Numbers
ROI Calculator
Used by developers, writers, and creators worldwide.
An ROI calculator measures return on investment — how much you gained or lost relative to what you put in. Enter the initial investment, the final value you received, and optionally the holding period in years, and it returns the net profit, the total return as a percentage, and an annualised return that lets you compare investments held for different lengths of time. ROI is the universal yardstick for judging whether something was worth the money, used for stocks, property, marketing campaigns, equipment, and business projects alike. A raw profit figure can mislead, because doubling your money in one year is far better than doubling it over ten, which is exactly why the annualised figure matters. Investors and business owners use it to compare opportunities on a level footing and decide where capital works hardest. Use it to evaluate a past investment or set a target before committing funds.
Read the complete guide — 4 min read
Loading usage…
Free forever — no account required
How to use
- Choose your options above
- Click Generate
- Copy your result
Detailed instructions
- Enter the initial amount invested.
- Enter the final value you received back.
- Add the holding period in years for an annualised figure.
- Click Generate to see profit and return.
Use Cases
- •Evaluating the return on a stock or property
- •Comparing investments held for different periods
- •Measuring the payoff of a marketing campaign
- •Judging whether equipment paid for itself
- •Setting a target return before investing
Tips
- →Use the annualised return to compare different time horizons.
- →Include all costs in the initial investment for accuracy.
- →A high total ROI over many years can be a modest yearly rate.
- →Remember ROI here ignores fees, taxes, and inflation.
FAQ
what is the difference between total and annualised ROI
Total ROI is the overall percentage gain over the whole period. Annualised ROI expresses that as an equivalent yearly rate, which lets you fairly compare an investment held for one year against one held for ten.
why does the holding period matter
A 50% total return is excellent over one year but mediocre over ten. The annualised figure accounts for time, so you can compare opportunities on a level footing instead of being misled by the raw percentage.
is this financial advice
No. This calculator illustrates returns from the figures you provide and is not financial advice. Past returns do not predict future results, and it ignores fees and taxes. Consult a qualified professional before investing.
You might also like
Popular tools from other categories that share themes with this one.