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CAGR Calculator – Calculate Compound Annual Growth Rate Skip to main content
Essential Investment Metric

Smart CAGR Calculator

Measure the true performance of your investments. Calculate the Compound Annual Growth Rate to smooth out volatility and understand your actual yearly return.

Accuracy

Geometric mean logic

Comparison

Compare different assets

Historical Data

Analyze past performance

True Growth

Includes compounding

About CAGR

What is a CAGR Calculator?

A tool designed to determine the annual growth rate of an investment, assuming the investment has been compounding over a specific time period.

The Gold Standard of Return Metrics

Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is the rate of return that would be required for an investment to grow from its beginning balance to its ending balance, assuming the profits were reinvested at the end of each year of the investment's lifespan. It filters out the "noise" or volatility of annual returns.

Geometric Mean

Unlike "Average Annual Return" (arithmetic mean), CAGR uses geometric mean, which accounts for the compounding effect over time.

Standardized Comparison

It allows you to compare the performance of diverse assets like Gold, Stocks, and Real Estate on a level playing field.

The Formula

CAGR = (Ending Value / Beginning Value) ^ (1 / Number of Years) - 1.

Smooths Volatility

It ignores the ups and downs in between the start and end dates, giving you a single, easy-to-understand percentage.

Absolute Return

Along with CAGR, the tool also calculates the total percentage increase (Absolute Return) of your investment.

Growth Table

Visualize how your investment would have grown year-on-year if it had followed the steady CAGR rate.

Why Choose Our CAGR Calculator?

1

Instant Precision

Manual CAGR calculation involves complex exponents. We automate this instantly with high precision.

2

Profit Analysis

Beyond just the percentage, we show the monetary gain (Absolute Profit) you made on the investment.

3

Visual Breakdown

Our interactive charts clearly distinguish between the initial principal and the wealth generated over time.

CAGR Calculator

Calculate the annual growth rate of your investment.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Use the CAGR Calculator

Three easy steps to measure your investment success.

1

Input Initial Value

Enter the amount you invested at the very beginning (e.g., purchase price of a stock or mutual fund lump sum).

2

Input Final Value

Enter the current value of that investment today (or the value at the time you sold it).

3

View Growth Rate

Enter the duration in years and click 'Calculate'. You will see the annualized growth percentage (CAGR) and absolute returns.

Key Concepts

Decoding Growth Metrics

Understand the difference between various return calculations.

Metric Definition Best Use Case
Absolute Return Total percentage growth from start to end [(End-Start)/Start]. Short term (< 1 year) investments.
CAGR Mean annual growth rate assuming compounding. Lump sum investments > 1 year.
XIRR Internal Rate of Return for irregular cash flows. SIPs or multiple transactions.
Annualized Return Simple annual return extrapolated to a year. Comparing short-term performance.
Benefits

Why Use CAGR?

CAGR is the most reliable way to evaluate performance over time.

Apples to Apples Comparison

You cannot compare a 5-year FD return directly with a 3-year Mutual Fund return using absolute percentages. CAGR standardizes both to an "annual" figure, making comparison possible.

Goal Planning

When planning for retirement or education, you assume an annual rate of return (e.g., 10%). CAGR helps you check if your current investments are actually meeting that benchmark.

Check Your Portfolio Performance

Are your investments beating inflation?

Metric Comparison

CAGR vs Average Return

Why simple average can be misleading.

The Flaw of Averages

If you gain 100% then lose 50%, you are back to square one. Average return says +25%, but CAGR correctly says 0%.

Real-World Use Cases

Who Should Use CAGR Calculator?

Discover how our CAGR calculator helps different individuals track success.

Mutual Fund Investors

Investors can calculate the CAGR of their portfolio to see if it's beating the benchmark index (Nifty/Sensex) over 3, 5, or 10 years.

Analyze Fund Manager Performance
Compare Debt vs Equity

Business Owners

Entrepreneurs use CAGR to measure revenue growth, user base expansion, or market share increase over several years.

Track Revenue Growth
Pitch to Investors

Real Estate

Bought a house 10 years ago? Use CAGR to check the real appreciation rate and compare it with other assets like Gold or Stocks.

Evaluate Property Appreciation
Decide Sell vs Hold
Example Calculation

CAGR Scenario

How much did that stock really grow?

5Y

Invest ₹1 Lakh → Grows to ₹2 Lakhs

Duration: 5 Years

Total Profit ₹ 1,00,000
Absolute Return 100%
CAGR 14.87%

Result: Doubling money in 5 years requires an annual growth rate of ~14.87%.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common queries about CAGR.

Can CAGR be negative?

Yes, if the final value of the investment is less than the initial value, the CAGR will be negative, indicating an annual loss.

When should I use XIRR instead?

Use CAGR for lump sum investments where there is one start date and one end date. If you have multiple deposits (like SIPs) or withdrawals at different times, use XIRR (Extended Internal Rate of Return).

Is higher CAGR always better?

Generally yes, but high CAGR usually comes with high volatility (risk). Always assess risk-adjusted returns before investing.

Have Specific Questions?

Need help analyzing your portfolio returns? Contact us.

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