About the Future Value Calculator
Future Value Calculator has two modes. Future value shows what a starting amount and regular payments will grow to at a given yearly return, with the compounding and payment frequency you choose (yearly, twice a year, quarterly, monthly or weekly) and payments made at the start or the end of each period. Present value works the other way: it discounts a future sum and a stream of regular payments back to today's money at a discount rate. Along with the answer you see how much of the future value was put in and how much was earned, the effective annual rate for your compounding, the years it would take money to double, and a year-by-year table of the growth. Choose any currency symbol. Returns are assumed constant and are not guaranteed, and the results ignore tax, fees and inflation.
Updated September 2026
How to use the Future Value Calculator
- 1Choose Future value or Present value.
- 2Enter the starting amount (or the future amount) and the regular payment, if any.
- 3Enter the yearly rate and the number of years.
- 4Choose how often payments are made and interest is added, and whether payments are at the start or end of each period.
- 5Read the result, and use the table to see the growth each year.
The time value of money
Money available now is worth more than the same amount later, because it can be saved or invested to earn interest. Future value and present value are the two directions of this idea. Future value pushes today's money forward to a date, and present value pulls future money back to today.
This is the basis for retirement planning, for comparing a lump sum with payments over time, and for valuing investments and loans. A payout of 50,000 today and a payout of 80,000 in 10 years can be compared fairly by turning both into the same date.
Using the two modes
- Future value: enter what you have now and what you add regularly, plus the yearly return and the years.
- Present value: enter the future amount, and any regular payments received, plus your discount rate.
- For the discount rate, use the return you could earn elsewhere with similar risk.
- Choose start-of-period payments for savings you make right after payday, or rent that is paid in advance.
- Set the payment to 0 to look at a lump sum only.
What the table shows
The table lists the balance at the end of every year, split into the money you put in and the interest earned. Early years show more contributions than interest, and later years show interest overtaking your payments, which is the effect of compounding. For 10,000 plus 200 a month at 7 percent, the balance after 20 years is roughly 144,600 while you paid in 58,000.
Try changing the number of years to see how strongly time affects the result.
Limits and related tools
The calculation assumes a constant rate, regular equal payments and no tax, fees or inflation. Real returns vary. For savings with a target, Savings Goal Calculator finds the payment you need, Compound Interest Calculator focuses on a lump sum, and SIP Calculator does the same for regular monthly investments in Indian mutual funds.
To see how prices change over time, use Inflation Calculator, and ROI Calculator measures the return of a single investment. Return calculations are general information, not financial advice.
Features
- Lump sum plus regular payments
- Yearly, twice-yearly, quarterly, monthly or weekly compounding
- Payments at the start or the end of a period
- Present value of a future sum and payments
- Amount put in versus interest earned
- Effective annual rate and years to double
- Year-by-year growth table
Frequently asked questions
What is future value?
Future value is what money you have today, and any payments you add, will be worth at a later date if it earns interest. It is based on the idea that money can grow over time. 10,000 at 7 percent for 20 years grows to about 38,700 with yearly compounding, even with no extra payments.
What is present value?
Present value is what a future amount of money is worth today. A promise of 10,000 in 10 years is worth less than 10,000 now, because the money today could be invested. At a 5 percent discount rate, 10,000 in 10 years is worth about 6,139 today.
How is the future value calculated?
The starting amount is multiplied by (1 + r)^n, where r is the rate per period and n is the number of periods. Regular payments add the payment times ((1 + r)^n − 1) ÷ r. With payments at the start of each period the payment part is multiplied by (1 + r) as well, since each payment earns one more period of interest.
Does compounding more often make a big difference?
A small one. At 7 percent, yearly compounding gives an effective rate of 7 percent, monthly compounding gives 7.229 percent, and daily gives about 7.25 percent. The tool shows the effective rate for the option you choose. Time and regular saving matter far more.
Should I use a nominal or real rate?
Using a nominal rate gives the future amount in future money. If you want to know what it will buy in today's prices, subtract the expected inflation from the rate, or use Inflation Calculator afterwards to translate the amount into today's money.
Is a return of 7 percent guaranteed?
No. Investments such as shares go up and down, and the return you actually get can be higher or lower. The calculator assumes a fixed rate every year, so use it to compare scenarios and to see the effect of time, not to predict your result.