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Inflation Calculator

See how the purchasing power of money changes over time due to inflation.

Inputs

Future Cost (same goods)
$13,439.16
In 10 years at 3.00% inflation
Purchasing Power
$7,440.94
Real Value Loss
25.59%

What This Means

An item costing $10,000.00 today will likely cost $13,439.16 in 10 years if prices rise at 3.00% per year.

Conversely, $10,000.00 you stash under the mattress today would have the buying power of just $7,440.94 after the same period.

What is the Inflation Calculator?

An inflation calculator is a free online tool that shows how the purchasing power of money changes over time due to inflation. Use it to see what a past dollar amount is worth today, to project what today's money will be worth in the future, or to compare historical prices across decades.

Inflation Calculator formula

Future value adjusted for inflation = P × (1 + i)^t, where P is the original amount, i is the annual inflation rate, and t is the number of years. To find today's purchasing power of a future amount, divide by (1 + i)^t.

How to use the Inflation calculator

  1. 1Enter the original dollar amount.
  2. 2Enter the annual inflation rate (the long-term U.S. average is about 3%).
  3. 3Enter the number of years.
  4. 4Choose whether to compute future cost or present value.
  5. 5Review the adjusted amount and the loss of purchasing power.

Example calculation

$100 in 2000 has the same buying power as about $181 in 2024, reflecting an average annual inflation rate of roughly 2.5%. Conversely, $100 today at 3% inflation will have the buying power of only about $74 in 10 years.

Frequently asked questions

How is inflation calculated?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a basket of goods and services. Year-over-year inflation = (CPI this year − CPI last year) ÷ CPI last year × 100%.
What is the average U.S. inflation rate?
Over the last 30 years, U.S. inflation has averaged about 2.5% per year. From 2021–2023 it spiked to 6–8%, the highest since the early 1980s, before easing back toward the Federal Reserve's 2% target.
How much will $100,000 be worth in 20 years at 3% inflation?
At 3% annual inflation, $100,000 today has the buying power of about $55,368 in 20 years — nearly half its current purchasing power. This is why long-term investments need to outpace inflation.
What's the difference between CPI and PCE inflation?
CPI measures what urban consumers pay for a fixed basket of goods. PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) covers a broader range of spending and is the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge. PCE typically runs about 0.3 percentage points lower than CPI.

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