What is a Current Ratio?

A current ratio is a financial ratio that measures a company’s ability to pay its short-term debts. It is calculated by dividing the company’s current assets by its current liabilities.

The Current Ratio shows how well a company can use its current assets, such as cash, accounts receivable, inventory, and other liquid assets, to pay its current liabilities, such as accounts payable, wages, taxes payable, short-term debts, and other accrued expenses. 

The Current Ratio is calculated by dividing the current assets by the current liabilities.

The Current Ratio is expressed as follows:

Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities

What is a Good Liquidity Ratio?

Frequently Asked Questions

A good current ratio may vary by industry and by the nature of the business, but generally, a current ratio between 1.5 and 3 is considered ideal.

The current ratio formula is:Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities

  • Current Assets are assets expected to be converted into cash within one year or the company’s operating cycle, whichever is longer.
  • Current Liabilities are debts or obligations expected to be paid within one year.

A 1.1 current ratio indicates that a company has slightly more current assets than current liabilities and can barely pay its short-term obligations. A 1.1 current ratio is usually considered low and may indicate a company has liquidity problems or default risk. A low current ratio may also suggest that a company is not using its assets efficiently or may have excess liabilities that could be reduced.

A current ratio of 1.0 means that a company has 1 dollar of current assets for every dollar of current liabilities. This is considered a neutral level of liquidity, as the company has enough current assets to cover its short-term obligations.

A current ratio of 1.5 is usually considered good and may indicate that a company has enough liquidity and solvency to meet its short-term obligations and use its resources efficiently. A good current ratio may also suggest that a company has a healthy balance between its assets and liabilities and can invest in growth opportunities.