HandyBench

Investment Calculator

Project the future value of your investments.

225,974
Future value
143,974
Total growth
82,000
Total contributed
225,974
Future value (nominal)
YearContributedBalance
113,60014,565
217,20019,509
320,80024,863
424,40030,662
528,00036,942
631,60043,743
735,20051,108
838,80059,085
942,40067,724
1046,00077,080
1149,60087,213
1253,20098,186
1356,800110,071
1460,400122,942
1564,000136,881
1667,600151,977
1771,200168,326
1874,800186,032
1978,400205,207
2082,000225,974

Assumes a constant average annual return and a fixed monthly contribution — real markets fluctuate year to year. Estimates only, not financial advice.

How to use the Investment Calculator

  1. 1 Enter your initial investment and a recurring monthly contribution.
  2. 2 Set an expected annual return and how often it compounds.
  3. 3 Choose the number of years, and optionally an average inflation rate.
  4. 4 See the projected future value, total contributed, total growth, and a year-by-year table.

How the future value is computed

This calculator handles the case where you invest a lump sum and keep adding money every month. Because the compounding option (annual, semi-annual, quarterly, monthly or daily) may not match the monthly contributions, it works in two steps:

  1. Convert the stated annual rate i and compounding frequency n into an effective annual rate: EAR = (1 + i/n)^n − 1.
  2. Convert that into an equivalent monthly rate: m = (1 + EAR)^(1/12) − 1.

It then runs month by month: balance = balance × (1 + m) + contribution. The inflation option divides the result by (1 + inflation)^years. Contributions are added at the end of each month.

Worked example

Invest 10,000 up front plus 300 a month at 8%, compounded monthly, for 20 years (240 months). Monthly compounding gives m = 0.08/12 = 0.6667%, and (1.006667)^240 is about 4.927.

  • Initial amount grows to 10,000 × 4.927 = 49,268
  • Monthly contributions grow to 300 × (4.927 − 1) ÷ 0.006667 = 176,706
  • Future value: about 225,974
  • Contributed: 10,000 + 300 × 240 = 82,000; growth is about 143,974

Effect of the compounding setting

Same example, only the compounding frequency changed:

CompoundingFuture value
Annuallyabout 217,309
Quarterlyabout 224,307
Monthlyabout 225,974
Dailyabout 226,796

The spread is under 5% across all options. The return, the time horizon and how much you contribute matter far more than the compounding label. Most index funds and brokerage accounts effectively grow continuously, so monthly or daily is the closer match.

When it fits and when it doesn't

  • Good for: comparing savings plans, such as 200 a month versus 400, or testing how much starting 5 years earlier changes the outcome.
  • Return assumptions: enter a return net of fund fees. A 1% annual fee on an 8% gross return is a 7% net return, which in the example above lowers the result from about 226,000 to about 196,700.
  • Nominal versus real: a 226,000 balance in 20 years is not 226,000 of today's purchasing power. Tick the inflation box to see the real value; at 3% that is about 125,000.
  • Not modeled: taxes on gains, contributions that rise with your salary, withdrawals, and year-to-year volatility.

For a lump sum with no contributions use the compound interest calculator. For a long-horizon goal see the retirement calculator, and for judging returns see the ROI calculator. The compound interest guide explains the formula in depth.

Examples

  • ▸ 10,000 initial plus 300/month at 8% annual return, compounded monthly, for 20 years grows to roughly 226,000 — about 82,000 contributed and 144,000 from growth.

Frequently asked questions

How does this differ from the compound interest calculator?

The compound interest calculator focuses on the interest formula for a single lump sum. This tool is built around ongoing investing — it adds a recurring monthly contribution on top of an initial amount, and projects the combined growth year by year, which better matches how most people actually invest.

How does compounding frequency affect the result?

More frequent compounding (monthly vs annual, for example) turns your stated annual return into a slightly higher effective annual rate, since earlier-added interest itself starts earning sooner. The calculator applies your chosen frequency to compute that effective rate before projecting monthly.

What does the inflation adjustment show?

It divides your projected future value by (1 + inflation rate)^years to show what that future amount would be worth in today’s purchasing power — useful for judging whether a projected balance will actually go as far as it looks.

Is the projected return guaranteed?

No. Markets fluctuate, and this calculator assumes a constant average annual return for simplicity. Treat the result as a planning estimate, not a promise — try a few different return scenarios (conservative, moderate, optimistic) to see a realistic range.

Are contributions added at the start or the end of each month?

At the end. Each month the balance first grows by the monthly rate and then your contribution is added, so a deposit starts earning from the following month. Contributing at the start of each month would give a slightly higher result.

Related tools

Calculators

Compound Interest Calculator

Grow savings with compounding frequency.
Calculators

Retirement Calculator

Project your nest egg, in today’s and future dollars.
Calculators

SIP Calculator

Project monthly SIP investment growth.
Calculators

ROI Calculator

Total ROI, profit and annualized return.