Reviewed November 2026 · Estimate only, not financial advice.
A dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow, because today’s dollar can earn returns. Enter a present amount, an annual rate and the years, and see what it grows to.
How This Future Value Calculator Works
Future value is what a sum today grows to when it earns compound interest. Each year the balance grows by the rate, and the next year the interest is calculated on the bigger balance — that compounding is why the growth accelerates over time.
FV = PV × (1 + r)n
PV = present value, r = annual rate (as a decimal), n = years. Interest earned = FV − PV.
Worked example: $10,000 invested at 5% a year for 10 years. FV = $10,000 × (1.05)10 = $16,288.95. Interest earned = $6,288.95 — a 62.9% gain, with no extra deposits.
Practical tips
Small rate changes matter a lot.At 5% the $10,000 becomes $16,289; at 7% it becomes $19,672; at 3% only $13,439. A 2-point difference is a $3,200 swing over ten years.
Use it to price a goal.Want $50,000 in 10 years at 6%? The future value of $27,920 today is $50,000 — so that is the lump sum you would need now. The Present Value Calculator does this directly.
Inflation shrinks the answer.This is the nominal future value. At 3% inflation, $16,289 in ten years buys about what $12,114 buys today.
Adding contributions changes everything.This calculator grows a single sum. To add monthly deposits, use the Investment Growth Calculator instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is future value?
The value a sum of money today will grow to at a given interest rate over a given time, with interest compounding each year.
How is future value calculated?
FV = PV × (1 + r)^n, where PV is the present value, r is the annual rate as a decimal, and n is the number of years.
What rate should I use?
Use the return you realistically expect: about 4–5% for a savings account or CD, 7% after inflation for a diversified stock portfolio, or the rate on the specific account you are modelling.
What is the difference between future value and compound interest?
They are the same calculation from different angles. Future value asks 'what will this be worth later?'; compound interest asks 'how much interest will it earn?' — the answers come from one formula.
Does this account for taxes or inflation?
No — this is the nominal value before tax and before inflation. Run the result through the Inflation Calculator to see its purchasing power.
Is this financial advice?
No. This is a planning estimate only, not financial advice.
