Net worth spreadsheet
Two lists and one subtraction. Getting the values right is the only part that takes thought.
The formula
Net worth = total assets − total liabilities. A second useful number is the debt-to-asset ratio = liabilities ÷ assets: how much of what you have is still owed to someone.
The assets list
- Cash: checking, savings, money market accounts, CDs.
- Investments: brokerage accounts, Treasury bills, other taxable investments.
- Retirement: 401(k), 403(b), IRA and Roth IRA, HSA if invested.
- Home: what it would realistically sell for.
- Vehicles: private-party resale value, not what you paid.
- Other: anything you could and would sell for real money.
The liabilities list
- Credit card balances (the statement balance or today's balance, but always the same one)
- Mortgage and home equity loans
- Student loans
- Auto loans
- Personal loans, medical debt, buy-now-pay-later and money owed to family
Which values to use
Accounts: the balance on the day you update, ideally the same day each month. Home: a conservative estimate from recent sales nearby; online estimates swing a lot, so pick one source and stick to it. Some people subtract selling costs to be realistic. Cars: they lose value every year, so update them at least twice a year. Retirement accounts: the balance shown, keeping in mind that pre-tax accounts like a traditional 401(k) will owe income tax when withdrawn. Personal belongings: furniture, clothes and electronics are usually left out; their resale value is low and hard to know.
Example with made-up numbers
Assets: cash 8,400 · investments 6,200 · retirement 31,560 · home 0 (renting) · car 14,000 · other 1,000 = 61,160
Liabilities: credit card 2,300 · student loans 18,460 · auto loan 9,000 = 29,760
Net worth: 31,400 · debt-to-asset ratio: 48.7%
How to lay out the sheet
One row per account or debt, one column per month. Totals at the bottom of each list, and a net worth row that subtracts them. A line chart of that last row is the most useful view: one number per month, going up or down. Add a column for a goal, for example net worth on December 31, 2027, and the gap to it.
Couples and shared accounts
If you share finances, decide once whether you track one household net worth or one each. A household sheet lists joint accounts once and each person's own accounts and debts below them. Separate sheets work better when finances are mostly separate; in that case split joint accounts by ownership share, not by who uses them more. Either way, update both on the same day so the numbers are comparable.
Mistakes to avoid
- Counting the car at purchase price.
- Including the house but forgetting the mortgage.
- Changing the source of home values every month, which makes the chart jump for no real reason.
- Updating on random days: a paycheck or a card payment the day before changes the total.
For a quick snapshot today, use the net worth calculator. To make the number useful over time, see how to track net worth monthly.
Frequently asked questions
What should I include in a net worth spreadsheet?
Cash, investments, retirement accounts, your home and vehicles at realistic resale value, and every debt: cards, mortgage, student, auto and personal loans.
Should I include my 401(k) in net worth?
Yes. Many people list it at the balance shown, keeping in mind that traditional pre-tax accounts will owe income tax when the money is withdrawn.
Is it normal to have a negative net worth?
Yes, especially early in a career with student loans. The direction matters more than the level: a negative number that rises every month is real progress.
General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Examples use made-up numbers.
Net Worth Tracker 2027
Log assets and debts once a month and see your net worth, debt-to-asset ratio and 2027 goal on one chart.