Calculator
Investment Return (ROI) Calculator
Measure total and annualized return on any single investment — stocks, index funds, real estate, business, or side project.
1. Your inputs
Results update instantly. Everything runs in your browser.
2. Your results
Total return
85.0%
Annualized: 13.09%
Absolute gain
$8,500
Annualized ROI
13.09%
Multiple
1.85x
Initial
$10,000
Final
$18,500
Years held
5 yrs
Growth curve
Return breakdown
$18,500
Final
- Original investment54%
$10,000
- Gain46%
$8,500
What does this mean?
Get an AI explanation of your results in plain English.
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In plain English
An investment of $10,000 that grew to $18,500 over 5 years returned 85.0% in total.
That equates to 13.09% annualized — the number you should always use to compare against other investments.
For context: the S&P 500 has historically returned around 10% nominal per year over long horizons.
Assumptions used
The math relies on these assumptions. Real-world numbers can vary.
- Single lump-sum investment at time zero (no ongoing contributions).
- Final value is the total sale/current value of the position.
- Returns are before taxes, fees, and commissions.
- Annualized ROI assumes constant growth (real-world investments fluctuate).
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Frequently asked
What's the difference between total and annualized ROI?
Total ROI is the % change over the entire holding period. Annualized ROI is the equivalent yearly return — much more useful for comparing investments of different lengths.
Is ROI the same as CAGR?
Annualized ROI is CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate). They are the same metric expressed with different words.
Does this account for taxes and fees?
No. Enter after-fee, after-tax numbers if you want a net-of-costs return.
How do I compare two investments?
Compare their annualized ROI, not their total ROI. A 30% return over 5 years is very different from 30% over 1 year.
Can this handle negative returns?
Yes. If your final value is less than your initial investment, the calculator returns a negative ROI.
About the ROI Calculator
Return on Investment (ROI) is the most common way to measure investment performance. The two flavors that matter are total return and annualized return.
Total return is a headline number. Annualized return is the honest one — it lets you compare a 30% gain over 2 years with a 30% gain over 10 years and see which was actually the better investment.
Always compare investments on annualized ROI. And always compare to a benchmark (S&P 500, bond index, etc.) to know whether you actually beat the market.
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These calculators are for education only and are not a substitute for personalized advice from a licensed professional. Read our full disclaimer.