Attrition Rate Calculator — Employee Turnover
Enter your starting headcount, ending headcount, and total departures to calculate your employee attrition rate and retention rate. The SHRM method uses the average of start and end headcount as the denominator, giving a more accurate picture than either figure alone.
Percentage of average workforce that left during the period
11.43 %
attritionRetained employees
88.6%
Attrition
11.4%
- 1
Average headcount
(200 + 185) ÷ 2 = 192.5 - 2
Attrition rate
22 ÷ 192.5 × 100 = 11.43
How does this calculator work?
Attrition Rate = (Departures ÷ Average Headcount) × 100, where Average Headcount = (Start + End) ÷ 2. Retention rate = 100% minus attrition. Enter start headcount, end headcount, and total departures to calculate both rates instantly.
Formula
How this is calculated
Attrition rate (also called employee turnover rate) measures the proportion of a workforce that leaves an organisation over a period — typically a month, quarter, or year. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recommends using the average of beginning and ending headcount as the denominator, rather than just the starting figure, to account for hiring that happens during the period.
The formula is: Attrition Rate = (Departures ÷ Average Headcount) × 100. Departures include all separations — voluntary resignations, retirements, redundancies, and dismissals. Retention rate is simply 100% minus attrition rate. A lower attrition rate generally indicates higher workforce stability, though target rates vary widely by industry — tech and retail typically run 15–25% annually; healthcare and finance often 10–15%.
This calculator treats all departures the same. For deeper analysis, split voluntary and involuntary attrition separately — voluntary attrition (resignations) is the most meaningful signal for engagement and culture, while involuntary attrition reflects headcount management decisions.
Frequently asked questions
There is no universal target — it depends heavily on industry, role type, and economic conditions. Broadly, annual rates below 10% are considered low, 10–20% moderate, and above 25% high. High-volume industries like food service or retail often run 40–80% and consider it normal.
The terms are often used interchangeably. Some organisations distinguish them: turnover refers to positions that are refilled after someone leaves; attrition refers to positions that are not refilled (headcount actually shrinks). This calculator uses the SHRM definition, which treats all departures as attrition regardless of whether the position is backfilled.
Both are useful. Monthly gives early warning of spikes; annual gives a strategic view. To annualise monthly data, multiply the monthly rate by 12 (or use 12-month rolling figures for greater accuracy). Quarter-on-quarter comparison helps identify seasonal patterns.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Attrition Rate Calculator — Employee Turnover [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/attrition-rate-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Attrition Rate Calculator — Employee Turnover." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/attrition-rate-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Attrition Rate Calculator — Employee Turnover," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/attrition-rate-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_attrition_rate_calculator, title = {Attrition Rate Calculator — Employee Turnover}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/attrition-rate-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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