Future Value Calculator — Investment Growth Projector
Project where your money ends up. Three modes: a single lump-sum deposit, a regular sparplan with monthly contributions, or solve in reverse for the deposit needed to hit a target amount. Compound-interest math, five compounding frequencies, instant growth chart.
Lump Sum Future Value Calculator
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Regular Contributions Future Value Calculator
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Target Amount Reverse Calculator
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Growth Over Time
How to use the Future Value Calculator
Pick the tab that matches your question. Lump Sum projects a one-time deposit forward. Regular Contributions adds a fresh deposit at every compounding period — the classic sparplan / dollar-cost-averaging shape. Target Amount works in reverse: you tell it how much you want to end up with, and it shows both the lump sum you'd need today AND the monthly contribution that gets you to the same place. The chart below visualises the contribution-vs-interest split year by year, so the compound effect is visible at a glance.
Understanding Compound Interest and Growth
Compound interest is the engine of long-term wealth. Each period you earn returns on your principal AND on the returns you've already accumulated — the growth curve bends upward over time. Compounding frequency matters: monthly compounding ends ahead of annual compounding at the same nominal rate because interest gets reinvested sooner. Use the Compound Interest Calculator for a stripped-down savings-rate view, the Inflation Calculator to subtract inflation from the nominal return for the real purchasing-power answer, and the ROI Calculator for a backward-looking summary of a closed trade.
Lump Sum vs. Regular Contributions — Which is Better?
Mathematically, a lump sum invested today beats spreading the same total across years — money in the market longer compounds longer. But most savers don't have a lump sum sitting in a bank account; they have a monthly cashflow. The Regular Contributions tab models exactly that: the same $120,000 you'd invest as a lump sum, broken into $500/month over 20 years, ends at a substantially different number because each contribution gets a shorter compounding window. The practical takeaway is that starting earlier matters far more than starting bigger — every year delayed is a year of compounding lost.
Plain compound interest
A stripped-down growth model for a single savings rate and contribution stream.
Open →Real return after inflation
Subtract inflation from your projected FV to see actual purchasing-power growth.
Open →Measure a closed trade
Backward-looking ROI, annualised CAGR and break-even price after fees.
Open →Frequently Asked Questions
What is future value?
Future value (FV) is what an investment is projected to be worth at a specific date in the future, given an assumed rate of return. It is the foundation of long-term financial planning — without a target FV, you cannot reason about how much to save today.
How does compound interest work?
Compound interest earns interest on previously-earned interest, not just the original principal. With monthly compounding at 7%, a $10,000 deposit grows to about $40,387 in 20 years — the extra $20,387 above simple interest is the compound effect. The more frequent the compounding, the faster the curve bends upward.
What is the difference between lump sum and regular contributions?
A lump sum is a single deposit that grows untouched. Regular contributions add fresh principal at every period, so total balance grows from BOTH new contributions AND compounding on the previous balance. Mathematically, a $500/month plan at 7% for 20 years ends at ~$262,000 — vs ~$40,000 from a one-time $10,000 deposit.
How long does it take to double my money?
The Rule of 72 gives a quick estimate: divide 72 by your annual interest rate (as a whole number) to get the years to double. At 7% returns, money doubles in ~10.3 years; at 4%, ~18 years; at 10%, ~7.2 years. The rule approximates the exact log-2/ln(1+r) formula closely for rates between 4% and 12%.