Token Vesting Cliff Calculator
Token vesting schedules are the standard mechanism for releasing tokens to founders, investors, and contributors over time. A typical schedule consists of a cliff period (during which zero tokens unlock) followed by a linear vesting period (during which tokens unlock at a constant rate). For example, a 6-month cliff and 24-month vesting period means no tokens until month 6, then equal amounts each month through month 30. This calculator tells you exactly how many tokens are unlocked at any elapsed time, and the monthly vesting rate, helping both grant recipients plan their finances and protocols model their token supply release schedule.
Linear vesting with cliff formula
If Elapsed < Cliff: Unlocked = 0
If Elapsed >= Cliff + Vesting: Unlocked = Total Tokens
Otherwise: Unlocked = Total Tokens * (Elapsed - Cliff) / Vesting Duration
Monthly Rate = Total Tokens / Vesting Duration
Example: 1,000,000 tokens, 12-month cliff, 36-month vesting. At 18 months elapsed: (18 - 12) / 36 * 1,000,000 = 166,666.67 tokens unlocked. Monthly rate = 27,777.78 tokens per month.
Vesting schedule design patterns
- Standard team vesting: 12-month cliff, 36-month linear vest (total 48 months from grant date). This is the Silicon Valley standard and widely adopted in DeFi.
- Investor vesting: often 6-month cliff, 18-24 month linear vest, reflecting shorter VC fund horizons.
- Community grants: shorter vesting (3-6 months) or milestone-based rather than time-based, appropriate for specific deliverables.
- Advisors: 6-12 month cliff, 12-24 month vest, reflecting advisory engagement duration.
Token vesting: frequently asked questions
What is a token vesting cliff?
A vesting cliff is a period at the start of a vesting schedule during which no tokens unlock. After the cliff, tokens begin vesting, either all at once or linearly over the remaining vesting period. Cliffs align incentives by ensuring contributors remain committed for an initial period before receiving any tokens.
What is linear vesting?
Linear vesting means tokens unlock at a constant rate after the cliff. If you have 12,000 tokens vesting over 12 months after a 6-month cliff, you receive 1,000 tokens per month starting at month 6. By month 18 (6 cliff + 12 vesting), all tokens are unlocked.
How is the monthly vesting rate calculated?
Monthly rate = Total Tokens / Vesting Duration (months). After the cliff, you receive this amount each month. The total unlocked at any elapsed time T (where T > cliff months) = Total Tokens * (T - Cliff Months) / Vesting Duration Months, capped at Total Tokens.
What is the difference between cliff and vest?
The cliff is the minimum lock period before any tokens unlock. Vesting is the duration over which remaining tokens are gradually released. A typical structure is a 12-month cliff with 36-month total vesting, meaning 0 tokens for the first 12 months, then 1/36 per month for 36 months.
Why do token projects use vesting schedules?
Vesting schedules align team and investor incentives with long-term project success. Without vesting, early participants could sell all their tokens immediately after launch, crashing the price. Cliffs and linear vesting create a gradual, predictable supply release that benefits the ecosystem.
Official sources
- Ethereum Foundation: Decentralized Finance (DeFi).
- Ethereum Foundation: Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs).
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 June 2026. See our methodology.