Compound growth calculator

This projects a balance from a starting amount and a contribution you add on a monthly or yearly schedule. The return you type stays constant. It is an assumption, not a forecast. The compound growth guide uses the same example.

Future value = starting balance × (1 + periodic rate)^periods + contribution × ((1 + periodic rate)^periods − 1) ÷ periodic rate

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Starting balance (USD)

May be zero if you are only projecting contributions.

Contribution each period (USD)

Added at the end of each month or year. Zero projects the starting balance alone.

Contribution schedule

Monthly or yearly contributions. An effective annual return still means the same one-year landing with no contributions.

How to read the annual return

Nominal APR: the monthly rate is the annual return divided by 12. Twelve of those steps finish a little above the annual percent.

Annual return (%)

10 means 10% a year, held constant. This is an assumption, not a forecast.

Years

Use a decimal for a partial year, for example 10.5.

Inflation (% , optional)

Leave blank for 0%. The nominal balance stays the same. This restates it in today's dollars.

Future value

Enter a starting balance, contribution, annual return, and years.

How to project compound growth

Enter the starting balance and contribution. The contribution is the amount added at the end of each month or year. A contribution of zero projects a lump sum only.
Enter the annual return and years. The return compounds on the same schedule as the contributions. Choose nominal APR (annual ÷ periods) or an effective annual return, where the monthly rate is (1 + annual)^(1/12) − 1. Contribution frequency does not change what an effective annual return means.
Read nominal growth and the inflation-adjusted balance. Growth is the ending balance minus every dollar you added. Leave inflation blank to treat it as zero.

Frequently asked questions

How does this compound growth calculator work?: It grows the starting balance at the periodic rate, then adds each contribution at the end of the period and grows that contribution for the periods that remain. $10,000 plus $500 a month at 10% a year, compounded monthly as a nominal APR for 20 years, finishes near $452,965. About $130,000 of that is money you added. With no contributions, $10,000 at 12% for one year is $11,268.25 in that APR mode and $11,200 if 12% is an effective annual return.
What does the inflation-adjusted figure mean?: It restates the ending balance in today's dollars using the inflation rate you type. A 2% inflation rate does not change the nominal balance. It shows how much purchasing power that balance implies if inflation stays at 2%.
Is this investment advice?: No. The calculator is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. The return you type is an assumption, not a forecast.

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Related guides

How to project compound growth

Enter the starting balance and contribution. The contribution is the amount added at the end of each month or year. A contribution of zero projects a lump sum only.

Enter the annual return and years. The return compounds on the same schedule as the contributions. Choose nominal APR (annual ÷ periods) or an effective annual return, where the monthly rate is (1 + annual)^(1/12) − 1. Contribution frequency does not change what an effective annual return means.

Read nominal growth and the inflation-adjusted balance. Growth is the ending balance minus every dollar you added. Leave inflation blank to treat it as zero.

Frequently asked questions

How does this compound growth calculator work?

It grows the starting balance at the periodic rate, then adds each contribution at the end of the period and grows that contribution for the periods that remain. $10,000 plus $500 a month at 10% a year, compounded monthly as a nominal APR for 20 years, finishes near $452,965. About $130,000 of that is money you added. With no contributions, $10,000 at 12% for one year is $11,268.25 in that APR mode and $11,200 if 12% is an effective annual return.

What does the inflation-adjusted figure mean?

It restates the ending balance in today's dollars using the inflation rate you type. A 2% inflation rate does not change the nominal balance. It shows how much purchasing power that balance implies if inflation stays at 2%.

Is this investment advice?

No. The calculator is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. The return you type is an assumption, not a forecast.

Related tools

DCA calculatorCompare monthly buys with investing the same cash up front.

Savings goal calculatorSolve for the payment that hits a future balance.

Retirement savings calculatorTie additions to salary and an employer match.

Rule of 72 calculatorCheck doubling years at a constant rate.

All toolsBrowse every calculator by category.