Accurate ROI Calculator
For reference, per the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. S&P 500 index gained about 25% in 2023.
This ROI calculator (return-on-investment) calculates an annualized ROR (rate-of-return) using exact dates. This financial calculator allow you to compare the result of different investments. More below
Information
To Quickly
Pick a Date
As a side benefit of this calculator's date accuracy, you can also use it to do date math calculations. That is, it will find 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 on the month at the top to list the months, then, if needed, click on the year at the top to list years. Click to pick a year, pick a month, and pick a day. Naturally, you can scroll through the months and days too. Or you can click on "Today" to quickly select the current date.
If you prefer not using a calendar, single click on a date or use the [Tab] key (or [Shift][Tab]) to select a date. Then, as mentioned, type 8 digits only - no need to type the date part separators. Also, because the date is selected, you do not need to clear the prior date before typing. If your selected date format equals mm/dd/yyyy, then for March 15, 2023, type 03152023.
Recent: Your desired ROR
At some point, a user might need to know what they should pay for an investment to achieve a desired return-on-investment. Or what they need to sell it for if they have already entered into the invesetment.
With the most recent update, this calculator can now perform either calculation. All the user need 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 location 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 two different calculators may use different equations, don't compare the results from one ROI calculator for one investment with results from another calculator for a different investment. Always use the same calculator to compare two different investments.
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 change the dates by changing the number of days. Enter a negative number of days to adjust the "Start Date". Or as you change a date the "Number of Days" will update.
The results include the percentage gained or loss on the investment as well as the annualized gain or loss also expressed as a percent. The annualized return can be used to compare one investment with another investment.
Example: If you bought $25,000 worth of your favorite stock on January 2nd 2024 and sold it for $33,000 on June 7th 2025, you would gain $8,000 which is 32%. The annualized gain is 21.4%.
Now, let's say you made a second investment on January 2nd, 2024. This time, it was for $10,000, and you sold it for $11,000 on March 1st, 2024 (a leap year). The gain is only $1,000 or 10%. However, the annualized gain is 82.3%. Ignoring risk (which can be very dangerous), one would generally consider the latter investment to be better than the former.
Mark says:
How do i calculate ROI on my super to see if my super has made good investments or not?
Opening balance : 58832.40
Closing balance : 67925.54
For financial year
Employer contributions was : 7448.87
Fees : 2291.56
Return : 3935.83
Sir how would i know if my super has done good job in this financial year?.please advise
Karl says:
Since your requirement involves additional contributions and fees, you can’t use the ROI calculator.
Rather, please use this calculator. The IRR calculator is designed to calculate an annualized rate-of-return and the user can make adjustments during the year (or over multiple years).
If you try it, and have questions, please ask. Or I would also appreciate hearing how you make out or what you think.
Mohamed Salah says:
please help
if i have a land with 19M
and an improvements on assets with 6M
so here would i calculate the total invested amount on 25M or only 6M
with the knowledge that total returns for 15 years will be 20,092,368
Karl says:
First of all, I don’t think you should be using this ROI calculator. It’s not meant for a calculation that has a cash flow.
Please look at this IRR calculator. It’s designed to calculate a rate of return with a cash flow, which I assume the property is throwing off. Yes, you should include both the property cost and improvements in the cash flow. Then for final value, include the value of the land as well (as it might appreciate).
Check out the suggested calculator, and if you have questions, just ask.
Paul White says:
Hey Karl, great calculator. If I want to compute this by hand, what is the math? thank you, paul
Karl says:
Thank you. I only answer two types of questions. What calculator should I use to solve X problem? And questions about how to use a calculator.
Paul White says:
Ok, thanks!
Deepak bedi says:
Hi
Let’s say if I started my portfolio with $100000 in 1st jan 2019
And I added another 50000 k on 1st March 2019. ( aa capital )
Then again I added another 20k on oct 1st 2019
And end of 2019 my total portfolio value is say $ 200000
So what is my ROI for year 2019
Please reply
Karl says:
That’s an easy calculation. You just need to use a different calculator.
Please use the IRR calculator (internal-rate-of-return). This calculator allows the user to have various investments (and withdrawals). The ROI calculator, as you have discovered, only is for when there is a single amount invested.
David Fonseca says:
If I invest $500,000 (options for 400K, 300K, 200K and 100K, depending on the number of investors with a maximum of 5) in a real estate venture where I am paid quarterly payments of 8% that are interest only, and at the end of 5 years I am paid all of my $500,000 back (owner refinancing to pay off investors and I have to accept my investment back at that time), what is my total return? I will have a lien on the property as collateral.
In above question, I forgot to state that owner will pay the $500K back as well as 40% of the appraised increase in the property value.
Karl says:
First, you’ll need to use the IRR Calculator. The internal-rate-of-return is an ROI calculation with a cash flow. Briefly, you’ll enter the $500,000 investment and then the interest received. The final entry should be the total case amount you expect to receive if you were to fully liquidate the investment.
Once you look at the recommended calculator, if you have any questions, just ask them.
Judy Bouey says:
If I invest 100k on 1/1 and withdraw 10k at the beginning of every quarter thereafter (let’s assume 30k total)and my balance on 12/31 is 125k, how do I calculate my annual rate of return?
Karl says:
You’ll need to use the IRR Calculator. The internal-rate-of-return calculator calculates a rate-of-return when there’s a cash flow. Briefly, you’ll enter the $100,000 investment and then the $10,000 withdrawals. The final entry should be the total cash amount ($125,000) you expect to receive if you were to fully liquidate the investment.
Once you look at the recommended calculator, if you have any questions, just ask them.
Amanda Aceves says:
Hello, i invested in land in Mexico – Bacalar,
$ 20,000.00 USD, 15/12/2019 i bought the land,
now in days 21/07/2020 the actual price is $ 70,000.00 USD, im going to sell it and is moving forward 🙂
how do I calculate my ROI.
Regards.
Karl says:
hi, please fill in the calculator this way:
R. Edwards says:
Hello,
I’m trying to calculate the annual R.O.I. for the following:
Four different invested amounts at various intervals over a two year period, then the return of a portion about six months later and a total value two years after that.
Thank You
Karl says:
You’ll need to use the internal rate-of-return calculator. That calculator allows the user to enter multiple cash flows.