Savings Goal Calculator

What this tool does

Work backward from a savings target. Enter what you have now, a rate, and how long you have. The page estimates the contribution for each period.

How to use

1. Enter the target and the amount you have already saved.
2. Enter an annual rate, or 0 if you do not want to assume interest.
3. Enter the number of years and how often you add money: monthly, every two weeks, weekly, or once a year.
4. Press Calculate. The 0%, 3%, 5%, and 7% rows are sample assumptions.

Examples

• 10,000 in 2 years with no interest

  With nothing saved and a 0% rate, the monthly contribution is 10,000 divided by 24.

• A goal you already reached

  If current savings are already at or above the target, the page asks for a higher goal or a lower starting amount. It does not show a contribution of 0 as a new plan.

Main features

• A required contribution, separate from current savings and estimated interest.
• Weekly, biweekly, monthly, and annual periods.
• A year-by-year balance at the rate you entered.

How it works

With a 0% rate, the contribution is the gap divided by the number of periods. With a rate, current savings grow by the periodic rate, and each contribution is added at the end of the period. The payment is the amount that makes that future balance equal the target. Sample rates are assumptions, not forecasts.

Tips

• Use 0% when you want the gap split evenly and no interest.
• Current savings stay in the result so you can see they are not the same as new contributions.

Limitations

The rate is an assumption you type. This page does not predict investment returns, taxes, or fees. A target you have already reached is rejected.

See the disclaimer for what these tools do not cover.

FAQ

How much should I save each month?

Choose monthly as the frequency. The result is the contribution that reaches the target in the years you entered, at the rate you entered.

How do I calculate a savings goal?

Subtract what you have from the target when the rate is 0, then divide by the number of deposits. With a rate, the page uses the future-value formula so interest is included.

Does interest reduce the amount I need to save?

At a higher assumed rate, the required contribution is usually lower because the balance is estimated to earn interest. That rate is not guaranteed.

What happens if I start with existing savings?

Current savings are grown first. You only contribute the gap that is still left.

How long will it take to reach my savings goal?

You enter the time. The page then solves for the contribution, rather than solving for the date.

Are these numbers sent to a server?

No. The goal, rate, and current savings are solved in this tab. They are not saved or uploaded.

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