Financial

Inflation Calculator

See how purchasing power changes over time.

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Inputs

Adjust the assumptions to match your scenario. Results update instantly.

Current amountAmount of money today.Inflation rateExpected annual inflation rate.YearsNumber of years into the future.

Results

Primary outputs and comparison insights are built from the current inputs.

Future equivalent

$1,343.92

Amount needed in the future to match today's purchasing power.

Purchasing power

$744.09

What today's amount will be worth in future dollars.

Value lost

$255.91

Decrease in real purchasing power.

How this calculator works

The Inflation Calculator shows how rising prices erode purchasing power and how much more you will need in the future to maintain the same standard. Enter current amount, inflation rate, and years to estimate future equivalent, purchasing power, and value lost. The calculator updates instantly and adds a comparison table plus chart so you can test the sensitivity of the result before you use it in a decision.

Quick guide

Jump straight to the section you need, then return to the calculator.

Inputs Outputs Assumptions Tips Formulas Examples Reference table Visual breakdown References

Inputs

Amount of money today.
Expected annual inflation rate.
Number of years into the future.

Outputs

Amount needed in the future to match today's purchasing power.
What today's amount will be worth in future dollars.
Decrease in real purchasing power.

Assumptions

Constant annual inflation rate.
No compounding interruptions.

Tips

Use 2-3% for long-term US inflation planning.
Factor inflation into retirement projections.

Formula guide

Use these formulas to audit the output or explain it to someone else.

2 formulas

Future Equivalent = Amount × (1 + Rate)^Years

Purchasing Power = Amount ÷ (1 + Rate)^Years

Usage examples

Review a ready-made scenario, copy it, then tweak inputs to match your case.

Example

3 inputs3 outputs

Decade purchasing power check

Inputs

Example input Current amount: $5,000.00
Example input Inflation rate: 3.5%
Example input Years: 15

Outputs

Example result Future equivalent: $8,376.74
Example result Purchasing power: $2,984.45
Example result Value lost: $2,015.55

At 3.5% inflation, money loses roughly a third of its value in 15 years.

Purchasing power by inflation rate

5 of 5 rows

Inflation rate	Purchasing power	Future equivalent
2%	$820.35	$1,218.99
3%	$744.09	$1,343.92
4%	$675.56	$1,480.24
5%	$613.91	$1,628.89
6%	$558.39	$1,790.85

Even modest inflation compounds into significant purchasing power loss over decades.

Erosion of value

Highest: 2% ($820.35)Lowest: 6% ($558.39)

Sort

Inflation ratePurchasing power

Focus point

$820.35

Position

#1 of 5

Original order

Share of total

24.04%

Total: $3,412.31

PositiveNegative

Even modest inflation compounds into significant purchasing power loss over decades.

References

Consumer price index methodology
Time value of money and inflation

FAQ

Common questions

What does the Inflation Calculator do?

What inputs do I need?

Typical inputs include Amount of money today., Expected annual inflation rate., Number of years into the future..

How are the results calculated?

We follow the formulas and assumptions outlined in the "How this calculator works" section. You will see outputs like Amount needed in the future to match today's purchasing power., What today's amount will be worth in future dollars., Decrease in real purchasing power..