CAGR Calculator
Two honest modes: find the yearly growth rate hiding behind any start and end value — or project what a value could become at a rate you assume. Rupees in, one comparable number out.
One number, honestly.
“This fund doubled in 5 years” tells you nothing until you turn it into a yearly rate. CAGR — Compound Annual Growth Rate — converts any start value, end value and time period into one number you can compare against anything: a fund, gold, a plot, a fixed deposit.
- Find the CAGR — what you started with, what it is worth today, and how many years it took.
- Project a value — assume a yearly growth rate and see what a start value could become.
Illustration only. CAGR is a smoothed average — real investments grow unevenly and can fall in some years.
| Year | Start value | Growth | Value |
|---|
The formula behind the numbers
Works for any single investment held over full years — a fund, gold, a plot, a fixed deposit.
Example: ₹1,00,000 grew to ₹1,80,000 in 5 years. Then CAGR = 1.81/5 − 1 ≈ 12.47% a year — the only fair basis for comparing it with anything else.
r = assumed yearly rate ÷ 100 — exactly what the “Project a value” mode computes live.
For money added in pieces — a monthly SIP — CAGR is the wrong tool; ask for XIRR instead. To go deeper, read What is CAGR? The only honest way to compare two investments.
Frequently asked questions
What is CAGR in simple words?
CAGR — Compound Annual Growth Rate — is the steady yearly growth rate an investment would have needed to get from its start value to its end value. It turns “my money doubled in 5 years” into one comparable number: about 14.9% a year.
How do I calculate CAGR?
Divide the end value by the start value, raise the result to the power of 1 divided by the number of years, then subtract 1. This calculator does it instantly — enter start value, value today and years, and the CAGR updates live.
Why is CAGR better than total return?
Total return ignores time. 100% gained over 10 years is 7.2% a year — slower than 65% gained over 4 years (13.3% a year). CAGR puts every investment, however long, on the same yearly scale.
What is a good CAGR?
There is no universal “good” — compare like with like. As a rough historical anchor, broad Indian equity indices have compounded around 10–14% a year over long periods, fixed deposits much less. Higher potential CAGR always comes with higher risk and no guarantee.
Can CAGR be negative?
Yes — whenever the end value is below the start value, the CAGR is negative. It simply means the investment lost money on average every year of the period.
Is CAGR the same as XIRR?
No. CAGR fits one lump-sum investment measured between two dates. XIRR is the equivalent measure when money goes in (or comes out) in pieces — like a monthly SIP. Use CAGR for single amounts, XIRR for SIPs.
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