Investment Calculator
Start with a lump sum, add a regular contribution, pick a time span and an expected return. The chart and the year-by-year table show where the balance comes from: your deposits or the compounding.
Frequently asked questions
What return rate should I assume?
Nobody knows future returns, which is the honest answer. For long-run stock market projections, 6% to 8% nominal is a common planning range based on historical averages; bonds and savings accounts sit lower. Running the calculator with a pessimistic and an optimistic rate tells you more than any single number.
How does compounding frequency change the result?
More frequent compounding helps, but less than people expect. $10,000 at 6% for 10 years grows to about $17,908 compounded annually and $18,194 compounded monthly. The rate and the time horizon matter far more than the frequency.
Why do regular contributions matter so much?
Each contribution gets its own years of compounding. $200 a month for 20 years is $48,000 of deposits, but at 7% it grows to roughly $104,000. The earlier deposits do the heavy lifting, which is the argument for starting before you feel ready.
Does this account for inflation or taxes?
No. The projection is in nominal terms, before taxes and fees. To think in today's money, use a return of roughly your expected rate minus inflation (for example 7% minus 2.5%).
More calculators
Simple percentage calculator: work out X% of Y, one number as a percentage of another, and percentage increase or decrease. Free, fast, no sign-up.
Percentage Increase CalculatorWork out the percentage increase or decrease between two numbers, or apply a percentage to a value. Instant results with the formula explained.
VAT CalculatorAdd VAT to a net price or take it out of a gross price. Current rates for 56 countries, with standard and reduced rate options.