Inflation Calculator
Inflation quietly shrinks purchasing power. Enter an amount, an average inflation rate and a number of years to see what it will really be worth.
How it works
Real value = Amount / (1 + inflation)^years
- At 3% inflation, prices double roughly every 24 years (rule of 72: 72 ÷ rate ≈ doubling years).
- This is why cash under the mattress loses value every year, and why investments that beat inflation matter.
- For US history, long-run inflation has averaged around 3%, but it varies a lot by decade.
FAQ
What inflation rate should I use? Long-run US average is about 3%. For conservative planning use 3–4%; recent years have ranged from near 0% to 9%.
Is this the same as investment returns? No — this is the opposite side: it shows what inflation does to idle cash. Combine with the Compound Interest Calculator to compare.
Can I model rising inflation? This tool uses a flat average rate. For scenarios with changing rates, use the average over the period as an approximation.