What it does
A return is how much an investment grew, but the number that is easy to compare is the yearly one. This calculator gives you two kinds. CAGR (compound annual growth rate) is for a single start value and end value over a number of years. XIRR is for real life, where you added or took out money on different dates.
It also shows the simple yearly average, which is the total return divided by the years. It is always a little different from the annualised figure because it ignores compounding. To see how a rate turns into a future amount, use the compound interest or SIP calculator calculators; to see what the money is worth after prices rise, try the inflation calculator.
How to use it
- Choose Start value, end value and years or Dated deposits and withdrawals.
- For the first, type the start value, the end value and the years held.
- For the second, type one line per cash flow as
2024-03-15, -1000. Money you put in is negative. Money you take out, and what the whole investment is worth today, is positive. - Read the yearly return, the total return and the gain.
What each setting does
- Annualised return: the steady yearly rate that would give the same result with compounding.
- Simple yearly average: total return divided by years. Easy to read, but it overstates or understates growth over long periods.
- XIRR: counts every cash flow on its own date, so money added late counts for less time.
Worked example
You turn 1,000 into 2,000 in 10 years. The total return is 100%, the simple average is 10% a year, but the annualised return (CAGR) is 7.18%. For XIRR: put in 1,000 on 2021-01-01 and have 1,210 on 2023-01-01. The return is 10.00% a year.
FAQs
Why can I not enter a negative end value? CAGR needs positive start and end values. If you lost everything, the return is -100%.
Does it include fees or tax? Only if you include them in your amounts. Not financial or tax advice.
Why does XIRR say it cannot solve? It needs at least one amount in and one amount out, on different dates.
Is a past return a forecast? No. Past results do not predict future ones.
Where the numbers come from
- CAGR = (end / start)^(1 / years) - 1, checked: 1,000 to 2,000 in 10 years is 7.18%. XIRR solves for the yearly rate that makes dated cash flows add to zero (the method spreadsheets use), checked: -1,000 on 2021-01-01 and 1,210 on 2023-01-01 is 10.00%.
Standard scientific values, such as constants, atomic weights and melting points, are facts found in every textbook; we name where ours were checked. If you are an author or publisher and want a value, a credit or a table changed or removed, tell us and we will act quickly.
Last updated 2026-11-10.