Saving & Investing
See what a lump sum could be worth in the future.
Estimate how a single amount could grow over time at a chosen annual rate. The result separates your original money from the compound growth it may earn.
Future Value Calculator
Project the future value of a single amount using compound growth.
Your lump sum could increase in value over time through compound growth.
See how much is your original amount and how much is estimated compound growth.
How the lump sum could grow
Illustrative year-by-year projection based on your inputs.
Try changing the growth rate, time period or compounding frequency to see which has the greatest effect.
This is an illustrative estimate, not a guaranteed return. Calfiny uses the current Bank of England Bank Rate plus 0.75 percentage points as the default example rate; actual savings rates, investment returns, charges, taxes, inflation and market performance can differ.
What changes your future value?
Your result is mainly shaped by three inputs. Change any one of them and the estimated future value changes too.
Starting amount
A larger starting amount gives growth a bigger base to build from.
Growth rate
A higher assumed annual rate increases the pace at which the value can grow.
Time
More time gives compound growth longer to build on earlier growth.
How future value builds over time
Future value can build because each new period can start from a larger amount than the one before it.
Starting value
The calculation begins with the amount you enter today.
Growth is added
Your assumed annual growth rate is applied to that value.
The base gets larger
The next period can begin from the previous value plus its growth.
Future value builds
Repeating that process allows later growth to build on earlier growth.
In simple terms: growth can be earned on a value that already includes earlier growth. This is the compounding effect built into the future value calculation.
Your result is an illustration, not a prediction
The calculator shows what could happen if the assumptions you enter remain unchanged. Real-world outcomes can be different.
The growth rate is an assumption
Savings rates can change, while investment returns can vary from year to year. The rate you enter is used consistently for the calculation.
Actual growth may be uneven
Real savings and investment outcomes do not usually follow a perfectly smooth path, even when the long-term average is similar.
Future value is not the same as future spending power
Inflation can reduce what a future amount can buy, so a larger figure in pounds does not necessarily mean the same increase in purchasing power.
Use the result as a planning illustration rather than a guarantee of what your money will be worth in the future.
Explore your next question
Use your result as a starting point, then explore the question that matters most to you.
Go deeper
If you want to understand the ideas behind your result in more detail, these guides are the best places to continue.
Why starting early makes such a difference
See how giving your money more time can change the amount it could grow to, even when the starting value and assumed return stay the same.
Read why starting early mattersCommon questions about future value
These answers cover some of the questions that often come up when using a future value calculation.
What does future value mean?
Future value is an estimate of what a sum of money could be worth at a later date if it grows at the rate and for the time period you enter.
Is future value the same as a guaranteed return?
No. A future value calculation applies your chosen growth rate consistently. Savings rates can change and investment returns can vary, so the result should be treated as an illustration rather than a guarantee.
Can I use the calculator for savings as well as investments?
Yes. The calculation can illustrate the future value of a lump sum using an assumed rate of growth. For savings, that rate might represent interest; for investments, it might represent an assumed return.
What growth rate should I use?
Use a rate that matches the scenario you want to explore rather than treating one figure as a prediction. Testing several rates can help you see how sensitive the result is to the assumption you choose.
Does the calculator include inflation?
No. The result is shown in future pounds and does not automatically adjust for changes in purchasing power. Inflation can mean that the same amount of money buys less in the future.
What is the difference between future value and present value?
Future value asks what money today could grow to in the future. Present value works in the opposite direction by asking what a future amount is worth in today’s terms under a chosen rate.
Does future value use compound growth?
Yes. The calculation assumes growth can build on the value accumulated in earlier periods, which is the basic compounding effect.
What if I plan to add money regularly?
This calculator is designed for a lump sum. If you expect to add money regularly, use a calculator that models recurring contributions so those additional deposits are included in the projection.