Future Value Calculator
See what a starting sum and regular monthly deposits grow into over time.
How to use the Future Value Calculator
- Enter your starting amount.
- Enter how much you will add each month.
- Enter the expected annual return and the number of years.
- See the future value, split into what you deposit and what you earn.
FV = P(1 + r)^n + PMT × ((1 + r)^n − 1) ÷ r, with r monthly and n in months
About the Future Value Calculator
The future value calculator shows what money becomes when it is left to compound. It grows a starting lump sum and a stream of regular monthly contributions at the return you set, and reports the total at the end alongside a breakdown: how much you deposited and how much is pure interest. Seeing those two figures separately is the point — over a long horizon the interest can dwarf the contributions, which is the whole case for starting early.
It combines two engines in one: the lump sum grows on its own, and the monthly deposits form an annuity that grows as each one is added and then compounds. That is why raising the monthly contribution and extending the number of years both move the result so much more than they seem they should — later years do the heaviest lifting because the balance they compound is largest.
The result is a gross nominal figure that assumes a steady return; real markets move year to year, and it does not subtract tax, fees or inflation. Treat it as a smooth illustration of the shape of growth, not a forecast. For a lump sum with no contributions use the compound interest calculator, to solve for the deposit that hits a target use the savings goal calculator, and for a quick doubling estimate use the Rule of 72 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is future value?
Future value is what a sum of money will be worth at a later date once it has grown at a given rate of return. This calculator adds the growth of a starting amount and of regular monthly contributions to find that total.
Is the result adjusted for inflation?
No. It is a gross nominal figure before tax, fees and inflation. Inflation will reduce what the final sum can actually buy, so the real spending power is lower than the number shown.
Can I set contributions to zero?
Yes. Leave the monthly contribution at zero to grow only the starting lump sum, which is the same as a standard compound interest calculation. Or set the starting amount to zero to grow only the deposits.