CalcaTools

Free Cash Flow Calculator

Calculates cash flow using FCF = Operating cash flow − Capital expenditures, live in your browser.

Last updated: June 2026 · Free · No sign-up required

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Results

Enter values above and click Calculate to see your result instantly.

What the Free Cash Flow Calculator does

Every result on this page comes from a real formula — FCF = Operating cash flow − Capital expenditures — computed live in your browser the moment you press the button.

Scroll past the calculator for a quick-reference table, a step-by-step methodology with a fully worked example, and answers to the questions people most often ask about free cash flow calculator.

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Quick reference

OCFCapExFCF
$500,000$120,000$380,000
$1.0M$400,000$600,000
$2.5M$3.0M−$500,000

savings Plan with confidence

Finance decisions get a lot easier when you can see the full picture. Enter your numbers above to see total payments, interest paid, and the long-term cost of every choice — so you can compare options side by side before signing anything.

percent How the math works

We use the standard amortization, compound-interest and present-value formulas published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Reserve. The methodology block below shows every variable and rounding step we apply, so the answer is never a black box.

shield_lock Your data stays private

Every calculation happens in your browser with JavaScript — your income, balances, and loan numbers are never sent to our servers, logged, or shared. Close the tab and the inputs vanish. No sign-up, no tracking pixels on the form, no spreadsheet emailed to you later.

lightbulb Pro tip

Save the URL after you calculate — your inputs aren't stored, so write down the headline number plus the breakdown. Then come back and edit one variable at a time (down payment, rate, term) to see exactly which lever moves your monthly figure the most. That's where the real planning happens.

Interpretation guide

FCF resultReading
Strongly positiveSelf-funding — can pay debt, dividends, buybacks
Near zeroReinvesting everything — fine if growth follows
NegativeBurning cash — needs financing; common for startups

Formula & methodology

Formula: FCF = Operating cash flow − Capital expenditures

  1. Take “net cash from operating activities” from the cash-flow statement.
  2. Take capital expenditures (“purchases of property, plant and equipment”) from the investing section.
  3. Subtract: what remains is cash free for debt, dividends, buybacks or acquisitions.

Example: OCF $500,000 − CapEx $120,000 = FCF $380,000, a 76% conversion of operating cash.

Frequently asked questions

What is free cash flow?
The cash a business generates after paying for operations and capital equipment — the money truly available to investors. FCF = operating cash flow − capex.
Where do I find OCF and CapEx?
Both on the cash-flow statement: OCF is the operating section total; capex appears in investing as purchases of property, plant and equipment.
Is negative free cash flow bad?
Not always — heavy investment phases (factories, fast-growing startups) run negative deliberately. Persistent negative FCF without growth is the red flag.
How is FCF different from net income?
Net income includes non-cash items (depreciation, accruals) and ignores capex timing. FCF tracks actual cash — harder to massage and the basis of DCF valuation.
What is a good FCF conversion ratio?
FCF ÷ OCF above ~60% suggests a capital-light business; asset-heavy industries (telecoms, airlines) run far lower. Compare within a sector.