RSU calculator: vesting schedule & value
See when your restricted stock units vest, what each vest is worth at different share prices, and how much tax is withheld on the day they land. Includes a quick check for startup stock options.
Your grant
Step through your vesting timeline
Drag through the months. Nothing is yours until the cliff; then a chunk lands at once and the rest arrives on schedule. Leave early and the unvested units go back.
| Year | Units vesting | Value | Withheld | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 400 | $50,000 | $13,500 | $36,500 |
| 2 | 400 | $50,000 | $13,500 | $36,500 |
| 3 | 400 | $50,000 | $13,500 | $36,500 |
| 4 | 400 | $50,000 | $13,500 | $36,500 |
How RSUs are taxed
RSUs are taxed as ordinary income when they vest, at the market value on that day, whether you sell or not. Employers usually withhold federal tax at the 22% supplemental rate (37% on supplemental wages above $1 million), often by selling some of the shares. If your top bracket is 32% or higher, 22% is too little and you may owe more in April.
After vesting, the shares are like any stock you bought at the vest price: selling within a year gives short-term gains taxed as income; after a year, long-term capital gains rates apply.
Startup stock options: quick check
Options are the right to buy shares at a fixed strike price. They are worth (share value − strike) × options, and only if the company is sold or goes public. Enter a paper value per share and your strike:
Spread: $96,000, and it costs $24,000 to exercise. Treat private-company equity as a lottery ticket when comparing offers: value it low, and be pleasantly surprised.
What to ask about an equity grant
- Is the grant quoted in dollars or in units? If dollars, which share price converts it (a 30-day average is common)?
- What is the cliff and the vesting frequency after it? Some companies front-load (e.g. 40/30/20/10) or back-load (5/15/40/40).
- Are there annual refresher grants, and how big are they typically?
- For options: the strike price, the latest 409A valuation, the post-termination exercise window and the preferred-stock overhang.
Then add the yearly vest value to your package in the total compensation calculator.
Questions people ask
How do I calculate the value of my RSUs?
Multiply the number of units by the current share price. A grant quoted in dollars is usually converted to units using the average share price around the grant date, so its value then moves with the stock.
What is a vesting cliff?
A waiting period, usually 12 months, before any units vest. On the cliff date the whole first year's worth vests at once; if you leave before it, you get nothing.
Are RSUs taxed twice?
No. They are taxed once as income at vest on their value that day. Only growth after vesting is taxed again, as a capital gain, when you sell.
Why is 22% withholding not enough?
The 22% federal supplemental rate is a flat withholding rate, not your actual bracket. If your income puts you in the 24%, 32% or higher bracket, you owe the difference at tax time unless you set aside more.
What is the difference between RSUs and stock options?
RSUs are shares you receive at no cost when they vest, so they have value as long as the stock is above zero. Options give you the right to buy at a strike price, and they are only worth something if the share price rises above it.