Your result
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Enter your values, then click Calculate result.How this calculator helps
Solve present balance, future balance or regular contribution using a supplied per-period rate, fixed period count and payment timing. Choose future value, present value or periodic contribution. Enter the other two monetary quantities along with the rate, period count and payment timing. The selected unknown field is ignored. This TVM worksheet does not solve for an unknown rate or term count; those require additional numerical methods and may have multiple or no solutions. Monetary inputs share one currency and one consistent sign convention.
How to use it
- 1
Select the correct input roles for time value of money calculator and enter the values described below. The demonstration defaults illustrate the method; they are not independently verified personal measurements or live market data.
- 2
Review rate per payment period and the original source record. Match units, signs and the chosen mode before submitting, rather than relying on a familiar-looking default number.
- 3
Click Calculate result to submit the current fields. Editing an input preserves the prior submitted output until you calculate again; the pending-change message distinguishes that saved output from the new values.
- 4
Check the labeled output against the worked example and independent verification steps. Review bounded model before using the result in another document, and keep the complete input basis with a copied answer.
Formula and methodology
FV=PV(1+r)ⁿ+PMT×[(1+r)ⁿ−1]/r×timing factor. Timing factor is 1 at period end and 1+r at period beginning; at r=0 the annuity factor is n.
The calculator applies the displayed arithmetic to the values entered on this device. It does not silently load a local tax rate, currency conversion or commercial assumption.
Worked calculation example
A starting balance 1000 with contribution 100 at each period end, rate 1% per period and twelve periods has future balance about 2395.075331451. Beginning-of-period contributions earn one extra period each and increase that value. At zero rate, both timings give 1000+12×100=2200. Reversing the future-value equation can recover starting balance or the required regular contribution.
How to interpret your result
A positive present balance is an amount already held; a positive regular contribution adds money, and a negative contribution withdraws it. This balance-growth convention differs from a lender cash-flow sign convention that might use opposite signs for PV and payments. A negative calculated contribution means a recurring withdrawal satisfies the supplied endpoint equation under this model, not that a missing field was assumed to be zero.
For different inputs or formulas, use Payment Calculator; NPV Calculator; Sequence Sum Calculator.
Related questions this calculator covers
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Scenario comparison
| Scenario | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Zero rate | 1000 plus twelve contributions of 100 gives 2200. |
| No contribution | FV is PV multiplied by compound growth. |
| Inverse solve | a computed future balance can recover the supplied present balance. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering an annual rate with a monthly count.
- Mixing balance signs with traditional lender cash-flow signs.
- Expecting an unknown rate or term count to be solved automatically.
Solve future value, then use that output in present-value mode with the same contribution, rate, count and timing. The recovered present balance should match. Repeat in contribution mode and test zero interest independently. Compare beginning and end timing under a positive rate. These reversals check arithmetic but cannot validate a real contract’s fees or timing.
Authoritative reference. Method and scope reviewed on 5 October 2026. SolvePilot provides the original worked example and bounded browser implementation. Editorial and arithmetic review by Mohammad Qasim does not certify user measurements, a real contract or an individual professional decision. The reference supplies method, unit or source-record context; it does not approve this implementation or its inputs.What can affect the result?
Three supported unknowns
Choose future value, present value or periodic contribution. Enter the other two monetary quantities along with the rate, period count and payment timing. The selected unknown field is ignored. This TVM worksheet does not solve for an unknown rate or term count; those require additional numerical methods and may have multiple or no solutions. Monetary inputs share one currency and one consistent sign convention.
Rate per payment period
The rate field is explicitly per period, not automatically annual. If payments are monthly and your assumption is a nominal annual rate of 12% divided monthly, enter 1. A stated effective annual rate requires conversion by (1+annual rate)^(1/12)−1 before use. Using an annual rate with a monthly period count would overstate growth substantially. The worksheet does not infer your intended compounding convention.
Balance and contribution signs
A positive present balance is an amount already held; a positive regular contribution adds money, and a negative contribution withdraws it. This balance-growth convention differs from a lender cash-flow sign convention that might use opposite signs for PV and payments. A negative calculated contribution means a recurring withdrawal satisfies the supplied endpoint equation under this model, not that a missing field was assumed to be zero.
Timing and zero rate
End-of-period payments occur after each period’s growth; beginning-of-period payments occur before it and therefore receive one extra period of growth. There are exactly n equal payments under either convention. At zero interest, timing makes no difference because no growth occurs between payments. The implementation uses a direct zero-rate factor and logarithmic growth evaluation to avoid dividing by zero or avoidable near-zero cancellation.
Bounded model
Rates are accepted from −99% to 100% per period and period counts from one through one thousand. Used monetary inputs are bounded in magnitude, and an overflowing result is rejected. Payments and rates remain constant; irregular dates, variable rates, taxes, fees, defaults and inflation are not modeled. This is a scenario solver, not a lender quote or recommendation about an account, loan or investment.
Privacy and browser processing
Values entered on this page are processed in the current browser session. SolvePilot does not require an account and does not receive the values entered into the calculator. Refreshing or closing the page clears the working values unless the browser itself restores a previous session. Avoid entering identifying or account information because the calculation needs summary values only.
Accuracy and verification
Accuracy depends first on input quality. Confirm definitions, scales, dates and source information before entering a value. Keep an independent record of any result used for planning because this page does not create an official statement or retain a calculation history.
Limits of this estimate
Rates are accepted from −99% to 100% per period and period counts from one through one thousand. Used monetary inputs are bounded in magnitude, and an overflowing result is rejected. Payments and rates remain constant; irregular dates, variable rates, taxes, fees, defaults and inflation are not modeled. This is a scenario solver, not a lender quote or recommendation about an account, loan or investment.
Sources and review information
Frequently asked questions
Does it solve all five TVM variables?＋
No. It solves present value, future value or periodic contribution. Rate and period count must be supplied.
Is the rate annual?＋
It is per payment period. Convert annual assumptions to your chosen period basis before entering them.
Can contributions be withdrawals?＋
Yes. Enter them as negative values under the disclosed balance-growth convention.
What changes for beginning payments?＋
Each contribution receives one extra growth period compared with an end payment, while the number of payments stays the same.
What happens at zero interest?＋
The future balance is present balance plus contribution times count. Both timing choices agree.