Finance
Startup Runway Calculator
Calculate how many months of runway your startup has. Enter cash balance and monthly burn rate to see when funding runs out.
Enter values above to calculate runway
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Runway Formula
Runway (months) = Cash Balance / Monthly Burn Rate
Rearranging: Cash Needed = Runway × Burn Rate
Or: Max Burn = Cash / Desired Runway
How to Use This Calculator
Choose what you want to find: the runway in months, how much cash you need to reach a target runway, or the maximum burn rate that sustains a given runway.
The monthly burn rate is your net cash outflow per month — total expenses minus any revenue.
Frequently asked questions
What is startup runway?
Startup runway is the number of months a company can continue operating before running out of cash, given its current cash balance and monthly burn rate.
What is a good amount of runway?
Most investors and advisors recommend maintaining at least 18 months of runway. Runway below 6 months is considered critical, as fundraising typically takes 3–6 months to close.
How can a startup extend its runway?
Runway can be extended by reducing the monthly burn rate (cutting costs), increasing revenue, raising additional capital, or a combination of all three.
What is the difference between runway and burn rate?
Burn rate is how much cash the company spends per month. Runway is how long the cash will last at that rate. Runway = Cash Balance / Monthly Burn Rate.
When should a startup start fundraising relative to runway?
Most founders begin fundraising when they have at least 9–12 months of runway remaining. Starting earlier gives leverage in negotiations and a buffer if the process takes longer than expected.