Solve any time-value-of-money problem: number of periods, interest rate, present value, payment or future value.
Sign convention: cash you pay out is negative, cash you receive is positive. Equation: PV(1+i)^N + PMT·((1+i)^N − 1)/i·(1 + i·timing) + FV = 0.
Please do not make financial decisions based on these results.
What is the Finance Calculator?
The finance calculator solves the five time-value-of-money variables: number of periods, interest rate, present value, payment and future value. Enter four values and solve for the fifth.
Time value of money
A dollar today is worth more than a dollar in the future. The present value calculator and the future value calculator translate money across time, and the finance calculator solves any related unknown. Remember that investment returns are never guaranteed.
How to use the Finance Calculator
- Enter your numbers. Start with Number of periods (N), Interest rate per year (%), Present value PV ($) – money you pay in is negative, then fill in Payment per period PMT ($). Use a rate of return you consider realistic; small changes compound into large differences. Fields marked optional can stay at zero.
- Choose your options. Solve for, Periods per year, Payments at the… change how the result is worked out, and the form updates to match your choice.
- Read the result. The highlighted box gives the Future value (FV). Tables and charts break it down further.
- Test other scenarios. Results update as you type. Change one value at a time to see what drives the answer, and press Reset to go back to the defaults.
Formula and how it works
Example with real numbers
Here is the Finance Calculator using the default values shown in the calculator above:
Inputs
| Solve for | Future value (FV) |
|---|---|
| Number of periods (N) | 120 |
| Interest rate per year (%) | 6 |
| Present value PV ($) – money you pay in is negative | -10,000 |
| Payment per period PMT ($) | -200 |
| Periods per year | 12 |
| Payments at the… | End of each period |
Results
| Future value (FV) | $50,969.84 |
|---|
With these inputs the calculator returns Future value (FV): $50,969.84. Change any value in the calculator to see how the result moves.
Tips for better results
Method and limits. This calculator applies the formula in the section above to your inputs, in your browser; nothing you enter is stored on our servers. Investment returns are not guaranteed. The result shows what the numbers you enter would produce, not what the market will do. It is for information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What are the sign rules?
Money you pay out is negative and money you receive is positive.
What is the time value of money?
A dollar today is worth more than a dollar in the future because it can earn interest. All five variables are linked by one equation.
What rate of return should I assume?
There is no guaranteed rate. Test a range of conservative and optimistic rates, and remember that fees and inflation reduce your real return.
Are investment returns guaranteed?
No. Real returns vary. Use these tools to compare scenarios, not to predict results.
Are the results guaranteed?
No. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter and the formulas shown on this page. Please do not make financial decisions based on them alone; confirm important figures with a licensed professional.
Related investment calculators
- Time Value of Money Calculator
- Discount Rate Calculator
- Investment Calculator
- NPV Calculator – Net Present Value
- Compound Interest Rate Calculator
- Simple Interest Calculator
- PVIFA Calculator
- Interest Rate Calculator
- IRR Calculator
- APY Calculator
- Equivalent Rate Calculator – AER
- Money Factor Calculator