Investing calculator
Editor
Set the recurring investment plan, growth assumptions, and optional comparison settings in one clean layout. Results update instantly so you can compare scenarios without losing context.
The most important DCA inputs stay visible first, with growth assumptions and optional adjustments grouped below inside the same card.
Investment plan
Set the fixed amount you plan to invest, how often you invest, and how long the plan runs.
Growth assumptions
Use a long-term return estimate and compounding schedule to model how recurring investing could grow over time.
Optional adjustments
Add a starting balance, compare against a lump-sum investment, and optionally estimate the ending value in today's dollars.
This calculator provides an estimate based on your assumptions. Real investment outcomes can differ because of market performance, volatility, contribution timing, fees, taxes, and inflation.
Results
Projected DCA ending value
$54,884
Total amount invested
$36,000
Total projected growth
$18,884
Investment cadence
Monthly
Initial investment share
0%
Recurring contribution share
100%
Projected lump-sum ending value
$79,907
Lump-sum minus DCA
+$25,023
| Year | Starting balance | Contributions | Growth | Ending balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $3,600 | $135 | $3,735 |
| 2 | $3,735 | $3,600 | $445 | $7,780 |
| 3 | $7,780 | $3,600 | $781 | $12,161 |
| 4 | $12,161 | $3,600 | $1,144 | $16,905 |
| 5 | $16,905 | $3,600 | $1,538 | $22,043 |
| 6 | $22,043 | $3,600 | $1,965 | $27,608 |
| 7 | $27,608 | $3,600 | $2,426 | $33,634 |
| 8 | $33,634 | $3,600 | $2,927 | $40,161 |
| 9 | $40,161 | $3,600 | $3,468 | $47,229 |
| 10 | $47,229 | $3,600 | $4,055 | $54,884 |
How it works
Dollar-cost averaging means investing a fixed amount on a regular schedule instead of trying to time the market with one large entry. It is often used to build consistency and keep investing habits simple over long periods.
The calculator starts with any initial investment, adds recurring contributions on the frequency you choose, and applies the assumed annual return using the selected compounding schedule. The summary cards, chart, and yearly table all come from that same projection.
The recurring investment amount is the fixed contribution added each period. The time horizon is how long the plan runs. The expected annual return is a planning assumption about growth, not a promise of what a portfolio or market will deliver.
Regular investing can build momentum because each new contribution has time to participate in future growth. Over longer horizons, steady contributions may account for a large share of the capital that eventually compounds.
When enabled, the lump-sum comparison assumes the same total dollars that would be invested gradually through DCA are instead invested all at the beginning. That helps illustrate the tradeoff between getting money invested earlier and spreading contributions over time.
Inflation can reduce future purchasing power, which is why the calculator can show an inflation-adjusted ending value. Real-world outcomes also depend on market performance, volatility, contribution behavior, fees, taxes, and timing, so results should be treated as estimates rather than guarantees.