Savings Goal Calculator

How much do you need to save regularly to reach your goal by a target date? Enter your goal amount, time horizon, expected growth rate, and any initial savings; we'll show the required contribution and the path to your goal.

Inputs

Assumed growth rate, compounded monthly.

How often you will save (monthly or once per year).

Results

Required per month$321.99
Total you'll contribute$38,639.31
Growth expected$11,360.69
Initial deposit at end$0

Path to your goal

Balance over time if you save the required amount each period. Uses your entered rate and contribution frequency. Nominal dollars.

How it works

We solve for the recurring contribution so that your initial deposit (and its growth) plus all future contributions reach your goal at the end of the time horizon. Contributions are added at the end of each period (month or year). We compound monthly: each month the balance grows by (annual rate ÷ 12), then we add that period's contribution.

Total you'll contribute = required contribution × number of periods. Growth expected = goal minus future value of your initial deposit minus total you'll contribute—the part of your goal that comes from investment growth.

If you set an inflation rate, we show your goal's purchasing power at the end date (in today's dollars). The chart shows nominal dollars only.

FAQ

Are these calculators financial advice?
No. All tools are for educational and estimation purposes only. Always do your own research and consider consulting a financial advisor.
Do you store my data?
No. All calculations run in your browser. We do not collect or store your inputs.
What interest rate should I use?
For long-term savings, 3–7% is often used as a rough estimate. This is only an estimate; actual returns will vary. The calculator assumes the rate is constant over time.
How is this different from the Compound Interest Calculator?
The Compound Interest Calculator answers "how much will I have after N years?" (you enter a contribution and get an ending balance). This calculator answers "how much must I save each period to have $X in N years?"—you enter the goal and we solve for the required contribution.
How is this different from the Millionaire Calculator?
The Millionaire Calculator answers "when do I reach $100k, $500k, $1M?" (you enter a contribution and see years until each milestone). This calculator answers "what contribution do I need to reach a single goal in a chosen number of years?"—one goal, one time horizon, we solve for the amount to save.

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Calculators are for education and estimation only. Not financial advice.