A free investment growth calculator — see how recurring investments could grow

Investment Growth Calculator

An investment growth calculator helps you picture how a starting amount plus regular contributions could build up over time, assuming a steady annual return. It separates the money you put in from the estimated growth, so you can see the role of consistency — and understand that the projection is an estimate, not a guaranteed outcome.

Calculate Investment Growth

100% free
Private by design
Contributions vs growth
Any contribution frequency

01— The basics

What an investment growth calculator shows

The calculator combines five inputs: a starting amount, a recurring contribution, how often you contribute, an assumed annual return, and how long you stay invested. It projects a future value and splits it into the total you contributed versus the estimated growth — making the power of time and consistency visible, while keeping the result clearly an estimate.

Starting amount

The lump sum you begin with — could be zero if you are starting from scratch.

Recurring contribution

How much you add and how often — weekly, biweekly, monthly or any frequency.

Assumed annual return

The yearly growth you assume. An estimate only — real returns vary and can be negative.

Investment duration

How long you stay invested. Longer horizons let compounding do more of the work.

Contributions vs growth

The projection separates what you put in from the estimated growth on top.

Projected future value

The estimated balance at the end — a planning figure, not a guaranteed outcome.

02— How it works

How recurring investments can grow

Each period, your balance earns the assumed return and you add another contribution. That contribution then earns returns in the periods that follow, and those returns earn returns too — this is compounding. The longer you stay invested and the more consistently you contribute, the larger the estimated growth becomes relative to what you put in.

Estimates, not guarantees

Investment projections are estimates based on an assumed annual return. Real markets fluctuate, returns vary year to year, and investments can fall in value. Use these figures for planning, not as a promise of future performance. Clear Budget provides calculations only and does not give personalized investment advice.

03— A simple example

An investment growth example

Say you start with $2,000, add $300 a month, and assume a 6% annual return over 20 years. Here is how the projected balance breaks down. (Illustrative only — actual returns vary.)

Starting amount

$2,000

Contributed over 20y

$74,000

$300/mo + start

Estimated growth

~$86,600

At 6% / year

Projected value

~$160,600

Of the projected ~$160,600, about $74,000 is money you put in and roughly $86,600 is estimated growth — a reminder that time and consistency, not just the return, do much of the work. Change the return or duration and the estimate changes with it.

04— The tool

Project investment growth in Clear Budget

Add an investment line under Goals, Savings & Investing, then open “Add target or growth” and enter a Current Amount (your starting balance), a Target Amount and an Annual Yield. Clear Budget projects the balance across 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30-year horizons so you can see how recurring contributions and an assumed return could compound. For a monthly-focused version, see the Monthly Investment Calculator; for the underlying mechanics, the Compound Growth Calculator.

Contributions vs growth

See how much of the projected value comes from what you put in versus estimated returns.

Multiple horizons

Projections across 1 to 30 years show how time changes the estimated outcome.

Private by design

Your numbers stay in your browser. No account, no sign-up, no tracking of your finances.

05— FAQ

Investment growth calculator FAQ

How is the projected future value calculated?

Clear Budget applies your assumed annual return to the starting balance, then adds each recurring contribution and compounds the growing balance over the duration you choose. The result separates your total contributions from the estimated growth, so you can see how much comes from money you put in versus from returns.

Is the projected growth guaranteed?

No. Investment projections are estimates based on an assumed annual return. Real markets go up and down, returns vary year to year, and you could lose money. The figure is a planning aid, not a promise of future performance. Clear Budget provides calculations only and does not give investment advice.

What annual return should I assume?

There is no single right number — it depends on what you invest in and your risk tolerance. Many people use a conservative long-term assumption for diversified portfolios and a lower one for cash. Try a few values to see a range of outcomes rather than relying on one figure.

Can I use any contribution frequency?

Yes. Enter your recurring contribution the way it actually happens — weekly, biweekly, monthly, annual or any supported frequency — and Clear Budget converts it to a consistent basis for the projection. For a monthly-focused view, see the Monthly Investment Calculator.

Ready to project your investment growth?

Open the free Clear Budget calculator, add an investment line, set your starting amount and annual yield, and see projected balances across multiple horizons — privately, in your own browser. Estimates only; returns are not guaranteed.