$5,000 Compound Interest Over 15 Years

Questions about this calculator

Is a lump sum of $5,000 better than depositing it monthly over 15 years?

For growth, yes. $5,000 invested at the start reaches $12,270. The same money split into 180 equal monthly deposits reaches only $8,078 at 6 percent because most of it spends less time growing. Monthly deposits suit a budget while a lump sum suits cash you already have.

Is 15 years long enough for $5,000 to double at 6 percent?

$5,000 reaches $10,000 after about 11.6 years. So 15 years is more than enough. A quick check is to divide 72 by the rate, which gives 12 years.

What if the return on $5,000 over 15 years were one point lower than 6 percent?

At 5 percent the balance after 15 years is $10,569 instead of $12,270. One point higher gives $14,245.

What is $12,270 worth after prices rise 2.5 percent a year?

If prices rise at 2.5 percent a year for 15 years the final balance has the buying power of about $8,472 in starting-year money. Enter your own inflation rate in the calculator to test other cases.