Investment ROI Calculator — Free Online Tool
Did that investment actually perform? Enter what you put in, what you got out, and how long it took — get your total ROI and the annualized rate for fair comparisons.
What is the Investment ROI Calculator?
ROI (Return on Investment) is the universal scoreboard: profit divided by cost, as a percent. It lets you compare a stock, a rental property, and a business venture on equal footing — at least for the money dimension.
But raw ROI ignores time, which is why this calculator also shows annualized ROI (the compound annual growth rate). A 50% gain in one year is spectacular; the same 50% over ten years is under 4.2% a year — worse than many savings accounts. Always annualize before comparing investments with different horizons, and remember ROI excludes risk, taxes, and your time.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the initial investment (total cost, including fees if you like).
- Enter the final value (sale proceeds + any income received).
- Optionally enter the holding period in years for the annualized rate.
- Click Calculate ROI.
Formula
Frequently asked questions
What is a good ROI?
It depends on risk and timeframe — but anything consistently above ~7–10% annualized beats long-run stock market averages.
Can ROI be negative?
Yes — if you got back less than you put in, ROI is negative. A −100% ROI means a total loss.
Should I include fees in the cost?
For a true picture, yes: add purchase fees, commissions, and ongoing costs to the initial investment.
ROI vs annualized ROI — which matters?
Annualized, for comparing investments held different lengths. Raw ROI is fine for a single quick check.