Inflation Calculator - Future Cost and Value
Free inflation calculator. See the future cost of money or the buying power of a past amount, with year-by-year erosion tables.
See how inflation changes the value of money. Find what a sum will cost in the future, or what a future sum is worth in today's money, at any inflation rate. Everything runs in your browser.
How to Use Inflation Calculator - Future Cost and Value
- Choose what to work out. Pick the future cost of money you have today, or the today's value of an amount in the future.
- Enter the amount. Type the sum of money you want to test.
- Set the inflation rate and years. Use the average inflation rate you expect and the number of years.
- Read the result. See the adjusted amount, how much it changes in percent, a chart and a year-by-year table.
- Save it. Print a clean copy, download a CSV, or copy a share link.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does inflation change the value of money?
Inflation makes prices rise over time, so the same amount of money buys less in the future. This calculator grows a cost forward, or shrinks a future amount back to today’s buying power, using the rate you enter.
What is the formula?
Future cost is amount times (1 plus the rate) to the power of the number of years. Today’s value is the amount divided by that same factor.
What inflation rate should I use?
Long-run inflation in many countries averages around 2 to 3 percent, but it varies. Use the figure that fits your country and period, or try a few to compare.
Is this based on official price indexes?
No. It uses a steady rate you choose rather than published index data, so it is a simple projection. Real inflation changes year to year.
Is my information sent anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Your numbers never leave your computer and it works offline once loaded.
Can I use it for any currency?
Yes. The math is the same in any currency. Amounts show a dollar sign, but the result is correct whatever currency you use.