Future Value Calculator
See exactly what your money grows to — enter your deposit, monthly contributions, and expected return rate.
Money invested today is worth more than the same money invested tomorrow — because it has more time to compound and grow.
10×
$10k at 7% for 30 years grows to over $100,000 — purely from compounding
50%+
of your final balance typically comes from compound interest, not contributions
Month 1
is the best time to start — every month of delay costs you exponential growth
What this means for your money
Compound interest rewards patience above almost everything else.
The power of compounding
Compound interest grows exponentially — not linearly. In the first years you barely notice. By year 20–30, your interest is earning more than your contributions. Time in the market is everything.
Starting early vs starting late
Someone who invests $200/mo from age 25 to 65 ends up with roughly twice as much as someone who starts at 35, even though they invested for 10 fewer years. The difference is compounding time.
Return rate vs contribution rate
Increasing your monthly contribution by $100 often has more impact than chasing an extra 1% return. Both matter — but contributions are within your control in a way that market returns are not.
How the Future Value Calculator Works
Formula
FV = PV × (1 + r)ⁿ + PMT × (((1 + r)ⁿ − 1) / r)
Where:
PV = Initial deposit (present value)
PMT = Monthly contribution
r = Monthly interest rate (annual rate ÷ 12)
n = Total months (years × 12)Enter your initial deposit
The lump sum you're starting with — can be $0 if you're starting fresh.
Set monthly contributions
How much you plan to add each month. Even $50/mo compounds significantly.
Choose your return rate
The expected annual return. Use 7% for a conservative inflation-adjusted estimate.
Pick your time horizon
How many years you'll let the money grow. Longer = exponentially more.
Read the result
Your final balance, total interest earned, and contributions vs. growth split.
This calculator uses the standard compound interest formula with monthly compounding. The return rate you enter is applied as an annual rate, divided by 12 for monthly calculations.
Historical averages for diversified equity portfolios range from 7–10% annually. Use 7% for a conservative inflation-adjusted estimate (real return), or 9–10% for nominal (pre-inflation) projections.
Frequently Asked Questions
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