Investment Return Calculator

Project your investment growth with monthly contributions, inflation-adjusted returns, and year-by-year breakdowns.

About Investment Return Calculator

This free investment return calculator uses the future value (FV) formula to project portfolio growth. It accounts for initial lump sums and recurring monthly contributions, applies compound growth, and adjusts for inflation to show real purchasing power. The year-by-year projection table helps you visualize how your wealth builds over time through the power of compound interest.

Compound Growth Projection

Uses standard FV formulas to accurately project how your investments grow with compound returns over any time period.

CAGR Calculation

Displays the compound annual growth rate, showing your true annualized return including contributions.

Inflation-Adjusted

See the real purchasing power of your future portfolio after accounting for inflation erosion.

Year-by-Year Table

Visualize your investment journey with a detailed annual breakdown of balance, contributions, and earnings.

📋 Common Use Cases

Retirement Planning

Project your nest egg at retirement age based on current savings, monthly contributions, and expected returns. Adjust variables to see when you can comfortably retire.

Goal-Based Saving

Calculate how much to save monthly to reach a specific target — college fund, house down payment, or emergency fund — by your desired deadline.

Compare Investment Strategies

Test different asset allocations and return rates. See how a 1-2% difference in annual returns compounds into significant differences over decades.

Windfall Planning

Decide between lump-sum investing vs dollar-cost averaging an inheritance or bonus. Let the numbers show which approach maximizes your long-term returns.

🪜 How to Use This Tool

  1. Enter your starting point
    Input your current savings balance, expected monthly contribution, and investment time horizon in years.
  2. Set your expected return rate
    Choose a realistic annual return based on your investment strategy. Conservative portfolios might use 4-6%, aggressive ones 8-10%.
  3. Review growth projections
    See year-by-year growth, total contributions vs investment earnings, and your final balance. Charts visualize how compound interest accelerates over time.
  4. Test what-if scenarios
    Try different contribution amounts, return rates, or time horizons. Small changes early in your career compound into massive differences at retirement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are these calculators really free?▼
Yes. All calculators on iluv.tools are completely free. No signup, no account, no credit card required. Every calculation runs instantly in your browser.
Is my data sent anywhere?▼
Absolutely not. All calculators are pure client-side JavaScript. Your numbers, dates, and inputs never leave your browser. No server processing, no tracking.
How accurate are these calculators?▼
Calculators use standard mathematical formulas with double-precision floating point. Results match industry-standard financial and scientific calculations.
Can I use calculators on mobile?▼
Yes. All calculators work on mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Android Chrome) with responsive layouts.