{
    "name": "Attrition Replacement Cost Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/attrition-replacement-cost-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/attrition-replacement-cost-calculator.md",
    "category": "Salary, HR & payroll",
    "description": "Estimate what it costs to replace employees who leave: separation, recruiting, onboarding, the vacancy and the ramp-up period, per hire and in total.",
    "summary": "Replacing a leaver costs more than the recruiter’s fee. This adds up the direct costs with the value lost while the role is empty and while the new hire gets up to speed, using figures you supply.",
    "also_called": [
        "Turnover cost calculator",
        "Cost of attrition calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "leavers",
            "label": "Leavers to replace",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10",
            "unit": "people"
        },
        {
            "name": "salary",
            "label": "Annual salary of the role",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "52000"
        },
        {
            "name": "separation",
            "label": "Separation cost per leaver",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "500",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "recruiting",
            "label": "Recruiting cost per hire",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "4000",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "onboarding",
            "label": "Onboarding and training per hire",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "2500",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "vacancy_days",
            "label": "Working days the role is vacant",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "30",
            "unit": "days",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "vacancy_pct",
            "label": "Value lost per vacant day",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "100",
            "unit": "% of daily pay",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "ramp_months",
            "label": "Months to full productivity",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "3",
            "unit": "months",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "ramp_gap",
            "label": "Average shortfall during ramp-up",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "50",
            "unit": "%",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "work_days",
            "label": "Working days per year",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "260",
            "unit": "days"
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "total",
            "label": "Total replacement cost",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "per_hire",
            "label": "Cost per replacement",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "pct_salary",
            "label": "Cost per replacement as % of salary",
            "format": "percent"
        },
        {
            "key": "vacancy_cost",
            "label": "Vacancy cost per replacement",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "ramp_cost",
            "label": "Ramp-up cost per replacement",
            "format": "currency"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Per hire = Separation + Recruiting + Onboarding + Salary ÷ Working days × Vacant days × Lost% + Salary ÷ 12 × Ramp months × Shortfall%;  Total = Per hire × Leavers",
        "variables": {
            "Lost%": "value of lost output per vacant day as % of daily pay",
            "Shortfall%": "average productivity gap of the new hire during ramp-up"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "leavers": "10",
            "salary": "52000",
            "separation": "500",
            "recruiting": "4000",
            "onboarding": "2500",
            "vacancy_days": "30",
            "vacancy_pct": "100",
            "ramp_months": "3",
            "ramp_gap": "50",
            "work_days": "260",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Vacancy = 52,000 ÷ 260 × 30 × 100% = $6,000; ramp-up = 52,000 ÷ 12 × 3 × 50% = $6,500.",
            "Per hire = 500 + 4,000 + 2,500 + 6,000 + 6,500 = $19,500 (37.5% of salary).",
            "Total for 10 leavers = $195,000."
        ],
        "result": "With these assumptions each replacement costs about $19,500, so ten leavers cost $195,000."
    },
    "interpretation": "Compare the total with what retention would cost: a pay adjustment, a manager-training programme or better onboarding often pays for itself if it prevents a few departures.",
    "assumptions": [
        "All leavers are in similar roles and are replaced.",
        "Vacancy and ramp-up costs are valued from salary using the percentages you enter."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Published “percentage of salary” rules of thumb vary widely; this calculator uses only your own inputs and does not apply any benchmark."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Why value the vacancy at salary?",
            "answer": "It is a simple, conservative proxy for lost output. If you pay overtime or temps to cover, enter that cost as a percentage of daily pay instead."
        },
        {
            "question": "Should I include lost customers or morale?",
            "answer": "Those can be real but are hard to measure. Add a figure to separation cost only if you can justify it."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Employee Benefits Cost Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/employee-benefits-cost-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "FTE Headcount Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/fte-headcount-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "ROI Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/roi-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Percentage Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/percentage-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}