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Future Value Calculator
Project what your money could grow into over time. Enter a starting amount, regular contributions, a return and a horizon, then press Calculate to see the future value.
Written by TopicDrill Editorial Team·Updated June 2026
Value over time
Balance Contributed
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How the future value calculator works
Future value answers a simple question: if I invest this money and add to it regularly, what will it be worth later? The tool grows your starting balance at the return you choose and adds each contribution as it is made, so both parts compound over time.
The chart separates the two forces at work. The shaded area is your balance, and the dashed line is the money you actually put in. The gap between them is the interest your money earned, which widens as the years pass.
A quick example
Start with $10,000, add $250 a month, and earn 7% a year for 25 years. You contribute $85,000 of your own money, yet the balance grows to roughly $258,000. Almost two thirds of the ending value is growth, not contributions.
Things to keep in mind
Real returns vary year to year, so treat the result as a projection rather than a promise. For investing basics from a neutral source, see Investor.gov. To work backward from a future amount, use our present value calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is future value?
Future value is what an amount of money will be worth at a later date once it has earned a return. It combines the growth of a starting lump sum with the growth of any regular contributions you add along the way.
What is the future value formula?
For a lump sum, FV = PV times (1 + r)^n. For a stream of equal payments it is FV = PMT times ((1 + r)^n minus 1) divided by r. This calculator adds both together and simulates month by month so the result stays accurate.
Does compounding frequency matter?
Yes. The more often interest compounds, the higher the future value at the same nominal rate, because earnings start earning sooner. The difference is small at low rates and grows at higher rates and longer horizons.
How is future value related to present value?
They are two sides of the same coin. Future value grows money forward in time, while present value discounts a future amount back to today. If you know one and the rate, you can always find the other.
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