What this calculator does
Gross vs net is usually explained forwards: start from a gross salary and work out what deductions leave as take-home pay. This calculator runs the same relationship the other way. Enter the net amount you actually want to receive and a deduction rate, and it works out the gross figure that produces exactly that take-home amount.
The deduction rate is a single input you set yourself, covering tax and anything else withheld before the money reaches you, rather than a figure this page assumes on your behalf. Tax rates and thresholds vary by country, income level and personal circumstances and change over time, so entering your own effective rate, worked out from a payslip or a tax calculator for your situation, keeps the result accurate to you.
The formula
Gross pay is the net amount divided by one minus the deduction rate expressed as a fraction. Dividing, rather than simply adding the deduction back onto the net figure, is what accounts for the fact that the deduction itself is a percentage of the gross amount, not of the net amount.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Net (take-home) amount | What actually lands in the account after every deduction. |
| Gross amount | The pre-deduction figure that, once the deduction rate is applied, leaves exactly the net amount entered. |
| Deduction rate | Tax and any other withholding, combined into a single percentage of gross pay. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Net (take-home) amount you want ($) | The take-home amount you want to end up with, for the pay frequency selected below. |
| Total deduction rate (tax and any other withholding) (%) | The combined deduction rate as a percentage of gross pay. Check a recent payslip for your own effective rate rather than assuming a standard figure, since this varies by income and circumstances. |
| Pay frequency | Pay frequency, used only to label the result; it does not change the arithmetic. |
When to use it
Negotiating a role advertised as a take-home figure
A salary discussion that starts from what you need to actually receive translates more directly into a number to negotiate on if it is converted to the equivalent gross figure first.
Setting a contractor or invoice rate
Someone quoting for freelance or contract work who wants a set amount left after tax can work out the gross invoice figure to charge, using their own known effective tax rate.
Checking a "gross vs net" comparison someone else has quoted
If a figure has been quoted as a net amount, converting it to gross at your own deduction rate makes it comparable to a role or offer quoted in gross terms instead.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the gross amount needed changes with the deduction rate
The same $1,000 take-home target at a range of deduction rates.
| Deduction rate | Gross amount needed | Total deducted |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $1,111.11 | $111.11 |
| 20% | $1,250.00 | $250.00 |
| 25% | $1,333.33 | $333.33 |
| 30% | $1,428.57 | $428.57 |
| 35% | $1,538.46 | $538.46 |
| 40% | $1,666.67 | $666.67 |
How the gross amount scales with the net target, at a fixed rate
A range of net targets, all converted at the same 25% deduction rate.
| Net (take-home) target | Gross amount needed | Total deducted |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | $666.67 | $166.67 |
| $1,000 | $1,333.33 | $333.33 |
| $1,500 | $2,000.00 | $500.00 |
| $2,000 | $2,666.67 | $666.67 |
| $3,000 | $4,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| $5,000 | $6,666.67 | $1,666.67 |
Questions
What is the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is the full amount before tax and other deductions are taken out. Net pay, also called take-home pay, is what is left afterwards, which is what actually reaches the bank account.
How do I find my own deduction rate to enter here?
Divide the total tax and deductions shown on a recent payslip by the gross pay for that same period, then multiply by 100. That effective rate, rather than a headline tax bracket figure, is what actually applies to your pay.
Why does the gross figure not just equal net plus the deduction rate applied to net?
Because the deduction rate is defined as a percentage of gross pay, not of net pay. Applying it to the net figure and adding that back on understates the true gross amount required; dividing by one minus the rate is what corrects for this.
Can I use this for a rate over 100%?
No. A deduction rate at or above 100% would mean nothing is left as take-home pay, or that pay is being reduced by more than the whole amount, which is not a rate this calculator can convert; keep the rate below 100%.
For the standard forward direction, working out take-home pay from a gross salary and known tax details, see the salary calculator if your situation matches its assumptions. For compounding a regular sum over time, see the compound interest calculator.