Future Value Calculator
Project what a lump sum today could be worth after years of growth.
Your Details
Contributions vs. Growth
What makes up your final balance
- Contributed$10.0K
- Growth$10.1K
Final Balance by Rate of Return
Sensitivity to your assumed return
Balance Growth Over Time
Total balance year by year
Contributed vs. Growth by Year
How growth accelerates over time
You might also find these useful
How It Works
- Enter your starting balance and regular contribution.
- Enter your expected annual rate of return.
- Set your time horizon in years.
- Press Calculate to update your results and charts.
Formula Used
P = present value, r = periodic rate, t = number of periods. Set the monthly amount to 0 for a pure lump-sum projection.
Good to Know
- • Starting earlier matters more than contributing more later.
- • Small rate differences compound into large gaps over decades.
- • Consistent contributions smooth out market swings.
Important Notes
- • Returns are assumed, not guaranteed.
- • Figures don't account for taxes or fees unless noted.
- • Past performance doesn't predict future results.
What Future Value Actually Measures
Future value answers a simple question: if money grows at a given rate for a given time, how much will it be worth later? It's the building block behind almost every other growth calculator — retirement projections, investment planning, and savings goals are all future value calculations with different labels on the same inputs.
Nominal vs. Real Future Value
The number this calculator produces is the nominal future value — it doesn't account for inflation eroding purchasing power along the way. A dollar amount that sounds large in 20 years may buy meaningfully less than the same amount today. Pairing this projection with the inflation calculator gives a more complete picture of what the future balance will actually be worth in today's terms.
A Short Glossary
- Future value — what a present sum grows to after a period of compounding.
- Nominal vs. real value — future value doesn't automatically account for inflation eroding purchasing power.
Trying It With Real Numbers: A Lump Sum 10 Years Out
$10,000 growing at 7% for 10 years, no additional contributions:
The balance roughly doubles in 10 years at this rate — consistent with the Rule of 72 estimate (72 ÷ 7 ≈ 10.3 years to double), a handy mental check against the exact calculated figure.
Time Horizon Comparison Table
$10,000 at 7%, no contributions:
| Years | Future Value |
|---|---|
| 5 | $14,026 |
| 10 | $19,672 |
| 20 | $38,697 |
Easy Mistakes to Make With Future Value Projections
- Forgetting inflation — the nominal figure overstates real purchasing power.
- Using an overly optimistic rate — check the projection against a conservative rate too.