Future value
$196,665.39
Compound Interest Calculator
Project savings or investment growth with recurring contributions and any compounding frequency. Year-by-year chart, with the exact formula shown. No sign-up.
Key Terms (Click to expand)
Compounding
Growth on both your original money and previously earned growth.
Recurring contribution
A repeated deposit added at the selected contribution frequency.
Compounding frequency
How often returns are applied to your balance (monthly, quarterly, or yearly).
Total contributions
Initial deposit plus all recurring deposits over the selected horizon.
Total growth
Future value minus total contributions.
Tool
Total contributions
$82,000.00
Total growth
$114,665.39
Compound interest premises
| Initial deposit | $10,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Recurring contribution | $300.00 |
| Contribution frequency | monthly |
| Compounding frequency | monthly |
| Time horizon | 20 years |
Yearly growth summary
Methodology
The calculator compounds growth at the selected frequency and applies recurring deposits at the selected contribution cadence.
- Future value combines starting balance, recurring deposits, and compound growth.
- Total contributions = initial deposit + all recurring deposits.
- Total growth = future value - total contributions.
- Contribution timing is end-of-period.
Using This Tool Well
When to use this tool
- Contribution habit forecast: $250 per month for 20 years at a 7% monthly-compounded return projects to roughly $130,000 before taxes and fees.
- Compounding cadence check: compare annual and monthly compounding on the same nominal rate so the frequency effect is visible instead of guessed.
- Contribution-vs-growth split: separate the money you deposited from the growth so a large future value does not hide how much came from your own cash.
How to read the result
Future value is the smooth-path ending balance under the return, contribution, and compounding premises you entered. Treat total growth as model output, not guaranteed profit, and rerun the result with a lower return or higher fee when the goal has a real deadline.
Common mistakes
- Treating 7% as a promise: a 20-year projection may show six figures, but a bad return sequence can put the actual account far below the smooth curve.
- Ignoring fees: a 1% annual account fee on $50,000 is $500 in the first year alone, and the drag compounds because that money no longer earns returns.
- Misreading deposit timing: recurring deposits are modeled at the end of each period, so moving a $500 monthly deposit earlier or later changes the final value by the growth on those months.
Reviewed by Leonardo, Software Engineer
Last reviewed June 23, 2026
Premises and Limitations
- Growth assumes constant annual return and fixed compounding frequency.
- Recurring deposits are modeled with end-of-period timing.
- Taxes, fees, inflation, and market volatility are not modeled in this estimate.
FAQ
What does compounding mean?
It means returns are earned on both your principal and previously earned returns.
Is this guaranteed investment growth?
No. This is a projection based on constant input premises, not a guaranteed outcome.
Are taxes or fees included?
No. This estimate does not include taxes, investment fees, or inflation adjustments.