CAGR Calculator

CAGR(Compound Annual Growth Rate) is the rate at which an investment or metric grows from a beginning value to an ending value over a specified number of years, assuming the growth compounds annually. Unlike a simple average annual return, CAGR accounts for the compounding effect — meaning each year's growth is calculated on the previous year's ending value, not the original starting value. The CAGR formula is CAGR = (End Value / Begin Value)^(1/n) − 1, where n is the number of years. Our CAGR calculator applies this formula instantly in your browser and also supports reverse calculations — computing the future value from a known CAGR, or finding the duration needed to reach a target value.

1. Choose a Calculation Mode:Select “Calculate CAGR” to find the CAGR from beginning value, ending value, and years. Select “Calculate End Value” to find the future value from a beginning value, CAGR, and years. Select “Calculate Duration” to find how many years it takes to grow from a beginning value to an ending value at a given CAGR.
2. Instant Browser-Based Calculation: Click “Calculate CAGR” and the CAGR calculator applies the appropriate formula entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server — your financial details stay completely private on your device.
3. Review Results and Growth Table: The CAGR calculator displays the CAGR, end value, total gain, and duration in summary cards. Scroll down to see the beginning vs. gain breakdown bar, a CAGR comparison across different durations, and the full year-by-year growth table.

• CAGR (%): The compound annual growth rate — the single annualized rate that takes the investment from the beginning value to the ending value over the specified period, assuming annual compounding.
• Absolute Return (%): The total percentage gain from beginning to ending value, regardless of the time period — calculated as (End − Begin) / Begin × 100. Unlike CAGR, absolute return does not account for the time period.
• Year-by-Year Growth Table: A complete breakdown showing the portfolio value, total gain, and cumulative return percentage at the end of each year, assuming the CAGR compounds annually.
• CAGR Comparison Table: In forward mode, the CAGR calculator shows what the CAGR would be at different durations for the same beginning and ending values — useful for understanding how holding period affects annualized returns.

CAGR is the most accurate measure of investment growth over multiple years because it accounts for compounding. Absolute return shows the total percentage gain but ignores the time period — a 100% absolute return over 10 years is very different from 100% over 2 years. The average annual return (simple average of yearly returns) can be misleading because it does not account for the sequence of returns — for example, +50% in year 1 and −50% in year 2 gives an average of 0%, but the actual CAGR is −13.4% because the portfolio lost value. CAGR is the standard metric used in mutual fund fact sheets, investment reports, and financial analysis for this reason.