Earned Value Calculator
Calculate Earned Value step by step: EV = BAC × actual % complete.
In short
Formula: EV = BAC × actual % complete.
What this calculator does
Calculate Earned Value step by step: EV = BAC × actual % complete. Worked example, questions and limitations included.
Use it to turn Currency (symbol only, never converted), Budget at completion (BAC), Actual percent of work completed 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.
- Budget at completion (BAC)
- — number value.
- Actual percent of work completed
- — 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.
Earned value is the budgeted cost of the work actually performed (also called BCWP).
Measure percent complete objectively: completed milestones, units installed, or a fixed 0/100 or 50/50 rule — not hours spent.
EV = BAC × actual % complete.
Inputs used: Currency (symbol only, never converted), Budget at completion (BAC), Actual percent of work completed.
Worked example
35% of the work is done
- EV = 500,000 × 35% = $175,000.
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
- Accuracy depends entirely on how percent complete is measured.
- Treats the whole project as one work package.
- Does not measure quality; work can be 'earned' and later need rework.
- 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 earned value calculator; it does not supply missing rates, rules, prices, dates, or assumptions for you.
Common questions
Why not just use money spent?
Spending tells you nothing about progress. Earned value credits the budget of the work actually finished, which can be compared with both the plan and the cost.
How should I measure percent complete?
Pick an objective rule before work starts: 0/100 (credit only when done), 50/50, weighted milestones or physical units. Subjective guesses make EV unreliable.
Can EV exceed BAC?
No. At 100% complete, EV equals BAC. Cost overruns show up in actual cost, not in EV.
How do I use the Earned Value Calculator?
Enter the required values for Currency (symbol only, never converted), Budget at completion (BAC), Actual percent of work completed. 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 Earned Value Calculator use?
EV = BAC × actual % complete. 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 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 Actual Cost (Earned Value) step by step: AC = sum of all costs actually incurred for the work performed to the status date.
Calculate Budget At Completion step by step: BAC = sum of the budgets of all work packages in the performance measurement baseline.