Compound interest calculator

Enter a starting amount, a monthly addition, a rate and a number of years, and see the balance grow year by year on a chart. It shows how much came from your deposits and how much from growth.

The S&P 500 has averaged roughly 10% a year before inflation over the long run; 7% is a common, more cautious planning figure.

Balance after 30 years

$691,150

You put in $190,000. Compounding adds $501,150 on top, 73% of the final balance.

$190,000You put in
+$501,150Growth
3.64×Money multiple
$0$200k$400k$600k$800kNow48121620242830
BalanceYou put in
Year-by-year breakdown
YearPut in so farGrowth so farBalance
1$16,000$919$16,919
2$22,000$2,339$24,339
3$28,000$4,294$32,294
4$34,000$6,825$40,825
5$40,000$9,973$49,973
6$46,000$13,782$59,782
7$52,000$18,299$70,299
8$58,000$23,578$81,578
9$64,000$29,671$93,671
10$70,000$36,639$106,639
11$76,000$44,544$120,544
12$82,000$53,455$135,455
13$88,000$63,443$151,443
14$94,000$74,587$168,587
15$100,000$86,971$186,971
16$106,000$100,683$206,683
17$112,000$115,820$227,820
18$118,000$132,486$250,486
19$124,000$150,790$274,790
20$130,000$170,851$300,851
21$136,000$192,796$328,796
22$142,000$216,760$358,760
23$148,000$242,892$390,892
24$154,000$271,345$425,345
25$160,000$302,290$462,290
26$166,000$335,905$501,905
27$172,000$372,384$544,384
28$178,000$411,934$589,934
29$184,000$454,777$638,777
30$190,000$501,150$691,150

How this calculator works

Enter what you start with, what you add each month and the yearly return you expect. Each month the balance earns one twelfth of the yearly rate, then your deposit is added.

The chart splits the balance into the money you put in and the growth on top. Over long periods, growth usually ends up larger than your own deposits, which is the whole point of starting early.

FormulaBalance each month = previous balance × (1 + rate ÷ 12) + monthly deposit

Common questions

What return should I use?

Many people plan with 6–7% a year for a stock-heavy portfolio, which is below the long-run average of the S&P 500 to leave room for bad decades. Use 4–5% for a savings account or bonds.

Is compound interest the same for stocks?

Stocks do not pay interest, but reinvested gains and dividends compound the same way. The calculator treats the return as a steady average; real returns arrive unevenly.

Does this include inflation or taxes?

No. To see results in today's dollars, subtract expected inflation from the return (for example, 7% − 3% = 4%).

FatDCA calculators are educational estimates, not investment, tax or legal advice. Results depend on the assumptions you enter, and past returns do not predict future returns.

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