Future value calculator

The future value calculator, FV, grows a starting amount and optional contributions at the compounding you pick. 10000 at 6% for 10 years, with no contributions and annual compounding, is about 17908.48. You can split deposit frequency, choose beginning or end of period, and subtract inflation.

FV with compounding and optional contributions. 10000, 6%, and 10 years land near 17908. The three-field version is on compound interest.

Input data

Result

Starting amount, Annual return (%), Time horizon and Compounding. The result shows up here.

How results are calculated

FV, future value, is the amount a start and any regular contributions will grow to. On the first card there are no contributions, so the formula matches compound interest: 10000, 6%, and 10 years, annual compounding, yield about 17908.48. Growth is the same 7908.48 or so. When you turn contributions on, the calculator adds an annuity at the end or the beginning of each period.

Second example: 5000 start, 7%, 15 years, monthly compounding, and 200 contributed at period end. FV is about 77637.19, total deposits about 41000, growth about 36637.19. Third: 20000, 5%, 8 years, 1000 contributions, 2.5% inflation. Nominal FV is about 39098.22, real about 32089.73.

Type Starting amount (0 is fine if you model contributions only) and Annual return (%). Time horizon is a number plus a years or months list. Compounding is a list: annual, monthly, or a custom periods-per-year count. Contributions, their frequency, timing, inflation, and an FV goal sit behind toggles. Click Calculate and read FV first.

Compound interest next door stays with principal, rate, and years, with no contributions. Purchasing power divides today's amount by inflation, with no return rate. PV, present value, runs the other way: from a future amount back to today.

No tax and no fees is a scenario assumption. Monthly compounding at 7% is not a product promise. An FV goal shows a surplus or a gap, not a mini retirement plan.

Type 10000, 6, 10, leave annual compounding, and keep contributions off. Check about 17908. Then turn on the 200 contribution from the second example if you want the jump toward 77637.

How to use this calculator

  1. In Starting amount, type the start, for example 10000. Zero is fine when you model contributions only.
  2. In Annual return (%), type the percent, for example 6. Set the horizon with a number and the years or months list.
  3. In Compounding, choose annual, monthly, or custom. For custom, type periods per year.
  4. Contributions, inflation, and an FV goal sit behind toggles. Timing is a list: end or beginning of period.
  5. Click Calculate. At 10000, 6%, 10 years, and annual compounding, FV should be about 17908.48.

FV with compounding and optional contributions

FV grows a start and optional deposits at the compounding you pick. 10000 at 6% for 10 years, no contributions, annual compounding, is about 17908.48.

FV
Future value in this calculator. 10000 × 1.06^10 ≈ 17908.48 with no deposits. Start 5000, 7%, 15 years, 200 per period is about 77637.
Compounding
How often the rate compounds. Annual at 6% for 10 years is 17908.48. Monthly with 200 contributions lifts the ending balance hard.
Contribution
A regular deposit per period. 200 for 15 years on a 5000 start at 7% feeds about 41000 of deposits and FV about 77637.

Worked examples

Example 1

  • Starting amount: 10,000
  • Return: 6%
  • Time: 10 years
  • Compounding: annual

FV ≈ 17,908.48
Total deposits ≈ 10,000.00
Growth ≈ 7,908.48

With no contributions, all growth comes from compounding the starting balance.

Example 2

  • Starting amount: 5,000
  • Return: 7%
  • Time: 15 years
  • Compounding: monthly
  • Contribution: 200 per period (end of period)

FV ≈ 77,637.19
Total deposits ≈ 41,000.00
Growth ≈ 36,637.19

Regular contributions lift the ending balance far above the starting amount alone - check the “FV without contributions” card too.

Example 3

  • Starting amount: 20,000
  • Return: 5%
  • Time: 8 years
  • Compounding: annual
  • Contribution: 1,000 per period
  • Inflation: 2.5%

FV ≈ 39,098.22
Total deposits ≈ 28,000.00
Growth ≈ 11,098.22
Real FV ≈ 32,089.73

Nominal FV looks solid, but after inflation purchasing power is clearly lower - that is what the real FV card is for.

Example 4

  • Starting amount: 5,000
  • Return: 7%
  • Time: 10 years
  • Compounding: annual
  • Contribution: 200 monthly

FV higher than starting amount alone
Total deposits = 5,000 + 200×120

A common setup: you save monthly, compounding is stated yearly - the frequencies do not have to match.

Example 5

  • 5,000
  • 5%
  • 15 years

FV ≈ 10,394.64

What does 5,000 grow to at 5% in 15 years? FV ≈ 10,394.64.

Example 6

  • 20,000
  • 4%
  • 8 years

FV ≈ 27,371.38

What does 20,000 grow to at 4% in 8 years? FV ≈ 27,371.38.

Which tool should you use

  • Future value (FV) - when you know today’s balance and want to see how it could grow at an assumed rate, with or without contributions.
  • Present value (PV) - when you know one future amount (or equal payments) and want today’s worth.
  • Compound interest - when you care about compounding mechanics without contribution schedules and targets.
  • NPV / IRR - when you have uneven yearly cash flows (a project), not a single savings path.

This calculator does not pick a return for you and ignores return volatility - the result is a scenario under fixed assumptions.

Related calculators

Present value calculator

Present value (PV) calculator: It's a simplified model: fixed rate, optional fixed inflation, equal payments.

Use calculator →

Real rate of return

The real rate of return calculator applies the Fisher formula to a nominal rate and inflation.

Use calculator →

Compound interest

The compound interest calculator multiplies principal by (1 + rate/100) to the power of years.

Use calculator →

Purchasing power under inflation

The inflation calculator shows how much of today's amount remains under a flat yearly inflation rate.

Use calculator →

All finance calculators

FAQ

What FV does 10000 at 6% for 10 years give with no contributions?

About 17908.48. Total deposits 10000, growth about 7908.48. Same multiplier as compound interest.

What about 5000, 7%, 15 years, monthly compounding, and 200 contributions?

FV about 77637.19. Total deposits about 41000, growth about 36637.19.

What is real FV at 20000, 5%, 8 years, 1000 contributions, and 2.5% inflation?

Nominal FV is about 39098.22, real about 32089.73 after the 2.5% inflation haircut.

How is FV different from compound interest?

That page has three fields and yearly compounding. Here you get contributions, a compounding list, inflation, and a goal.

Can starting amount be 0?

Yes, when you model the contribution annuity alone. A blank field is not zero; you have to type 0.

What does a beginning-of-period contribution mean?

An annuity due: each deposit earns one extra period of return versus an end-of-period deposit.

Does the FV goal solve for years?

No. It compares your FV with a typed target and shows a surplus or a gap. It does not solve “how many years?”.

Where is PV?

On the present value page. There a future amount comes back to today. Here today goes forward.

Is 17908 after withholding?

No. Tax is not in this model. Take 19% of a gain on its own page.

Do horizon months split the rate?

A monthly horizon converts time. The rate you type stays annual; compounding says how often to split it.

Knowledge sources

FV compounds the rate you type, with optional contributions. This is not a portfolio valuation.

Page updated in 2026.