{
    "name": "Headcount Planning Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/hr-headcount-plan-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/hr-headcount-plan-calculator.md",
    "category": "Salary, HR & payroll",
    "description": "Work out how many people to hire to reach a target headcount when some staff will leave: growth hires plus replacements for expected attrition.",
    "summary": "Reaching a target headcount takes more hires than the gap suggests, because some people will leave along the way. This calculator adds expected replacements to the growth you plan.",
    "also_called": [
        "Hiring plan calculator",
        "Workforce planning 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": "current",
            "label": "Current headcount",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "100",
            "unit": "employees"
        },
        {
            "name": "target",
            "label": "Target headcount at end of period",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "120",
            "unit": "employees"
        },
        {
            "name": "attrition",
            "label": "Expected annual attrition",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "15",
            "unit": "% a year"
        },
        {
            "name": "months",
            "label": "Planning period",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "12",
            "unit": "months"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "total_hires",
            "label": "Total hires needed",
            "format": "integer"
        },
        {
            "key": "net_change",
            "label": "Net headcount change",
            "format": "integer"
        },
        {
            "key": "replacement_hires",
            "label": "Replacement hires for leavers",
            "format": "integer"
        },
        {
            "key": "hires_per_month",
            "label": "Hires per month",
            "format": "number"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Expected leavers = ⌈(Current + Target) ÷ 2 × Attrition% × Months ÷ 12⌉;  Total hires = max(0, Target − Current + Expected leavers)",
        "variables": {
            "⌈ ⌉": "rounded up to whole people",
            "Attrition%": "annual rate, scaled to the planning period"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "current": "100",
            "target": "120",
            "attrition": "15",
            "months": "12"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Average headcount = (100 + 120) ÷ 2 = 110.",
            "Expected leavers = 110 × 15% = 16.5, rounded up to 17.",
            "Total hires = 20 growth + 17 replacements = 37, about 3.08 a month."
        ],
        "result": "Growing from 100 to 120 people with 15% attrition takes about 37 hires over the year."
    },
    "interpretation": "Use the monthly figure to size your recruiting capacity. Hires take time to start, so begin recruiting earlier than the month you need the person.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Attrition applies to the average headcount over the period and runs at a steady annual rate.",
        "Every leaver is replaced."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Notice periods, time to fill and offer declines are not modelled; add a buffer if your pipeline is slow."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Why use average headcount for leavers?",
            "answer": "As the team grows, there are more people who could leave. Averaging start and target reflects that for steady growth."
        },
        {
            "question": "What if I am reducing headcount?",
            "answer": "Enter a lower target. If expected attrition covers the reduction, the hires needed fall to zero."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Employee Attrition Rate Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/employee-attrition-rate-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Employee Retention Rate Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/employee-retention-rate-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Time to Hire Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/time-to-hire-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Cost per Hire Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/recruitment-cost-per-hire-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}