Commission Accelerator Calculator
Calculate commission above quota with accelerator thresholds, tiered rates, caps and effective commission rate.
Last reviewed 20 August 2026
What is a commission accelerator?
A commission accelerator raises your commission rate on everything you sell above 100% of quota, typically by 1.5× to 3×. It exists because the deal after quota is worth disproportionately more to the company, and because without it there is no financial reason to keep selling in December.
Accelerators are where high performers actually make money. On a plan with a 2× accelerator, going from 100% to 150% of quota pays as much again as the entire first 100% did — which is the whole economic argument for taking a high-variable sales job, and it disappears the moment a cap is introduced.
Educational estimate only. This is not payroll, tax, legal or HR advice.
80 / 100 / 120 / 150 percent scenarios
| Attainment | Revenue | Commission |
|---|
Related tools and next steps
What an accelerator is worth
A $500,000 quota with $50,000 target commission (10% of quota) and a 2× accelerator above target.
Accelerators, tiers and the retroactive trap
An accelerator is a rate multiplier above quota. A tier is a band of revenue with its own rate. Plans commonly use both, and there are two ways to run tiers — a distinction worth thousands of dollars.
| Marginal (progressive) | Retroactive (cliff) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Each slice of revenue pays at its own rate | Reaching a tier re-rates all revenue at the higher rate |
| $600k sold, 4% to $500k then 6% | (500k×4%)+(100k×6%) = $26,000 | 600k × 6% = $36,000 |
| How common | The large majority of plans | Rare, and always deliberate |
Caps that are not called caps
Full detail in tiers, accelerators and caps. For the full plan use the commission calculator, or check attainment first in the quota attainment calculator.
Accelerator questions
Is this the same as tiered commission?
It is a type of tiered commission, usually focused on above quota performance.
What is a commission accelerator?
A multiplier applied to your commission rate on sales above 100% of quota, typically 1.5 to 3 times the base rate. It exists to keep reps selling after they have hit target, and it is where most of the upside in a sales plan lives.
How do you calculate accelerated commission?
Pay the base rate on everything up to quota, then apply the base rate multiplied by the accelerator to everything above it. On a $500,000 quota at 10% with a 2x accelerator, $600,000 of sales pays $50,000 plus $20,000 = $70,000.
What is a typical accelerator rate?
Between 1.5x and 3x the base rate is the normal range, with 2x the most common. Some plans use several accelerator tiers that increase further at 125% and 150% of quota.
Do accelerators apply to the whole amount or just the excess?
Almost always just the excess above quota. A plan that re-rates all revenue at the higher rate is called retroactive and is rare - check the exact wording, because the difference can be thousands of dollars.
Can a plan have an accelerator and a cap?
Yes, and many do. The accelerator raises earnings above target and the cap stops them at a ceiling, applied last. Such a plan behaves as uncapped up to the ceiling and like a flat salary beyond it.
Reviewed 20 August 2026 by the BonusPayCalc editorial team. Gross planning estimates only — not payroll, tax, legal or HR advice. See methodology for how formulas are chosen, or report a correction.