Free calculator
Pay stub calculator
Model one pay period: enter gross pay, add deduction lines you label (pre-tax, tax, or post-tax), and see total withholdings and net pay in a simple stub-style reconciliation. Optional illustrative FICA adds a single 7.65% employee-side row on gross—clearly marked, not your employer’s exact OASDI/Medicare split or wage base. This is not a 50-state paycheck tax engine, not a PDF pay stub generator, and not payroll software.
When to use this calculator
Quick gross → net reconciliation checks and spreadsheet teaching—before you rely on a real payroll run.
- Lay out categories you see on a sample check (401(k), federal, state, medical) with amounts you already know to see net.
- Toggle the illustrative FICA row to show beginners how employee FICA fits into a simple stub story—then replace it with real lines from payroll.
- Copy
SUMpatterns into Google Sheets or Excel next to a payroll export you are auditing. - Switch to the overtime calculator when you need weekly gross from hours and a multiplier first.
We start from gross pay for one period. Each deduction row you enter is treated as a positive amount that reduces cash. Net = gross − sum(all rows) − optional illustrative FICA.
Reconciliation
All rows are subtracted from gross in this v1 model. Real payroll may apply pre-tax items before some taxes and post-tax after—your labels keep the teaching order on the page.
Pre-tax, tax, post-tax
Sections group rows for readability and subtotals. They do not change the arithmetic in v1—only the optional FICA row is computed for you when enabled.
What we do not model
W-4 steps, state/local income tax tables, Social Security wage base, Additional Medicare, employer taxes, garnishment priority rules, per diem, imputed income, YTD balances, or PDF stub layout.
For official U.S. withholding tables, see IRS Publication 15 and the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator—this page is not those tools.
For weekly gross from hours and an overtime multiplier, use the overtime calculator.
For U.S. bonus federal flat withholding on supplemental wages plus FICA caps, use the bonus tax calculator.
For 401(k) match and growth illustrations (different problem), open the 401(k) calculator.
Google Sheets & Excel
Put gross in B1. List deduction amounts in B3:B14 (one per row) and use =SUM(B3:B14) for total deductions. Net in B16: =B1-B15 when B15 is the sum cell.
=SUM(B3:B14)Shrink or expand the range to match how many lines you keep.
=B1-B15B1 = gross; B15 = total deductions (or your SUM cell).
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Frequently asked questions
What does this calculator do?
It builds a simple pay-period table: gross, deduction lines you type (grouped as pre-tax, tax, post-tax for clarity), optional illustrative FICA, and net pay. It is a math and spreadsheet teaching tool—not a filing position.
How is this different from ADP or SmartAsset paycheck calculators?
Those tools estimate withholding using location, allowances, and tax tables. We do not ship that engine. Here you enter deduction amounts (from a recent check or a planner) so net stays transparent.
What is the illustrative FICA row?
A single optional line equal to 7.65% of gross—a classroom-style employee FICA shortcut. Real checks split OASDI (capped) and Medicare (uncapped), may include Additional Medicare, and use precise bases—see IRS and SSA for truth.
Can I print or download a PDF pay stub?
No in v1. This page is a calculator and reconciliation view, not a stub generator product.
Do you show year-to-date (YTD) columns?
No. Only one period’s gross and lines. Build YTD in a spreadsheet by stacking periods yourself.
Where do bonuses or 401(k) deferrals fit?
Type 401(k) as a pre-tax row with the amount withheld this period. For bonus federal withholding patterns, see the bonus tax calculator; it is a different specialized model.
How do I match this in Google Sheets or Excel?
Use SUM on your deduction column and subtract from gross in one net cell—see the copy cards on this page.
Is this payroll or tax advice?
No. It is a free educational illustration—not a substitute for payroll software, employers, or qualified tax professionals.