Compound Interest Calculator

Calculate the future value, interest earned, and effective annual rate on a lump sum with periodic compounding.

Future value
Interest earned
Effective annual rate (APY)

How compound interest works

FV = P · (1 + r/m)^(m·t)

P is the starting amount, r the annual rate, m the number of times interest compounds per year, and t the number of years. Because each period's interest itself earns interest, the balance grows faster the more frequently it compounds.

APY = (1 + r/m)^m − 1

The effective annual rate (APY) is the real yearly growth once compounding is accounted for — useful for comparing accounts with different compounding frequencies. This calculator models a single lump sum with no further deposits or withdrawals.