Compound interest calculator

Compound Interest Calculator

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See how money you already have could grow when interest is repeatedly added to the balance and earns interest itself.

Calculate compound growth

Ending balance—
Starting principal—
Interest earned—
Interactive scenario

See what changes

Adjust an assumption below without changing your original calculation.

Original ending balance —
New scenario —
Difference —

Interest earned in this scenario: —

Amounts are rounded to the nearest whole currency unit for display.

Year-by-year illustration

YearBalanceTotal interest

Compound interest formula and how to calculate it

The standard compound interest formula is A = P(1 + r/n)nt, where A is the ending balance, P is the starting principal, r is the annual interest rate as a decimal, n is the number of compounding periods per year, and t is the number of years.

To calculate compound interest, subtract the starting principal from the ending balance. For example, if $10,000 grows to $19,671, the compound interest earned is $9,671.

What is compound interest?

Compound interest means interest is calculated on the original principal and on interest previously added to the balance. Over longer periods, that compounding can make the growth path increasingly different from simple interest.

What this calculator includes

This calculator models one starting lump sum. It does not include recurring monthly contributions. If you plan to keep adding money, use our investment growth calculator instead.

Why compounding frequency matters

With the same stated annual rate, more frequent compounding can slightly increase the ending balance because interest is credited more often. The effect depends on the rate and time horizon.

What the result does not predict

The calculation assumes the entered rate remains constant. Real investment returns can vary and can be negative. Bank products may use different rate conventions, fees or calculation methods.

Important: Educational illustration only. This calculator is not a forecast or financial recommendation.

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