RSU Value Calculator
Example: Total RSUs granted: 1000 shares · Current share price: 120 $ · Percent vested so far: 50 % · Your tax rate on vesting: 32 %
| Gross value of vested shares | $60,000 |
| After-tax value | $40,800 |
| Vested shares | 500 |
Worked example
Say you were granted 1,000 RSUs, half have vested, and the stock trades at $120. That is 500 vested shares worth $60,000 gross. RSUs are taxed as ordinary income when they vest, so at a 32% combined rate roughly $19,200 goes to tax, leaving about $40,800 in after-tax value. The 500 unvested shares are worth nothing yet — they only count once they vest and you are still employed.
Frequently asked questions
When are RSUs taxed?
RSUs are taxed as ordinary income at vesting, based on the share price that day, whether or not you sell. Employers usually withhold shares to cover it. If you hold the shares after vesting, any later gain or loss is a separate capital gain or loss when you eventually sell.
Why do unvested shares count as zero here?
Until shares vest, you do not own them and could forfeit them by leaving the company. Counting unvested RSUs as current wealth is the classic mistake that leads people to overspend or stay in a job for a payout that may shrink if the stock falls. This tool values only what has vested.
Should I sell RSUs as they vest or hold them?
Because you are already taxed at vesting, holding is economically the same as choosing to buy your company's stock with after-tax cash. Many advisors suggest selling at vest to diversify, since having both your salary and a large investment tied to one employer concentrates your risk. Your personal situation and outlook matter here.
How is this different from stock options?
RSUs are shares you receive for free once vested, so they always have value if the stock is above zero. Options give you the right to buy at a set strike price and are worthless if the stock is below that strike. RSUs are lower risk but options have more upside leverage — a key distinction when comparing offers.