Future Value Calculator
Future Value Terms
Calculation Results
| Future Value (FV) | — |
|---|---|
| PV (Present Value) | — |
| Total Periodic Deposits | — |
| Total Interest | — |
How to Use This Future Value Calculator
Financial calculators in exam prep mode speak in periods, not years—N and I/Y per period, not "6% annual." This tool matches that workflow: you define how many periods, the rate each period, starting principal, and equal deposits.
- Enter number of periods (N). Total compounding intervals—e.g., 120 for monthly deposits over 10 years.
- Enter starting amount (PV). Initial lump sum already in the account.
- Enter interest rate per period (I/Y). Percent per period, not annual—0.5 for 6% annual divided into monthly periods.
- Enter periodic deposit (PMT). Equal amount added each period; use 0 for lump-sum-only growth.
- Set payment timing. Beginning vs end of each period.
- Press Calculate. Review future value, total deposits, and interest earned.
Prefer annual rate entry? Use the Investment Calculator. Need to discount backward? Try the Present Value Calculator.
Future Value Formulas and Practical Applications
Future value projects what today's balance plus regular deposits become after N periods at a fixed per-period rate—like fast-forwarding a savings account statement.
Future value with deposits
FV = PV(1 + r)N + PMT × [((1 + r)N − 1) / r]
PV = $5,000, PMT = $200/month, r = 0.5%/month, N = 120 → FV about $38,500, with roughly $11,500 from interest and growth on deposits.
Aligning rate and N
The most common input mistake is mixing annual rate with monthly N. Convert annual to per-period: monthly rate = annual ÷ 100 ÷ 12; then set N to total months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the interest rate annual or per period?
Enter the rate per period (% per period). N is the number of those periods. For 6% annual with monthly periods, use N = 120 and rate = 0.5 for 10 years.
How does payment timing affect future value?
Beginning of period deposits earn interest for the full period. End of period deposits miss that period's accrual.
Can starting amount or deposits be zero?
Yes. Leave PV or PMT at zero to model pure annuity or pure lump-sum growth.
What does N represent?
N is the total number of compounding periods, not necessarily years. Align N with whatever period length your interest rate uses.
How is this different from the Investment Calculator?
Future Value Calculator uses explicit period count and per-period rate. Investment Calculator accepts annual return with compounding frequency dropdown.