your country, state and filing status.
Use this free paycheck calculator to estimate your take-home pay after taxes and deductions. Enter your gross pay, pay frequency and tax rate to see your net paycheck and what it adds up to over a year.
What this paycheck calculator shows you
A paycheck calculator estimates your take-home (net) pay — what actually lands in your account after taxes and deductions are taken from your gross pay. Enter your gross pay per period, your pay frequency, your tax rate and any pre-tax deductions, and it shows your net paycheck, total taxes withheld and your annual take-home.
Important: exact payroll tax depends on your country, state, filing status and benefits, so there’s no single universal formula. This calculator uses an effective tax rate you enter to keep it accurate for any location. To find your rate, divide the total deductions on a recent payslip by your gross pay.
How to use the paycheck calculator
Enter your gross pay. Your pay before any deductions, for one pay period.
Choose your pay frequency. Weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly.
Enter your tax & withholding rate. Your combined effective rate as a percentage.
Add pre-tax deductions (optional). Things like retirement or health contributions.
Read your result. Your take-home pay and annual total update instantly.
Pre-tax deductions are subtracted first because they lower your taxable income. Tax is then applied to what remains, and the result is your net pay. Multiplying by your number of pay periods gives your annual take-home.
Gross vs net pay
Term
Meaning
Gross pay
Your total earnings before any deductions.
Pre-tax deductions
Amounts taken out before tax, like 401(k) or health premiums.
Taxes & withholding
Income tax and payroll taxes withheld from your pay.
Net (take-home) pay
What’s actually deposited into your account.
Paycheck example
Say your gross pay is $2,500 every two weeks with a combined 22% tax rate and no pre-tax deductions:
Detail
Amount
Gross pay
$2,500
Taxes withheld
$550
Take-home pay
$1,950
Annual take-home
$50,700
Pay frequency explained
Weekly — 52 paychecks a year.
Bi-weekly — every two weeks, 26 paychecks a year.
Semi-monthly — twice a month, 24 paychecks a year.
Monthly — 12 paychecks a year.
Paycheck Calculator FAQ
How do I calculate my take-home pay?
Subtract your pre-tax deductions from your gross pay, then subtract taxes on what remains: Take-home = Gross − Pre-tax deductions − (Taxable × tax rate). This calculator does it for you once you enter your gross pay and effective tax rate.
What is the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is your total earnings before anything is taken out. Net pay, or take-home pay, is what's left after taxes and deductions and is what's actually deposited into your account.
Why do I need to enter my own tax rate?
Exact payroll tax depends on your country, state, filing status, allowances and benefits, so no single formula fits everyone. Entering your effective rate — total deductions divided by gross pay from a recent payslip — keeps the estimate accurate for your situation.
How do I find my effective tax rate?
Take a recent payslip, add up all the taxes and withholding, and divide that by your gross pay for the same period, then multiply by 100. That percentage is your effective rate to enter here.
What are pre-tax deductions?
Pre-tax deductions are amounts taken from your pay before tax is calculated — such as 401(k) contributions or health insurance premiums. They lower your taxable income, so they reduce your tax as well as your take-home.
How many paychecks are in a year?
It depends on your pay frequency: 52 weekly, 26 bi-weekly, 24 semi-monthly, or 12 monthly. The calculator uses your selection to work out your annual take-home.
Is the paycheck calculator free to use?
Yes, this paycheck calculator is completely free, needs no sign-up, and gives instant results directly in your browser.
