Investment Calculator
Calculate the future value of your investments
Investment Details
Results
Enter details to see projections
What is the Investment Calculator?
This calculator shows what a lump sum or regular investment is worth after a given period of time, assuming compound interest or market returns. It answers one of the most common financial questions people have: "If I invest X amount for Y years at Z percent, what do I end up with?" Whether you're putting money into a Vanguard index fund, a brokerage account on Fidelity, or a high-yield savings account, CalciHub's investment calculator runs the math instantly. You can test one-time investments, regular monthly contributions, or both combined.
How Does It Work?
The calculator uses compound interest, where your returns earn returns. The formula for regular contributions is:
FV = PV × (1 + r)ⁿ + PMT × [((1 + r)ⁿ − 1) / r]
FV = Future value of your investment
PV = Initial investment (lump sum, can be zero)
r = Interest/return rate per compounding period
n = Number of compounding periods
PMT = Amount added each period (monthly contribution)
How to Use CalciHub's Investment Calculator
1. Enter your initial investment amount (or zero if you're starting fresh).
2. Add a monthly contribution if applicable.
3. Set your expected annual return rate.
4. Choose the investment period in years.
5. Select compounding frequency (monthly is standard for most investment accounts).
Tip: Compare results using 6%, 8%, and 10% return rates. This range covers most diversified equity portfolios over the long term, and seeing all three scenarios helps you plan conservatively.
A Quick Example
Emma, a 28-year-old in New York, puts $5,000 into a Vanguard index fund and plans to add $300 every month for 25 years. She uses a conservative 7% annual return.
Initial investment: $5,000
Monthly contribution: $300
Annual return: 7%
Time period: 25 years
Total contributed: $95,000
Projected value: $262,400
Emma's $95,000 in contributions more than doubles thanks to compounding. The longer she holds it, the more dramatic that gap becomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The S&P 500 has historically averaged around 10% annually before inflation, or closer to 7% after inflation. For a balanced portfolio (mix of stocks and bonds), 5–6% is a common planning assumption. Using 7% is reasonable for long-term stock-heavy portfolios, but nothing is guaranteed.
Compound interest means your returns generate their own returns. If you earn $100 in interest one year, that $100 is added to your balance and earns interest the next year too. Over decades, this snowball effect accounts for the majority of your investment growth.
Research generally favours lump-sum investing when you have the money available — statistically, the market rises more often than it falls, so time in the market beats timing the market. That said, many people don't have a lump sum, and monthly contributions are a perfectly good alternative.
Not automatically. The calculator shows gross growth before taxes and inflation. For a more realistic picture, subtract your expected inflation rate (around 2–3%) from your expected return to get a real rate of return.
Yes, totally free. No login, no ads asking for your email, no premium version. Just open it and run your numbers.
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