Compounding calculator
See what a steady return per month (or week, or year) compounds to, with optional regular deposits, and compare it with simple growth. Use it as a reality check: if a target needs 10% a month for years, the target is the problem.
Balance after 12 months
12,682.42
Total growth 26.8% on the starting balance.
- Starting balance
- 10,000.00
- Deposits added
- 0.00
- Trading gains
- 2,682.42
- Simple growth instead
- 12,400.00
| month | Balance |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10,200.00 |
| 2 | 10,404.00 |
| 3 | 10,612.08 |
| 4 | 10,824.32 |
| 5 | 11,040.81 |
| 6 | 11,261.62 |
| 7 | 11,486.86 |
| 8 | 11,716.59 |
| 9 | 11,950.93 |
| 10 | 12,189.94 |
| 11 | 12,433.74 |
| 12 | 12,682.42 |
Calculated in your browser. Nothing is sent or stored. Results are estimates; check your broker's symbol specification.
The formula
balance after n periods = start × (1 + r)ⁿ + deposits grown at the same rate
- r is the return per period (2% → 0.02).
- Deposits are added at the end of each period.
Worked example
$10,000 at 2% a month for 12 months
- 10,000 × 1.02¹² = $12,682, a 26.8% year.
- Simple growth (2% of the starting $10,000 each month) would be $12,400.
- With $200 added each month the end balance is about $15,365.
A reality check
Real trading returns are not steady. They come in uneven months with drawdowns between them, and a drawdown hurts compounding more than a gain helps (see the drawdown recovery calculator). Treat the output as the shape of a target, not a forecast. Consistent double-digit monthly returns over years are extremely rare; claims of them are a reason for caution, as covered in choosing a signal provider.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2% a month realistic?
For some strategies in some years. But returns vary month to month and include losing months. The calculator shows what a steady rate would mean, which is useful for judging claims, not for predicting results.
Does it include withdrawals?
Enter a negative deposit to model a regular withdrawal.
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