Investment Calculator
See how an investment could grow. Enter a starting amount, a monthly or yearly contribution, an expected return and a number of years, and the calculator projects the future value, its inflation-adjusted real value in today's dollars, and a downloadable year-by-year schedule. Tick compare to test two scenarios on one chart.
$691,150 in 30 years
Invested: $190,000 · Growth: $501,150 · 3.6× your money
Real value: $284,745 in today's dollars (after 3% inflation)
■ Starting $10,000 · ■ Contributions $180,000 · ■ Growth $501,150
■ Balance (nominal) · ■ Real value (today's $)
Year-by-year schedule
| Year | Invested | Growth | Balance | Real (today's $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $16,000 | $919 | $16,919 | $16,426 |
| 2 | $22,000 | $2,339 | $24,339 | $22,941 |
| 3 | $28,000 | $4,294 | $32,294 | $29,554 |
| 4 | $34,000 | $6,825 | $40,825 | $36,273 |
| 5 | $40,000 | $9,973 | $49,973 | $43,107 |
| 6 | $46,000 | $13,782 | $59,782 | $50,066 |
| 7 | $52,000 | $18,299 | $70,299 | $57,160 |
| 8 | $58,000 | $23,578 | $81,578 | $64,398 |
| 9 | $64,000 | $29,671 | $93,671 | $71,791 |
| 10 | $70,000 | $36,639 | $106,639 | $79,349 |
| 11 | $76,000 | $44,544 | $120,544 | $87,084 |
| 12 | $82,000 | $53,455 | $135,455 | $95,005 |
| 13 | $88,000 | $63,443 | $151,443 | $103,125 |
| 14 | $94,000 | $74,587 | $168,587 | $111,456 |
| 15 | $100,000 | $86,971 | $186,971 | $120,009 |
| 16 | $106,000 | $100,683 | $206,683 | $128,798 |
| 17 | $112,000 | $115,820 | $227,820 | $137,835 |
| 18 | $118,000 | $132,486 | $250,486 | $147,134 |
| 19 | $124,000 | $150,790 | $274,790 | $156,709 |
| 20 | $130,000 | $170,851 | $300,851 | $166,574 |
| 21 | $136,000 | $192,796 | $328,796 | $176,744 |
| 22 | $142,000 | $216,760 | $358,760 | $187,234 |
| 23 | $148,000 | $242,892 | $390,892 | $198,062 |
| 24 | $154,000 | $271,345 | $425,345 | $209,242 |
| 25 | $160,000 | $302,290 | $462,290 | $220,792 |
| 26 | $166,000 | $335,905 | $501,905 | $232,731 |
| 27 | $172,000 | $372,384 | $544,384 | $245,076 |
| 28 | $178,000 | $411,934 | $589,934 | $257,847 |
| 29 | $184,000 | $454,777 | $638,777 | $271,063 |
| 30 | $190,000 | $501,150 | $691,150 | $284,745 |
Assumes a constant return compounded monthly and contributions at period end. Projections are estimates; real returns vary and aren't guaranteed. How we calculate →
How to use the investment calculator
Enter four things: a starting amount, a recurring contribution (monthly or yearly), an expected annual return, and a number of years. The calculator compounds your balance month by month and shows the projected future value, how much of that is money you put in versus growth, and a year-by-year schedule you can download.
Every output updates instantly as you type — there's no Calculate button. Use the breakdown bar to see at a glance how the split between your contributions and compound growth shifts as the time horizon lengthens.
Nominal vs inflation-adjusted (real) value
A balance of $1,000,000 in 30 years will not buy what $1,000,000 buys today. That's why this calculator shows the real value — your projected balance restated in today's dollars after the inflation rate you enter. Set it to roughly 2–3% (the long-run US average) and you'll see the purchasing power your money actually represents, not just the headline number. The growth chart plots both the nominal balance and the real-value line so the gap is obvious.
Most popular investment calculators skip this step; Ramsey only takes an inflation input without showing the real result. Seeing real value inline is the honest way to plan toward a goal.
Compare two scenarios side by side
Tick “Compare a second scenario” to test two assumptions at once — a conservative 4% vs an aggressive 8% return, or $300/month vs $600/month — on the same chart. The result panel shows the dollar difference between them, which is usually far larger than people expect over a few decades. It's the fastest way to see what a single extra percentage point of return, or a small bump in contributions, does to the ending balance.
Types of investments and typical returns
The return you assume should match what you actually hold. Historically the S&P 500 has returned about 10.7% nominal / 6.8% after inflation since 1957, but that's an average across very good and very bad years. Stocks and equity funds (ETFs, index funds) sit at the higher-return, higher-volatility end; bonds and CDs are lower and steadier; real estate and commodities sit in between with their own risks. A diversified portfolio blends them, so model a blended rate rather than the best single asset.
Year-by-year growth schedule
Open the schedule to see each year's invested total, growth, balance and inflation-adjusted value, then export it to CSV or save the page as a PDF. None of the major investment calculators let you download the accumulation table — it's useful for tracking against your plan or sharing with a planner.
Frequently asked questions
What rate of return should I use in an investment calculator?
There's no single correct number — use a rate that matches what you hold and your risk tolerance. The S&P 500 has averaged about 10.7% nominal and 6.8% after inflation since 1957, so 6–8% is a common assumption for an equity-heavy portfolio and less for a conservative mix. When in doubt, model a lower rate so you don't over-promise.
How does compound interest affect my investment results?
Each period's earnings are reinvested, so your interest earns interest too — a snowball that gets bigger the longer you stay invested. Most of a long-term balance is growth, not the money you put in; the breakdown bar above shows that split for your own numbers.
Does the calculator account for taxes or fees?
No — it shows a pretax, no-fee projection. Account fees, fund expense ratios and taxes on gains all reduce real returns, so use a slightly more conservative rate of return to approximate them, or hold tax-advantaged accounts (401(k), IRA) where growth isn't taxed yearly.
What is the difference between nominal and real (inflation-adjusted) value?
Nominal value is the raw future balance; real value restates it in today's dollars after inflation, showing what it can actually buy. This calculator displays both — enter an inflation rate (2–3% is typical) to see the real number.
How do I figure out how much I need to invest to reach a goal?
Set your years and expected return, then adjust the contribution until the future value matches your target — the result updates live. Use the compare mode to see how two contribution levels reach (or miss) the same goal.
How do you calculate return on investment (ROI)?
ROI = (final value − amount invested) ÷ amount invested × 100. For example, turning $10,000 into $15,000 is a 50% ROI. ROI ignores how long it took, which is why an annualized return (what this calculator uses) is more comparable across time horizons.
Researched & verified by the Calcuris Data & Research Team. How we build and check our tools →