Inflation Calculator
Future cost and buying power at any inflation rate.
About this tool
Inflation Calculator shows how rising prices change the value of money over time. Enter an amount, an average yearly inflation rate and a number of years to project future costs or see how much buying power savings lose. It works for any country because you choose the rate.
How to use Inflation Calculator
- Choose what you want to work out.
- Enter the amount, average inflation rate and years.
- Read the adjusted value.
Questions people ask
What formula does the inflation calculator use?
Future cost = amount × (1 + rate)^years. Buying power = amount ÷ (1 + rate)^years. At 3% for 10 years, 100 becomes 134.39, and 100 in cash buys only what 74.41 buys today.
What inflation rate should I use?
Many central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England, target 2% a year. Long-run averages in many countries have been 2% to 4%. Use your national statistics office figures for past periods.
How fast do prices double?
Years to double = ln(2) ÷ ln(1 + rate). The rule of 72 is a quick shortcut: 72 ÷ 3 = about 24 years at 3% inflation.