Actual Cost (Earned Value) Calculator
Calculate Actual Cost (Earned Value) step by step: AC = sum of all costs actually incurred for the work performed to the status date.
In short
Formula: AC = sum of all costs actually incurred for the work performed to the status date.
What this calculator does
Calculate Actual Cost (Earned Value) step by step: AC = sum of all costs actually incurred for the work performed to the status date. Worked example, questions and limitations included.
Use it to turn Currency (symbol only, never converted), Labor cost incurred, Materials cost incurred, Equipment and services incurred, and the other shown inputs into a checked result you can compare, copy, or rerun with different assumptions.
The page shows the formula, a numeric worked example, and the assumptions that affect this earned value calculation.
Inputs and what they mean
- Currency (symbol only, never converted)
- — choice value.
- Labor cost incurred
- — number value.
- Materials cost incurred
- — number value.
- Equipment and services incurred
- — number value.
- Other direct costs incurred
- — number value.
How to use it
- Enter each value in the unit shown next to the box (use the unit converter first if your numbers are in other units).
- Check the breakdown to see every intermediate step.
- Read the limitations before relying on the result.
Formula
Definitions follow the PMI PMBOK Guide and the ANSI/EIA-748 earned value management standard.
Actual cost (ACWP) must cover the same scope and period as earned value, or the comparison is meaningless.
Include accrued costs for work done but not yet invoiced; exclude purchase orders for work not yet performed.
AC = sum of all costs actually incurred for the work performed to the status date.
Inputs used: Currency (symbol only, never converted), Labor cost incurred, Materials cost incurred, Equipment and services incurred, Other direct costs incurred.
Worked example
Costs to date
- AC = 120,000 + 50,000 + 15,000 + 5,000 = $190,000.
Reading the result
The headline figure is the main answer. Any breakdown underneath shows the parts that make it up, so you can check the working and see what changes when you adjust an input.
Limitations and assumptions
- Only four cost lines; group other categories into them.
- Does not handle multiple currencies; enter one currency throughout.
- Timing differences between invoicing and work performed must be fixed by you with accruals.
- Results are planning estimates built only from the figures you enter. They are not a guarantee of cost, schedule or delivery, and they do not replace your organisation's own project controls.
- The result depends on the values you enter for this actual cost (earned value) calculator; it does not supply missing rates, rules, prices, dates, or assumptions for you.
Common questions
Should I use invoices or commitments?
Use costs incurred for work performed, including accruals. Commitments for future work belong in your estimate to complete, not in AC.
Do overheads belong in AC?
Only if they were also included in the budget (BAC). EV and AC must be measured on the same cost basis.
Enter zero for unused lines?
Yes. Every line must have a number so that nothing is silently left out.
How do I use the Actual Cost (Earned Value) Calculator?
Enter the required values for Currency (symbol only, never converted), Labor cost incurred, Materials cost incurred, Equipment and services incurred, Other direct costs incurred. The calculator applies the formula on this page and shows the main result with any supporting breakdown so you can check the arithmetic.
What formula does the Actual Cost (Earned Value) Calculator use?
AC = sum of all costs actually incurred for the work performed to the status date. The visible formula section above lists the calculation path and the edge cases the page handles, so the result can be checked without relying on the form alone.
Can the Actual Cost (Earned Value) Calculator be used for exact decisions?
Use it as a calculation aid, not as a substitute for checking the underlying rule, contract, policy, or professional advice that applies to your situation. When a result depends on local rules, personal details, prices, or dates, enter those values yourself and confirm them before acting.
Related tools
Calculate Planned Value step by step: PV = BAC × planned % complete at the status date.
Calculate Earned Value step by step: EV = BAC × actual % complete.
Calculate Budget At Completion step by step: BAC = sum of the budgets of all work packages in the performance measurement baseline.