{
    "name": "Investment Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/investment-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/investment-calculator.md",
    "category": "Finance",
    "description": "Project an investment from a starting amount and monthly or yearly contributions that can rise each year, with a year-by-year table and an inflation-adjusted total.",
    "summary": "Enter what you invest now, what you add each month or year and the return you expect. The table shows each year’s contributions, growth and balance.",
    "also_called": [
        "Investment growth calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "start",
            "label": "Starting amount",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10000"
        },
        {
            "name": "contribution",
            "label": "Contribution",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "200",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "frequency",
            "label": "Contribute",
            "type": "segmented",
            "default": "monthly",
            "options": {
                "monthly": "Monthly",
                "annually": "Yearly"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "timing",
            "label": "Contributions made at the",
            "type": "segmented",
            "default": "end",
            "options": {
                "end": "End of period",
                "begin": "Start of period"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "increase",
            "label": "Increase contributions each year by",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "0",
            "unit": "%",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "rate",
            "label": "Expected return",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "7",
            "unit": "% a year"
        },
        {
            "name": "years",
            "label": "Years",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10",
            "unit": "years"
        },
        {
            "name": "inflation",
            "label": "Inflation",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "2.5",
            "unit": "% a year",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "final",
            "label": "End balance",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "contributions",
            "label": "Total invested",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "growth",
            "label": "Investment growth",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "real_value",
            "label": "End balance in today’s money",
            "format": "currency"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Per-period return i = (1 + R)^(1/f) − 1;  each period: Balance = Balance × (1 + i) + C (or (Balance + C) × (1 + i) at the start);  C rises by the yearly increase each year",
        "variables": {
            "R": "expected annual return (effective)",
            "f": "contributions per year (12 or 1)",
            "C": "contribution per period"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "start": "10000",
            "contribution": "200",
            "frequency": "monthly",
            "timing": "end",
            "increase": "0",
            "rate": "7",
            "years": "10",
            "inflation": "2.5",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "A 7% yearly return is 1.07^(1/12) − 1 = 0.5654% a month.",
            "The 10,000 grows to 10,000 × 1.07^10 = $19,671.51.",
            "120 deposits of 200 grow to 200 × (1.005654^120 − 1) ÷ 0.005654 = $34,210.35; total $53,881.86 from $34,000 invested.",
            "In today’s money: 53,881.86 ÷ 1.025^10 = $42,092.42."
        ],
        "result": "Investing $10,000 plus $200 a month at 7% a year gives about $53,881.86 after 10 years, $19,881.86 of it growth."
    },
    "interpretation": "Growth overtakes contributions only after many years; the line chart shows when. Raising contributions each year in line with pay rises is often the easiest way to boost the end result.",
    "assumptions": [
        "The return is the same every year and is an effective annual rate.",
        "Fees and taxes are not deducted; use a return net of fees."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Real investments go up and down; a constant-rate projection shows a smooth path that markets do not follow."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Should I pick start or end of period?",
            "answer": "If you invest on payday at the start of each month, choose start. It adds one period of growth to each contribution."
        },
        {
            "question": "How do I solve for the return or contribution I need?",
            "answer": "Use the Finance Calculator: leave the unknown value blank and it solves for it."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Finance Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/finance-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Compound Interest Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/compound-interest-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "SIP Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/sip-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Retirement Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/retirement-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "ROI Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/roi-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": "Returns are illustrations at a constant rate, not predictions or guarantees. Investments can lose value. This is not investment advice.",
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}