Future Value Calculator

What will my savings grow to?

How it is calculated

The tool compounds monthly. It converts the annual rate to a monthly one, r = rate / 100 / 12, and the term to months, n = years × 12 (rounded to a whole month). The result is FV = P × (1 + r)n + C × ((1 + r)n − 1) / r, where P is the starting amount and C the deposit made at the end of every month. With a 0% rate it simply adds P + C × n.

It also reports total contributed (P + C × n) and interest earned (the difference). The rate is treated as a constant nominal annual return; there are no taxes, fees or inflation adjustment, and negative amounts give no result. A negative return, such as a loss or a return after inflation, is allowed down to -100%.

Worked example

Start with 5,000, add 200 a month for 10 years at 6% a year. The monthly rate is 0.5% and there are 120 months, so (1.005)120 ≈ 1.8194. The starting amount grows to about 9,096.99. The deposits grow to 200 × (0.8194 / 0.005) ≈ 32,775.86. Together the future value is $41,872.85. You paid in $29,000.00 yourself, so $12,872.85 is interest.

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Common mistakes

  • Entering the monthly rate instead of the annual rate. Type 6 for 6% a year, not 0.5.
  • Putting the yearly savings amount in the monthly contribution field.
  • Treating the figure as guaranteed; real returns vary year to year and this uses one fixed rate.
  • Ignoring inflation, fees and tax, so the result overstates what the money will actually buy.

Sources

About this calculator

This calculator projects what a savings or investment plan will grow to by compounding an initial lump sum plus regular monthly contributions at a given annual return rate over a chosen number of years, showing how compounding causes growth to accelerate the longer money stays invested.

It is used by people planning retirement savings, a house down payment or a college fund who want to see whether their current contribution rate gets them to a target amount, and to compare scenarios — like increasing the monthly deposit or extending the timeline — to see which lever moves the outcome the most.

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Comments (1)

  • Editorial team

    The calculation assumes a flat rate, compounding monthly, with each deposit made at the end of the month, and nothing is adjusted for inflation or tax. Compare the contributed amount with the interest figure to see how much of the end balance is your own money. Try the same plan with a starting year later and watch the interest share shrink. How long are you planning to save for?

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