TCPI Calculator
Calculate TCPI step by step: TCPI (BAC) = (BAC − EV) ÷ (BAC − AC).
In short
Formula: TCPI (BAC) = (BAC − EV) ÷ (BAC − AC). TCPI (EAC) = (BAC − EV) ÷ (EAC − AC).
What this calculator does
Calculate TCPI step by step: TCPI (BAC) = (BAC − EV) ÷ (BAC − AC). Worked example, questions and limitations included.
Use it to turn Budget at completion (BAC), Earned value (EV), Actual cost (AC), Approved EAC (optional) 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
- Budget at completion (BAC)
- — number value.
- Earned value (EV)
- — number value.
- Actual cost (AC)
- — number value.
- Approved EAC (optional)
- — Leave blank to see only the BAC target..
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.
TCPI is the cost efficiency the remaining work must achieve to hit the target.
Compare TCPI with current CPI: a TCPI well above CPI signals an unrealistic target.
TCPI (BAC) = (BAC − EV) ÷ (BAC − AC). TCPI (EAC) = (BAC − EV) ÷ (EAC − AC).
Inputs used: Budget at completion (BAC), Earned value (EV), Actual cost (AC), Approved EAC (optional).
Worked example
BAC 500,000, EV 175,000, AC 190,000
- Remaining work = 325,000; remaining funds = 310,000.
- TCPI = 325,000 ÷ 310,000 = 1.048.
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
- Says nothing about whether the required efficiency is achievable.
- Single cumulative figure.
- Undefined when AC reaches the target.
- 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 tcpi calculator; it does not supply missing rates, rules, prices, dates, or assumptions for you.
Common questions
How far above CPI is too far?
A commonly cited rule of thumb is that a TCPI more than about 0.1 above the current CPI is unlikely to be achieved, but it is a guideline, not a standard. Check the formula, example, and limitations on this page before using the result for a real earned value decision.
What if AC already exceeds BAC?
Then finishing within BAC is impossible; management must approve a new EAC and you measure TCPI against that. Check the formula, example, and limitations on this page before using the result for a real earned value decision.
Is TCPI a forecast?
No. It is a required efficiency, not a prediction of what will happen.
How do I use the TCPI Calculator?
Enter the required values for Budget at completion (BAC), Earned value (EV), Actual cost (AC), Approved EAC (optional). 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 TCPI Calculator use?
TCPI (BAC) = (BAC − EV) ÷ (BAC − AC). TCPI (EAC) = (BAC − EV) ÷ (EAC − AC). 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 TCPI 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 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.