Investment Return Calculator
Calculate investment returns with compound growth, monthly contributions, and inflation adjustment. See how your portfolio grows over time with a year-by-year table.
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Frequently asked
questions
Compound interest means you earn interest on your interest. For example, $10,000 at 8% annually becomes $10,800 after year 1. In year 2, you earn 8% on $10,800 (not the original $10,000). This compounding effect creates exponential growth over long periods.
The US stock market (S&P 500) has returned about 10% annually on average over the past century, or about 7% after inflation. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results — use conservative estimates (6-8%) for long-term planning.
Inflation erodes purchasing power. If your investment grows 8% but inflation is 3%, your real return is about 5%. The "Adjust for inflation" option shows your returns in today's dollars.