Compound Interest Calculator

A powerful tool to calculate the future and present value of your investments with compound interest.

Future Value
Present Value
$
$
%
%
Years

Note: Present Value (PV) is typically calculated for a lump-sum investment to determine the initial capital needed to reach a future goal.

$
%
Years

Calculation Results

Future Value
Total Deposits
Total Interest

Wealth Growth Chart

Annual Breakdown

YearOpening BalanceAnnual ContributionAnnual InterestClosing Balance

About This Compound Interest Calculator

Use our free compound interest calculator to evaluate how your savings or investments might grow over time, with or without regular contributions. Our tool helps you see how compound interest can increase the value of your money as you plan for the future.

Understanding Compound Interest

Chart showing investment growth over time

Compound interest means earning interest on both the principal amount and the accumulated interest from previous periods. This creates an exponential growth effect.

The higher the number of compounding periods, the larger the effect of compounding.

How Compound Interest Works

Compound interest is calculated by multiplying the initial principal amount by (1 + annual interest rate) raised to the power of the number of compounding periods, and then subtracting the principal.

Chart showing investment growth over time

The formulas for calculating compound interest are:

= [P (1 + i)n] – P

or

= P [(1 + i)n – 1]

Where:

  1. P = principal
  2. i = annual interest rate
  3. n = number of compounding periods

For example, if you had a 3-year loan of $10,000 at an interest rate of 5%, compounding annually. What would be the amount of interest? In this case, using the latter formula, it would be:

$10,000 [ ( 1 + 0.05 )3 – 1 ] = $10,000 [ 1.157625 – 1 ] = $1,576.25

Tip

The Rule of 72 is another way to estimate compound interest. If you divide 72 by your rate of return, you find out how long it will take for your money to double in value. For example, if you have $100 that was earning a 4% return, it would grow to $200 in 18 years (72 / 4 = 18).

How to use the FV & PV calculator

(FV) calculator

To compute the future value of your investment, you don't need to memorize any formulas or perform any calculations. All you need to do is to fill in the appropriate fields on our calculator:

  1. Present value — type in the amount of money you are going to invest (it's the initial deposit).
  2. Interest rate — provide the interest rate on your investment expressed on a yearly basis.
  3. (Period) — here, you should type in the number of years you will invest money (it's the period of investment).
  4. Compound frequency — select the compounding frequency. Usually, the interest is calculated daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly.

Future value formula

To calculate the future value of your investment, you can use this equation:

FV = PV × (1 + r)^n

where:

  • FV — Future value.
  • PV — Present value .
  • r — Interest rate (expressed as a decimal; e.g., 8% = 0.08).
  • n — Number of periods (usually years, but depends on the compounding frequency).

That's it! In less than a second, our calculator makes every computation and displays the results. They are shown in the future value field, where you should see the future value of your investment.

In conclusion, the future value calculator helps you make smart financial decisions. With the mobile version of our application, you can also use our FV calculator wherever and whenever you want.

(PV) calculator

Present value is compound interest in reverse: finding the amount you would need to invest today in order to have a specified balance in the future.

To compute the present value of your investment, you don’t need to memorize any formulas or perform calculations. Simply fill in these fields on our calculator:

  1. Future value — Enter the amount of money you expect to have at the end of the investment period (your target future value).
  2. Interest rate — Provide the annual interest rate for your investment.
  3. Period — Specify the number of years until you plan to achieve the future value.
  4. Compound frequency — Choose how often interest is applied: daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly.

Present value formula

To calculate the present value of future incomes, you should use this equation:

PV = FV / (1 + r)n

where:

  • PV — Present value;
  • FV — Future value; and
  • r — Interest rate.
  • n — Number of periods.

In our example, it will look like this:

$100 / (1 + 0.08)2 = $85.73

Now you know how to estimate the present value of your future income on your own, or you can simply use our present value calculator.

Example of Compound Interest

$15,000 Principal, 5% APY, Daily Compounding

Scenario Setup

Chart showing investment growth over time

Suppose you deposit $15,000 into a high-yield savings account offering a 5% annual percentage yield (APY), with interest compounded daily. You plan to make no additional contributions after the initial deposit. To project your earnings, input these parameters into a compound interest calculator:

  • Initial Deposit: $15,000
  • Years of Growth: 1 (Start with "1"; adjust later for extended periods).
  • Estimated Interest Rate: 5%
  • Compounding Frequency: Daily
  • Contribution Amount: $0 (No further deposits).
  • Contribution Frequency: Leave blank or ignore.

Projected Earnings

  • After 1 Year:
    1. Interest Earned: $769.22
    2. Total Balance: $15,769.22
  • After 2 Years:
    1. Year 2 Interest: 807.92(↑+807.92(↑+38.70 vs. Year 1)
    2. Cumulative Interest: $1,577.14
    3. Total Balance: $16,577.14
    4. Why Year 2 earns more: Interest is calculated on the updated balance ($15,769.22), not just the initial principal. This demonstrates compound growth ("interest on interest").
  • After 10 Years:
    1. Total Interest Earned: $9,703.61
    2. Final Balance: $24,703.61
    3. This highlights the exponential effect of compounding over time.

Key Considerations & Disclaimers

⚠️ Important Notes:
  1. Rate Volatility: The 5% APY used here is hypothetical and subject to change. Real-world APYs fluctuate based on market conditions.
  2. Long-Term Strategy: While high-yield savings accounts offer safety and liquidity, consider higher-growth vehicles (e.g., IRAs, CDs, or index funds) for goals beyond 10 years to combat inflation.
  3. Tax Implications: Interest earned is typically taxable; tax-advantaged accounts (e.g., Roth IRAs) may optimize returns.

The Time Value of Money

PV (along with FV, I/Y, N, and PMT) is an important element in the time value of money, which forms the backbone of finance. There can be no such things as mortgages, auto loans, or credit cards without PV.

To learn more about or do calculations on future value instead, feel free to pop on over to our Future Value Calculator.

FAQ

What's the difference between compound interest and simple interest?

Simple interest is calculated only on the initial principal amount. Compound interest is calculated on the principal *and* on the accumulated interest from previous periods. This "interest on interest" effect is why compounding leads to much faster, exponential growth over time. You can compare them with our Simple Interest Calculator.

What is the meaning of compound interest?

Compound interest is a financial concept where you earn interest not only on the initial principal but also on the accumulated interest from previous periods. This means your money can grow exponentially over time.

Is it better to compound daily or monthly?

The more frequently interest is compounded, the more you will earn. Therefore, daily compounding is slightly better than monthly compounding. While the difference may be small on a daily basis, it can add up to a noticeable amount over many years, especially with a large principal amount.

Who benefits from compound interest?

Virtually anyone saving or investing for the long term benefits from compound interest. This includes:

  • Savers: People saving for retirement, a down payment, or education see their money grow faster.
  • Investors: Stock and bond investors benefit as their returns are reinvested, generating further returns.
  • Lenders: Banks and financial institutions also benefit by earning compound interest on loans they issue.