How do I calculate future value?

Use the formula FV = PV × (1 + r)^n. For example, $1,000 invested at 5% for 10 years: FV = 1000 × (1.05)^10 = $1,628.89. Our calculator handles complex scenarios with multiple contributions.

What's the difference between FV and PV?

Present Value (PV) is today's worth of future money. Future Value (FV) is what today's money will be worth later. They're inversely related: FV = PV(1+r)^n and PV = FV/(1+r)^n.

How does compounding frequency affect FV?

More frequent compounding yields higher FV. Daily compounding grows faster than monthly, which beats annual. Formula adjusts: FV = PV(1 + r/n)^(nt) where n is compounds per year.

What interest rate should I use for FV calculations?

Use expected annual return: stocks ~7-10%, bonds ~3-5%, savings ~1-3%. For retirement: 7% is moderate. Always account for inflation (typically 2-3%) to find real return.

Finance

Future Value Calculator

Calculate the future value of investments with compound interest using FV = PV(1+r)^n. Master the time value of money with our precise financial planning tool.

100% FreeStep-by-Step SolutionsInvestment Growth Chart

Enter present value, interest rate, and number of periods

Enter to calculate, Esc to clear

Present Value (PV) ($)

Interest Rate per Period (%)

Number of Periods

Try These Examples

Click on any example to automatically fill the calculator

Example 1

$1,000 at 5% for 10 years

presentValue: 1000

interestRate: 5

periods: 10

Example 2

$5,000 at 8% for 20 years

presentValue: 5000

interestRate: 8

periods: 20

The Rule of 72

Quickly estimate how long to double your money

Years to Double =

\frac{72}{\text{Interest Rate (\%)}}

72 ÷ 6%

= 12 years

72 ÷ 8%

= 9 years

72 ÷ 10%

= 7.2 years

Example: At 7% return, your money doubles in ~10 years. Start with $10,000 → $20,000 → $40,000 → $80,000 in 30 years!

Compounding Frequency Impact

$10,000 at 8% for 10 years

Frequency	Compounds/Year	Future Value
Annually	1	$21,589
Quarterly	4	$22,080
Monthly	12	$22,196
Daily	365	$22,253

Daily compounding earns $664 more than annual compounding over 10 years. The difference grows larger over longer periods.

$10,000 Growth Over Time

Different rates, different horizons

Rate	10 Years	20 Years	30 Years
5%	$16,289	$26,533	$43,219
7%	$19,672	$38,697	$76,123
10%	$25,937	$67,275	$174,494

At 10% return, $10,000 becomes $174,494 in 30 years – a 17x increase from compound growth!

Future Value Formula

FV = PV \times (1 + r)^n

$FV$ = Future Value (what you'll have)
$PV$ = Present Value (what you start with)
$r$ = Interest rate per period (as decimal)
$n$ = Number of compounding periods

Learn More

Investopedia: Future Value SEC Compound Interest Calculator

Trusted Resources

Learn more about future value and compound interest from authoritative sources:

SEC: The Power of Compounding

Investor education on long-term compound growth

Khan Academy: Interest

Free video lessons on compound interest

Frequently Asked Questions

Future value is the amount an investment will grow to over time with compound interest. Formula: FV = PV(1+r)^n where PV is present value, r is interest rate per period, and n is number of periods.