Future Value Calculator
Calculate the future value of a lump sum plus regular contributions at any compounding frequency. Supports ordinary annuities and annuities due.
Future value details
Future value
$300,850.72
- FV of starting amount
- $40,387.39
- FV of payments
- $260,463.33
- Total contributions
- $130,000.00
- Total interest earned
- $170,850.72
Frequently Asked Questions about the Future Value Calculator
What is future value?
Future value is what an amount today will be worth at a chosen future date once interest or returns have been applied. It uses compounding to project growth over time.
What is the difference between an ordinary annuity and an annuity due?
An ordinary annuity pays at the end of each period. An annuity due pays at the start. For the same payment and rate, an annuity due ends up larger because each payment earns one extra period of interest.
How do compounding frequency and rate interact?
The calculator divides the annual rate by the number of periods per year. So a 6% annual rate compounded monthly uses 0.5% per period. The total number of periods is years times periods per year.
What if my interest rate is 0%?
Then future value equals the starting amount plus the sum of contributions. There is no growth from interest, only the cash you put in. The calculator handles this special case cleanly.
Why does the calculator cap very long horizons?
Compounding for tens of thousands of periods can overflow floating-point precision and produce unstable results. The calculator caps total periods at 100,000 to keep results reliable. For practical retirement and savings horizons this is well below the limit.