Sales Target Attainment Calculator
Enter a sales target and the actual result to get the attainment rate and the difference from target. You can also see how a period is going and project where it will end up at the current pace.
How the attainment rate is calculated
- Attainment rate (%) = actual ÷ target × 100
- Difference from target = actual − target
When the target has not been reached, the shortfall is shown, and when it has been exceeded, the amount over target. For example, with a target of 1,000,000 and an actual result of 820,000, the attainment rate is 82.00% and the shortfall is 180,000. With an actual result of 1,250,000, the rate is 125.00% and the amount over target is 250,000. The amounts have no currency: use the one you work in, with up to 2 decimal places.
Progress through a period (projection)
Use this partway through a month to see where you will end up if the current pace continues.
- Share of the period elapsed (%) = days elapsed ÷ days in period × 100
- Projection = actual ÷ days elapsed × days in period (rounded up to 0.01)
- Projected attainment (%) = projection ÷ target × 100
- Amount needed per remaining day = (target − actual) ÷ days left (rounded up to 0.01)
For example, in a 30-day month with 12 days elapsed and an actual result of 420,000, the share elapsed is 40.00% and the projection is 1,050,000 (a projected attainment of 105.00%). The target of 1,000,000 is 580,000 away with 18 days left, so 32,222.23 per day is needed (580,000 ÷ 18 = 32,222.222…, rounded up to 0.01).
About the projection
- The projection is a simple one based on calendar days. It stretches the actual result out evenly over the days of the period, using only the days elapsed and the actual result.
- It does not allow for working days or days of the week. For a business that is closed at weekends, or a shop that sells more at weekends, the real result can be far from this figure. The same goes when invoices or sales bunch up at the end of the month.
- When you review a target or make a sales plan, look at past results and seasonal patterns as well.
Things to know
- Enter the target and the actual result as amounts of 0 or more, up to 9,999,999,999.99, with up to 2 decimal places. Thousands separators such as 1,234.50 are accepted; use a period as the decimal separator. The same calculation works for counts or units sold.
- If the target is 0, the attainment rate cannot be calculated (the shortfall or amount over is still shown).
- If no days have elapsed, the projection cannot be calculated. If the days elapsed are more than the days in the period, correct the input.
- Percentages are rounded to 2 decimal places.
- To compare with the previous year or month, use the Percentage Change Calculator. For general percentages, use the Percentage Calculator. To find the sales at which profit becomes 0, use the Break-Even Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out an attainment rate?
Divide the actual result by the target and multiply by 100. With an actual result of 820,000 and a target of 1,000,000, it is 82%.
Is it odd for the rate to be over 100%?
No. When the target is exceeded, the rate goes over 100%. The amount over the target is shown as well.
How can I tell partway through a month whether I will reach the target?
Choose "Progress through a period" and enter the days in the period and the days elapsed. You get the projection at the current pace and the amount needed per remaining day. It is a simple projection that does not allow for working days or days of the week.
Why is there no attainment rate?
When the target is 0 it cannot be divided, so the rate cannot be calculated.