Free Cash Flow Calculator
Calculate free cash flow from operating cash flow and capital expenditures.
Amortization schedule
| # | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Showing first 12 of months.
Growth over time
| Year | Invested | Value |
|---|---|---|
Introduction
Free Cash Flow Calculator — Calculate free cash flow from operating cash flow and capital expenditures. Enter Operating cash flow, Capital expenditures to get an instant, accurate result.
Formula
Free Cash Flow = Operating Cash Flow − Capital Expenditures.
Step-by-step
- Enter the Operating cash flow.
- Enter the Capital expenditures.
- Click Calculate to see your result instantly.
Real-world example
Example: With Operating cash flow = 50000, Capital expenditures = 20000, the Free Cash Flow Calculator gives a result of 30000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why subtract capital expenditures?
Operating cash flow doesn't account for the cash a business must reinvest into equipment, property, or other long-term assets to sustain operations — subtracting capex shows what cash is truly left over and discretionary.
What does negative free cash flow mean?
The business is spending more on operations and capital investment than it's generating in cash — common for growth-stage companies, but unsustainable long-term without financing.
What inputs does the Free Cash Flow Calculator need?
You'll need to provide: Operating cash flow, Capital expenditures. All fields use sensible defaults, so you can see a working example immediately and then adjust the values to match your own numbers.
How accurate is the Free Cash Flow Calculator?
The Free Cash Flow Calculator applies the formula exactly as calculated — Free Cash Flow = Operating Cash Flow − Capital Expenditures. — so results are precise for the inputs you provide. Accuracy depends on entering correct, realistic input values.
Is the Free Cash Flow Calculator free to use?
Yes, the Free Cash Flow Calculator is completely free, requires no signup, and runs instantly in your browser.
About the Free Cash Flow Calculator
The Free Cash Flow Calculator uses a real, verifiable formula — Free Cash Flow = Operating Cash Flow − Capital Expenditures. — so results are accurate every time, not an approximation.