Find the regular deposit needed to reach a target by a deadline.
Please do not make financial decisions based on these results.
What is the Sinking Fund Calculator?
Find the regular deposit needed to reach a target by a deadline. To use the Sinking Fund Calculator, enter target amount, annual rate, years, deposits per year; it returns deposit each period, total deposited, interest earned, and shows them instantly as you type.
Where the Sinking Fund Calculator fits
Find the regular deposit needed to reach a target by a deadline. The main figure it returns is the Deposit each period, worked out from the values you enter.
It belongs with the other investment tools. If you are comparing options or checking a result from another angle, try the Savings Calculator, Mutual Fund Calculator or the Interest Rate Calculator.
How to use the Sinking Fund Calculator
- Enter your numbers. The inputs are Target amount ($), Annual rate (%), Years, Deposits per year. Use a rate of return you consider realistic; small changes compound into large differences. Fields marked optional can stay at zero.
- Read the result. The highlighted box gives the Deposit each period, and the cards below show Total deposited, Interest earned. Tables and charts break it down further.
- Test other scenarios. Results update as you type. Change one value at a time to see what drives the answer, and press Reset to go back to the defaults.
Formula and how it works
Example with real numbers
Here is the Sinking Fund Calculator using the default values shown in the calculator above:
Inputs
| Target amount ($) | 50,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual rate (%) | 4 |
| Years | 6 |
| Deposits per year | 12 |
Results
| Deposit each period | $615.59 |
|---|---|
| Total deposited | $44,322.66 |
| Interest earned | $5,677.34 |
With these inputs the calculator returns Deposit each period: $615.59. Change any value in the calculator to see how the result moves.
What if you change one input?
Sensitivity check: raising Target amount ($) from 50,000 to 60,000 (about 20% higher) and leaving everything else as in the example above changes the results like this:
| Result | Example | After the change | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit each period | $615.59 | $738.71 | +20% |
| Total deposited | $44,322.66 | $53,187.19 | +20% |
| Interest earned | $5,677.34 | $6,812.81 | +20% |
The input that moves the result most is the one to check twice. Change it in the calculator above to test your own case.
What the results tell you
The results panel of the Sinking Fund Calculator reports Deposit each period, total deposited and interest earned. Compare these figures while changing one input at a time, and use the related calculators below to look at the same situation from another angle.
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 is a sinking fund?
A savings fund built in steady installments to pay for a known future expense or debt.
Are investment returns guaranteed?
No. Real returns vary. Use these tools to compare scenarios, not to predict results.
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 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.
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