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Investment calculator: future value with monthly deposits and fees
Enter what you start with, what you add each month, a yearly return, an optional yearly fee and the number of years. You get the future value, your total deposits and how much is growth.
The short answer: $10,000 invested today plus $300 a month for 20 years at a 7% yearly return grows to about $196,665. You deposit $82,000 and the other $114,665 is growth. Change the boxes to see your own number; real returns vary every year.
Result by return rate
$10,000 start, $300 a month, 20 years, compounded monthly:
| Yearly return | Future value |
|---|---|
| 4% | $132,258 |
| 6% | $171,714 |
| 7% | $196,665 |
| 8% | $225,974 |
| 10% | $301,091 |
Result by number of years
$10,000 start and $300 a month at 7%:
| Years | Future value |
|---|---|
| 10 | $72,022 |
| 20 | $196,665 |
| 30 | $447,156 |
Doubling the time from 10 to 20 years nearly triples the result, and 30 years is more than six times the 10-year figure, because growth builds on growth.
How the investment calculator works
Your net return is the yearly return minus the yearly fee. Each month the balance is multiplied by 1 + net return / 12 and then your deposit is added. A lump sum alone, $10,000 at 7% for 20 years, becomes about $40,387; the $300 monthly deposits alone become about $156,278. Together they make $196,665 (small differences are rounding).
What fees cost you
A 1 percentage point lower net return, 6% instead of 7%, leaves $171,714 instead of $196,665 in the example, a gap of $24,951. Put your fund's expense ratio in the fee box to see the effect on your own plan. The SEC's Investor.gov glossary entry on mutual fund fees and expenses explains what funds charge.
Put the number to work
Use the retirement calculator to project savings to a retirement age, the compound interest calculator for a savings account, and our guide to how much of your paycheck to save to pick the monthly amount.
Budget first, then invest
Find the monthly deposit
The Ultimate Budget Bundle gives you budget spreadsheets to find the money to invest each month, plus trackers for sinking funds, bills and debt payoff.
Questions, answered
How does an investment calculator work? An investment calculator projects the future value of money you invest. This one starts with your initial amount, grows it each month at your yearly return divided by 12 and adds your monthly deposit at the end of each month. Results are before taxes and inflation, and assume the return is the same every year.
How much will $10,000 plus $300 a month be worth in 20 years? At a 7% yearly return, $10,000 plus $300 a month grows to about $196,665 after 20 years. You deposit $82,000 in total ($10,000 plus $300 x 240 months) and the other $114,665 is growth. At 6% the same plan reaches about $171,714.
How much do investment fees matter? Fees reduce your return every year, so the effect compounds. Using the example above, a 1 percentage point lower net return, 6% instead of 7%, leaves about $171,714 instead of $196,665 after 20 years, a gap of about $24,951. Enter your fund's expense ratio in the fee box to see your own gap.
What return should I enter? Future returns are unknown, so run a low, middle and high case rather than trusting one number. The calculator shows 4%, 6%, 7%, 8% and 10% side by side for the example. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
What is the difference between this and a compound interest calculator? Both use the same compounding math. This investment calculator adds a yearly fee box that is subtracted from your return, which is how fund expenses work, and assumes a market-style return. Use the compound interest calculator for savings accounts and CDs with a stated rate.
Does the calculator include taxes or inflation? No. Results are future dollars before taxes. To estimate today's dollars, lower the return by the inflation rate you expect.
Is my information saved? No. The math runs in your browser and nothing is sent or stored.