Employee turnover is costly: replacing an employee often costs a third to a half of their annual salary in recruiting, training and lost productivity. Tracking voluntary turnover separately shows how many people chose to leave.
How to use the Turnover Rate Calculator
- Average headcount
- Employees at the start
- Employees at the end
- Average number of employees
- Employees who left
- Of whom left voluntarily
- Replacement cost per employee
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter headcount at the start and end of the period (or the average), the number of employees who left, and how many left voluntarily.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Average headcount | Choose one: Calculate from start and end, I know the average |
| Employees at the start | A number |
| Employees at the end | A number |
| Average number of employees | A number |
| Employees who left | A number |
| Of whom left voluntarily | A number |
| Replacement cost per employee | Amount in your currency |
What each result means
- Turnover rate = [Employees who left]÷[Average headcount]×100
- Voluntary turnover = [Of whom left voluntarily]÷[Average headcount]×100
- Involuntary turnover = ([Employees who left] – [Of whom left voluntarily])÷[Average headcount]×100
- Estimated cost of turnover = [Employees who left]×[Replacement cost per employee]
Example values
How the main result changes when Employees at the start changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Employees at the start | Turnover rate (%) |
|---|---|
| 100 | 15.48 |
| 150 | 13.33 |
| 200 | 11.71 |
| 250 | 10.43 |
| 300 | 9.41 |
| 400 | 7.87 |
Formula
Average employees = (start + end) ÷ 2
Turnover rate = separations ÷ average employees × 100
Annualised = monthly rate × 12 (approximately)
Worked example
Inputs: Average headcount: Calculate from start and end; Employees at the start: 200; Employees at the end: 210; Employees who left: 24; Of whom left voluntarily: 18; Replacement cost per employee: $15,000.
Results: Average headcount = 205; Turnover rate = 11.71 %; Voluntary turnover = 8.78 %; Involuntary turnover = 2.93 %; Estimated cost of turnover = $360,000.00.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good employee turnover rate?
Around 10% a year is often seen as healthy; it varies by industry.
What is the difference between turnover and attrition?
Turnover counts leavers who are replaced; attrition often refers to roles left unfilled.
How much does turnover cost?
Often 33–50% of the employee's annual salary.