Enter your starting and ending values on the left — results appear instantly.
Percentage return tells you how much an investment grew or shrank relative to what you originally put in. It is the most common way to compare the performance of different assets — because a $500 gain on a $1,000 investment is very different from a $500 gain on a $50,000 investment.
A positive return means you made money. A negative return means you lost money. Most investors look at percentage return rather than raw dollar amounts when deciding whether an investment performed well. If you just need to find the percentage change between any two numbers — not specifically an investment — that tool handles the general case.
You can use this calculator for any asset — individual stocks, an entire portfolio, a savings account, a rental property, or even a small business. Just enter the starting and ending values and let the math do the work.
Three versions of the return formula are used, depending on what you want to measure:
Example: You bought shares for $2,000 and sold for $2,600 after receiving $80 in dividends. Simple return = 30%. Total return = 34%. Over 2 years, annualized = 14.9% per year.
| Starting ($) | Ending ($) | Return % | Gain/Loss |
|---|
Simple Return is best when you want to know the raw percentage gain or loss, without worrying about time or fees. It is the most widely used measure.
Total Return adds income (dividends, interest, rent) to the capital gain. This is the most complete measure of how well an investment actually performed.
Net ROI subtracts all costs — brokerage fees, transaction taxes, and other expenses — to show your real profit after paying to invest.
Annualized Return (CAGR) converts a multi-year return into a yearly rate. It lets you compare a 3-year investment with a 1-year investment on the same scale. CAGR assumes compound growth each year.
Quick reference table — gain or loss percentage at a glance for common investment amounts.
| Starting ($) | Ending ($) | Gain / Loss | Return % | Result |
|---|
Formula: Return % = ((Ending − Starting) ÷ Starting) × 100. Currency shown as $.
What a given total return translates to as a yearly compounded growth rate.
| Total Return | 1 Year | 2 Years | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years |
|---|
CAGR = (1 + Total Return)^(1 ÷ Years) − 1. Total Return over 1 year equals the annualized rate.
Using the Rule of 72 — divide 72 by the annual return rate to estimate years to double.
| Annual Return | Years to Double (approx) | Value of $1,000 after 10 yrs | Value of $10,000 after 10 yrs |
|---|
Assumes annual compounding. Rule of 72 is an approximation. Actual doubling time = ln(2) ÷ ln(1 + rate).
Historical average annual returns by asset type — for context only, not a guarantee of future results.
| Asset Class | Typical Annual Return | Risk Level | Time Horizon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Stock Market (S&P 500) | ~10% / yr | Medium–High | Long (5–20 yrs) | Historical average before inflation |
| Global Stock Index | ~8–9% / yr | Medium–High | Long | Includes international markets |
| Real Estate (residential) | ~6–8% / yr | Medium | Long | Includes rental income + appreciation |
| Corporate Bonds | ~4–6% / yr | Low–Medium | Medium | Investment-grade bonds |
| Government Bonds (US) | ~2–4% / yr | Low | Short–Medium | Treasury notes and bills |
| High-Yield Savings Account | ~4–5% / yr | Very Low | Short | FDIC insured in the US |
| Cash / Money Market | ~3–5% / yr | Very Low | Short | Near zero risk, low reward |
| Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) | Highly variable | Very High | Speculative | Significant volatility — not suitable for all investors |
| Gold | ~5–7% / yr | Low–Medium | Long | Inflation hedge; varies widely year to year |
| Small Business | Varies widely | Very High | Long | Can be high reward or total loss |
Historical averages only. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult a financial advisor before investing.
Even small annual fees have a large impact over time. This table shows net return after a recurring annual fee on a gross return.
| Gross Annual Return | After 0.1% Fee | After 0.5% Fee | After 1% Fee | After 2% Fee |
|---|
Net return = Gross − Annual Fee %. Over 10–30 years, a 1% fee difference can reduce your ending portfolio by 20–30% due to compounding. Always check your fund's expense ratio.