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How-to guide

How to Calculate LTV to CAC Ratio: Formula, Steps & Examples

Learn how to calculate LTV to CAC Ratio — the formula explained step by step, with worked examples and a free calculator to check your answer.

By Priya Nair, MBA, Finance & Strategy · Updated Jun 2026 · 2 min read

Calculating your LTV to CAC ratio is straightforward once you know the LTV to CAC Ratio formula and what each input means. This guide explains the method in plain language, walks through a manual calculation, and gives worked examples you can follow — then you can do it instantly with the LTV to CAC Ratio Calculator.

What is LTV to CAC Ratio?

The LTV to CAC Ratio calculation tells you your LTV to CAC ratio from a few simple inputs. The figure you are solving for here is the LTV to CAC ratio.

The LTV to CAC Ratio formula

The core formula is:

LTV to CAC ratio = Customer lifetime value ÷ Customer acquisition cost

Here is what each input means:

  • Customer lifetime value — a money amount. Example: ₹15,000.
  • Customer acquisition cost — a money amount. Example: ₹3,000.

How to calculate it step by step

  • Write down the customer lifetime value (for example, ₹15,000).
  • Write down the customer acquisition cost (for example, ₹3,000).
  • Apply the formula above to get your LTV to CAC ratio.
  • Double-check the result with the LTV to CAC Ratio Calculator.

Worked examples

Example 1

Input / OutputValue
Customer lifetime value₹15,000
Customer acquisition cost₹3,000
LTV to CAC ratio5.00

With customer lifetime value of ₹15,000 and customer acquisition cost of ₹3,000, the LTV to CAC ratio works out to 5.00.

Example 2

With customer lifetime value of ₹30,000 and customer acquisition cost of ₹3,000, the LTV to CAC ratio works out to 10.00.

ResultValue
LTV to CAC ratio10.00

Example 3

With customer lifetime value of ₹7,500 and customer acquisition cost of ₹3,000, the LTV to CAC ratio works out to 2.50.

ResultValue
LTV to CAC ratio2.50

Tips for an accurate result

  • Keep your units consistent — mixing, say, months with years or grams with kilograms is the most common source of error.
  • Round only at the very end. Rounding inputs early can shift the final answer noticeably.
  • Re-run the numbers whenever an input changes, rather than estimating from an old result.

Prefer not to do the maths by hand? — the LTV to CAC Ratio Calculator does it instantly, for free, with the formula and a worked example built in.

Continue exploring marketing calculators with these tools: Conversion Value Calculator, Customer Churn Cost Calculator, Ad Frequency Calculator, Viral Coefficient Calculator, Email List Growth Rate Calculator.

Calculators in this guide

Frequently asked questions

The formula is: LTV to CAC ratio = Customer lifetime value ÷ Customer acquisition cost. With customer lifetime value of ₹15,000 and customer acquisition cost of ₹3,000, the LTV to CAC ratio works out to 5.00.

Gather each input, apply the formula step by step keeping your units consistent, and round only at the end. You can verify your answer instantly with the LTV to CAC Ratio Calculator.

It uses the standard formula with exact arithmetic, so the result is correct for the inputs you enter. Bear in mind that real-world outcomes can still differ when underlying assumptions change.

Priya Nair · MBA, Finance & Strategy

Priya Nair is a business analyst and MBA who advises small businesses and startups on pricing, unit economics and growth metrics.