Savings Growth Calculator

How to use this calculator

1. Enter your initial deposit, monthly contribution, annual return, and years invested.
2. We compound monthly and add each contribution as it occurs.
3. See total contributions, future value, and growth from interest.

Inputs explained

Initial deposit

Starting balance.

Monthly contribution

Recurring amount added each month.

Annual return

Expected annual rate before taxes/fees.

Years invested

How long you plan to contribute and let it grow.

When to use it

• Retirement, college, or emergency fund projections with monthly deposits.
• Comparing contribution levels to hit a target balance.
• Demonstrating the impact of consistent investing over time.

Tips & cautions

• Start early—time in the market matters more than small rate differences.
• If you expect to increase contributions annually, rerun the calc with higher amounts for future years.
• Use a realistic, conservative return to avoid overestimating growth.
• Assumes monthly contributions and a constant return; no step-ups or variability.
• Taxes, fees, and inflation are not included.
• Deposits are treated as end-of-month contributions.

Worked examples

Deep dive

FAQs

Does this include inflation?

No. Use a lower real rate (return minus inflation) if you want inflation-adjusted values.

Can I change contribution frequency?

This version assumes monthly deposits. Convert other cadences to a monthly equivalent for similar results.

How do taxes/fees affect this?

They’re not included. Lower the return rate to approximate after-tax/fee performance.

Is the contribution assumed at month-end or start?

End-of-month. Starting-of-month deposits would earn slightly more; adjust expectations accordingly.

What if I increase contributions over time?

Rerun the calculator with higher contributions for later years or average your expected contributions.

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