Practical use cases
- Putting a rough, illustrative figure on turnover for a planning conversation.
- Comparing the estimated cost of turnover across teams using your own consistent assumptions.
- Sense-checking whether a retention initiative might be worth scoping.
Calculator
Works entirely in your browser — nothing is sent, saved or tracked. Results update as you type.
How it works
The formula is:
Number of departures × your estimated average cost per departure
You supply the average cost per departure yourself — the calculator holds no salary or benchmark figures. A real estimate would reflect recruiting, onboarding, lost productivity and handover, and varies widely by role and organisation.
Worked example: If 8 people left and you estimate an average cost of 5,000 per departure, the total estimate is 8 × 5,000 = 40,000 for that period.
For the full background — what it measures, why it matters and how to read it — see the employee turnover rate guide.
How to read the result
Treat the result as a rough, illustrative planning figure built entirely from your own assumptions — not a benchmark or a precise accounting number. Change one assumption and the total moves a lot.
It is most useful for comparison and scoping: is the estimated cost large enough to justify looking at retention? Read it alongside your turnover rate and retention rate rather than on its own.
Common mistakes
- Treating a single assumed cost per departure as precise when it varies widely by role and seniority.
- Counting departures over one period but using a cost assumption from another.
- Presenting the estimate as a hard, audited figure rather than a planning illustration.
- Ignoring that some turnover is healthy and planned for.
Free, printable planning resources
Plan and onboard consistently alongside the numbers. No signup, no gating.