LTV:CAC Ratio Calculator

    Enter average monthly revenue per customer, gross margin %, monthly churn, CAC per customer, optional explicit lifespan months, and expansion revenue per customer. See average lifespan, gross profit per month, LTV, CAC, LTV:CAC ratio, months to recover CAC, rating, and implied max CAC at 3× healthy ratio. Find out if your acquisition engine is profitable or burning cash.

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    Make the next pricing or planning decision with context

    Check whether the campaign or investment behind your business offer earns back its cost before you scale it. It covers your LTV:CAC ratio — the definitive SaaS health metric that tells you if every dollar spent on acquisition returns a profit.

    Instant calculations · Editable fee assumptions · Export-ready results

    Inputs

    Values update results instantly. Adjust fee assumptions to match your seller dashboard.

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    Revenue

    USD

    Monthly revenue per customer

    %

    Gross margin percent

    USD

    Average monthly expansion per customer from upsells

    Retention

    %

    Monthly churn rate

    If 0, calculated from churn rate: 1/churnRate

    Costs

    USD

    Customer acquisition cost

    Results

    Live estimates based on your inputs and editable fee assumptions.

    Avg lifespan (months)

    28.57

    From churn or explicit input.

    Gross profit per customer / mo

    $74.10

    (Revenue + expansion) × margin.

    Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)

    $2,117.14

    Gross profit × lifespan.

    CAC

    $1,200.00

    Acquisition cost.

    LTV:CAC ratio

    1.76

    LTV divided by CAC.

    Months to recover CAC

    16.19

    CAC ÷ gross profit per month.

    Interpretation

    needs improvement — below 3×

    Health rating based on ratio.

    Implied max CAC at 3× ratio

    $705.71

    LTV ÷3 for healthy target.

    What this means

    Lifespan 28.6 months from 3.5% churn. Gross $74.10/mo × 28.6 = $2117 LTV. CAC $1200. Ratio 1.76 (needs improvement — below 3×). Payback 16.2 months. Max healthy CAC at 3× $706.

    LTV vs CAC comparison

    Interactive breakdown of fees, costs, and remaining profit.

    64%36%

    Distribution

    • LTV
      $2,117.14
      63.8%
    • CAC
      $1,200.00
      36.2%

    Total $3,317.14 · 2 segments · interactive

    Line-item breakdown

    Dollar amounts, share of revenue, and visual proportion.

    Avg monthly revenue
    $95.00
    Expansion monthly
    $0.00
    Gross margin
    78.0%
    Monthly churn
    3.5%
    Lifespan months
    28.57
    Gross profit / mo
    $74.10
    LTV
    $2,117.14
    CAC
    $1,200.00
    LTV:CAC ratio
    1.76
    Months to recover CAC
    16.19
    Max CAC at 3× healthy
    $705.71

    Assumptions used

    • • Lifespan 28.57 = 1/0.0350 from churn
    • • Gross $74.10 = ($95.00+$0.00)×78.0%
    • • LTV $2117.14 = $74.10×28.57
    • • Ratio 1.76 = 2117.14/1200.00
    Result ready

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    How it works

    Methodology & formulas

    This calculator is transparent by design. Review the steps and formulas so you can trust the estimate and adjust assumptions when your dashboard differs.

    Calculation steps

    1. 1Derive lifespan from churn if not explicit.
    2. 2Compute monthly gross profit including expansion.
    3. 3Multiply by lifespan for LTV.
    4. 4Divide LTV by CAC for ratio.
    5. 5Rate ratio: <1 losing, 1-3 needs improvement, 3-5 healthy, 5+ exceptional.
    6. 6Show months to recover and healthy CAC ceiling for planning.

    Formulas

    • lifespanAuto = 1/(churn%/100)
    • actualLifespan = lifespanInput>0 ? lifespanInput : lifespanAuto
    • grossProfit = (avgRev+expansion)×margin%/100
    • LTV = grossProfit × actualLifespan
    • ratio = LTV / CAC
    • monthsRecover = CAC / grossProfit
    • maxCAC3x = LTV/3

    Important assumptions

    • If avgLifespanMonths =0 and churn>0, lifespan =1/(churn%/100).
    • If explicit lifespan >0, use explicit even if churn provided.
    • Gross profit per month = (avgMonthlyRevenue + expansionRevenue) × margin%/100.
    • LTV = grossProfitPerMonth × lifespanMonths.
    • LTV:CAC ratio = LTV / CAC if CAC>0.
    • Months to recover = CAC / grossProfitPerMonth.
    • If churn 0 and lifespan 0, LTV infinite → use explicit lifespan required.
    • Max CAC at 3× = LTV/3.

    Sources & review

    Know what this estimate is built on

    This calculator is intentionally platform-agnostic, so it does not attach a platform fee URL.

    Calculator model reviewed: August 9, 2026

    Official references

    No single official fee page is attached here. The model keeps these inputs editable so you can use the terms that apply to your situation.

    Use the current terms

    This model uses editable planning assumptions. Confirm tax, payment, financing, or operating terms with the relevant provider, official authority, or adviser for your situation.

    Defaults are editable estimates. Match them to your current account, provider statement, official authority, lender, or adviser before making a pricing or investment decision.

    Calculator model reviewed: August 9, 2026. This date covers the page and calculator guidance, not a guarantee that every live platform rate or term was re-audited on that date.

    Worked example

    $95/mo, 3.5% churn, $1,200 CAC

    $95 revenue, 78% margin, 3.5% churn = 28.6 months lifespan. Gross $74.10/mo. LTV $2,119. CAC $1,200 ratio 1.77 needs improvement. Months to recover 16.2. Max CAC at 3x $706.

    Churn 3.5% → lifespan 28.57 months. Gross $95×78%=$74.10. LTV $74.10×28.57=$2,117. CAC $1,200 → ratio 1.76. Needs improvement below 3x. Months to recover $1,200/$74.10=16.19. Implied max CAC at 3x = $2,117/3=$706. To fix: reduce CAC to $706, increase revenue to $170/mo, or reduce churn to ~1.2% for current CAC to hit 3x.

    FAQ

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