- Total contributed
- $25,000
- Interest earned
- $31,131
- Growth multiple
- 2.25×
Year-by-year breakdown
| Year | Balance | Contributed | Interest earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,312 | $2,200 | $112 |
| 2 | $3,718 | $3,400 | $318 |
| 3 | $5,226 | $4,600 | $626 |
| 4 | $6,843 | $5,800 | $1,043 |
| 5 | $8,577 | $7,000 | $1,577 |
| 6 | $10,436 | $8,200 | $2,236 |
| 7 | $12,430 | $9,400 | $3,030 |
| 8 | $14,568 | $10,600 | $3,968 |
| 9 | $16,860 | $11,800 | $5,060 |
| 10 | $19,318 | $13,000 | $6,318 |
| 11 | $21,954 | $14,200 | $7,754 |
| 12 | $24,780 | $15,400 | $9,380 |
| 13 | $27,811 | $16,600 | $11,211 |
| 14 | $31,061 | $17,800 | $13,261 |
| 15 | $34,545 | $19,000 | $15,545 |
| 16 | $38,282 | $20,200 | $18,082 |
| 17 | $42,288 | $21,400 | $20,888 |
| 18 | $46,585 | $22,600 | $23,985 |
| 19 | $51,192 | $23,800 | $27,392 |
| 20 | $56,131 | $25,000 | $31,131 |
Saved results
Pin scenarios to compare them side by side. Stored only in this browser.
How this is calculated
Balance compounds monthly: each month the balance is multiplied by(1 + annual_rate / 100 / 12), then the monthly contribution is added. This repeats for years × 12 months. Interest earned is the final balance minus your initial amount plus all contributions. In advanced mode, the inflation-adjusted value divides each year's balance by (1 + inflation) ^ year to show purchasing power in today's dollars.
FAQ
What is compound interest?
Compound interest is interest calculated on both your original balance and the interest that balance has already earned. Because each period's interest gets added back into the balance, growth accelerates over time compared to simple interest.
How often does this calculator compound?
Monthly. Each month, the current balance is multiplied by (1 + annual rate / 12), then your monthly contribution is added. This matches how most savings and investment accounts compound in practice.
What annual return should I use?
That depends on the asset you're modeling. A high-yield savings account, a bond portfolio, and a stock index fund have very different long-run averages. This tool does not recommend a rate; use a figure appropriate to your own situation, or run several scenarios to see a range of outcomes.
Embed this calculator
Free to embed on your own site . Copy this snippet:
Related tools
Informational tool only. Not financial advice. See our disclaimer.