Accurate ROI Calculator
For reference, per the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. S&P 500 index gained about 23% in 2024.
This ROI calculator (return-on-investment) calculates an annualized ROR (rate-of-return) using exact dates. This financial calculator allows you to compare the results of different investments.
The Calculator-Calculate the Return on Investment Between Dates
To set your preferred currency and date format, click the “$ : MM/DD/YYYY” link in the lower-right corner of any calculator.
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Pick a Date
As a side benefit of this calculator’s date accuracy, you can also use it for date math calculations. It will calculate the date that is “X” days from the start date, or, given two dates, it will calculate the number of days between them.
Calendar Tip: When using the calendar, click the month at the top to list months. Then, if needed, click the year at the top to list years. Click to select a year, select a month, and select a day. You may also scroll through months and days. Or click “Today” to quickly select the current date.
If you prefer not to use the calendar, single-click a date or use the [Tab] key (or [Shift][Tab]) to select a date. Then type 8 digits only — no separators. Because the date is selected, you do not need to clear the prior value. If your selected format is mm/dd/yyyy, then for March 15, 2023, type 03152023.
Your desired ROR
At times, a user may need to know what to pay for an investment to achieve a desired return-on-investment, or what price to sell for after entering the investment.
With the most recent update, this calculator can perform either calculation. All the user needs to do is provide the goal ROI (and click “Calc” to update). The calculator calculates the adjustment amount required for both the initial investment and the final value. It also calculates the absolute amount for both.
To double-check the accuracy of the results, copy and paste the value into the appropriate field and recalculate. The ROI should now equal your goal ROI (plus or minus a minimal rounding amount).
And now for an essential word about ROI/ROR financial calculators.
Because different calculators may use different equations, do not compare the result from one ROI calculator for an investment with the result from another calculator for a different investment. Always use the same calculator to compare two investments.
Return-on-Investment (ROI) Calculator Help
What is ROI?
ROI, or return-on-investment, is the annualized percentage gained or lost on an investment (ROR, or rate-of-return, is the same calculation).
Enter the “Amount Invested” and the date the investment was made (“Start Date”). Enter the total “Amount Returned” and the end date.
You can adjust the dates by changing the number of days. Enter a negative number to move the “Start Date” earlier. As you change either date, the “Number of Days” value will update automatically.
The results show the percentage gain or loss on the investment, as well as the annualized gain or loss, both expressed as percentages. The annualized return allows you to compare one investment to another.
Example: If you bought $25,000 of a stock on January 2, 2024 and sold it for $33,000 on June 7, 2025, you would gain $8,000 (32%). The annualized gain is 21.4%.
Now assume a second investment made on January 2, 2024 for $10,000, sold for $11,000 on March 1, 2024 (a leap year). The gain is $1,000, or 10%. However, the annualized gain is 82.3%. Ignoring risk (which can be very dangerous), the latter investment would generally be considered better.