Vesting Schedule Calculator
Calculate how many equity shares or options have vested at any point in a schedule, including cliff periods, and project the remaining vesting timeline.
📅 Equity📐 Vested = total × (months elapsed − cliff handled) / vesting period💼 Business
Total shares or options granted
Vesting period (months)
Cliff period (months)
Months elapsed since grant
Vesting frequency after cliff
Please enter valid values.
Formula & Reference
| Variable | Symbol | Formula | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vesting Schedule Calculator | — | Vested = total × (months elapsed − cliff handled) / vesting period | shares |
Step-by-Step Examples
Example 1
Standard 4-Year, 1-Year Cliff
48,000 shares, 48 month vesting, 12 month cliff, 20 months elapsed, monthly after cliff.
- Monthly rate = 48,000 / 48 = 1,000 shares
- Cliff passed at month 12
- Vested = 1,000 × 20 = 20,000 shares
- 41.67% vested, 28,000 unvested
✓ 20,000 shares vested (41.67%)
Example 2
Before the Cliff
Same grant, 9 months elapsed.
- Cliff is 12 months — not yet reached
- Nothing has vested
- At month 12, 12,000 shares vest at once
- 3 months remaining to the cliff
✓ 0 vested — cliff not reached
Example 3
Quarterly Vesting
40,000 shares, 48 months, 12 month cliff, 30 months elapsed, quarterly.
- Monthly rate = 833.33
- Completed quarters = floor(30/3) × 3 = 30 months
- Vested = 833.33 × 30 = 25,000 shares
- 62.5% vested
✓ 25,000 shares vested (62.5%)
Real-World Applications
Offer Comparison
Vesting terms materially affect an equity grant's value — a four-year schedule with a cliff is worth less than immediate vesting of the same amount.
Departure Planning
Knowing exactly what has vested informs decisions about timing a departure relative to vesting dates.
Founder Agreements
Founder vesting protects co-founders against a departure leaving someone with a large unearned stake.
Cap Table Accuracy
Accurate vested versus unvested figures matter for fully diluted ownership calculations.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
⚠️
Assuming the cliff means delayed vesting only
Before the cliff, nothing vests at all. Leaving one day before a twelve-month cliff typically means walking away with zero equity.
⚠️
Confusing vesting with exercising
Vesting means the right is earned. Options still require exercise, at cost, and often within a limited window after leaving.
⚠️
Ignoring the post-termination exercise window
Many plans give only 90 days after departure to exercise vested options. Missing it forfeits them entirely, regardless of vesting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vesting cliff? ▾
A period at the start of a schedule during which nothing vests. At the cliff date, the full accrued portion vests at once, then vesting continues periodically.
What is a standard vesting schedule? ▾
Four years with a one-year cliff is the most common arrangement in startups, with monthly vesting after the cliff.
What happens to unvested shares if I leave? ▾
They are forfeited and typically return to the option pool. Only vested shares or options remain yours, subject to the plan's exercise rules.
What is the post-termination exercise window? ▾
The period after leaving during which vested options can still be exercised — commonly 90 days, though some companies offer considerably longer.
What is acceleration? ▾
A provision vesting some or all unvested equity on a triggering event, usually acquisition. Single trigger vests on the event; double trigger requires both the event and termination.