Investment growth calculator
Explore how the money you invest today, plus regular additions, could build over time—and what that future amount might buy.
Projected investment balance
The nominal ending balance under the entered deterministic assumptions.
292,465
Nominal currency units
Inputs changed. Calculate again to update the result.
- Today’s-money balance
- 178,482.91
- Nominal contributions
- 120,000.00
- Nominal gain / loss
- 162,465.03
| Year | Month | Nominal | Today’s money | Contributions | Gain / loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 16,890.15 | 16,478.19 | 6,000.00 | 890.15 |
| 2 | 24 | 24,262.61 | 23,093.50 | 12,000.00 | 2,262.61 |
| 3 | 36 | 32,151.14 | 29,855.53 | 18,000.00 | 4,151.14 |
| 4 | 48 | 40,591.87 | 36,774.23 | 24,000.00 | 6,591.87 |
| 5 | 60 | 49,623.45 | 43,859.90 | 30,000.00 | 9,623.45 |
| 6 | 72 | 59,287.24 | 51,123.20 | 36,000.00 | 13,287.24 |
| 7 | 84 | 69,627.49 | 58,575.19 | 42,000.00 | 17,627.49 |
| 8 | 96 | 80,691.56 | 66,227.32 | 48,000.00 | 22,691.56 |
| 9 | 108 | 92,530.12 | 74,091.49 | 54,000.00 | 28,530.12 |
| 10 | 120 | 105,197.38 | 82,180.02 | 60,000.00 | 35,197.38 |
| 11 | 132 | 118,751.34 | 90,505.72 | 66,000.00 | 42,751.34 |
| 12 | 144 | 133,254.09 | 99,081.86 | 72,000.00 | 51,254.09 |
| 13 | 156 | 148,772.02 | 107,922.26 | 78,000.00 | 60,772.02 |
| 14 | 168 | 165,376.21 | 117,041.24 | 84,000.00 | 71,376.21 |
| 15 | 180 | 183,142.70 | 126,453.72 | 90,000.00 | 83,142.70 |
| 16 | 192 | 202,152.83 | 136,175.19 | 96,000.00 | 96,152.83 |
| 17 | 204 | 222,493.68 | 146,221.75 | 102,000.00 | 110,493.68 |
| 18 | 216 | 244,258.39 | 156,610.15 | 108,000.00 | 126,258.39 |
| 19 | 228 | 267,546.62 | 167,357.83 | 114,000.00 | 143,546.62 |
| 20 | 240 | 292,465.03 | 178,482.91 | 120,000.00 | 162,465.03 |
* Not financial advice. Just for fun and information. Read the full Disclaimer, also linked in the footer, for more.
Final nominal balance: 292,465.
What this calculator helps you explore
Building an investment pot comes from both putting money in and what happens to that money while it is invested. Enter your starting balance, planned additions and number of years, then choose a growth assumption to explore a possible outcome.
Compare saving more each month, investing for longer or making yearly deposits instead. Advanced options let you choose when deposits happen and whether they stay the same amount or rise with prices. These choices can change the result even when the total you put in looks similar.
Reading your result
The nominal balance is the number you might see in the account in the future. The today’s-money balance shows roughly what that amount could buy compared with prices now. For example, if prices rise, a future balance of 100,000 buys less than 100,000 buys today.
The contributions total shows the money you added after the starting balance. Gain or loss is the difference between the final balance and all the money you put in, before adjusting for rising prices. The chart and annual table show the same projected journey.
What could change the outcome
The growth rate is an assumption, not a promised return. Actual investments rise and fall; the smooth chart does not predict those changes. This estimate does not model personal taxes, changes in investment mix or fees that change over time. Use a return assumption after investment fees. To connect the balance with a retirement goal, try FIRE date.
The maths behind the estimate
Annual growth and inflation rates become equivalent monthly rates. Beginning-of-period deposits are added before that period’s growth; end-of-period deposits are added afterwards. Yearly deposits happen once a year, rather than being spread across months. The today’s-money balance is the future balance divided by the total increase in prices. See the methodology for full calculation rules.
