How It Works
This calculator compounds an amount forward at the inflation rate you enter, showing what an equivalent purchase might cost in the future — the same math as compound interest, applied to rising prices instead of growing savings.
We intentionally don't hardcode a specific inflation rate or historical CPI data here, since actual inflation changes over time and by category of spending. For historical U.S. inflation data, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which you can use to inform the rate you enter.
Formula
- Amount — Today's dollar amount
- Inflation rate — Your assumed annual inflation rate
- n — Number of years
Example
Example inputs: $10,000 today, 3% assumed annual inflation, 10 years.
Result: Additional cost from inflation: $3,439.16. Equivalent cost in 10 years: $13,439.16 — a 34.39% total increase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What inflation rate should I use?
This calculator doesn't recommend one. You might use a recent CPI figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Federal Reserve's long-run target (commonly cited as 2%), or your own assumption — the result is only as reliable as the rate you choose.
Why doesn't this use real historical inflation data?
Historical CPI data is real, published data, but hardcoding it here would go stale and wouldn't reflect future inflation anyway. Letting you enter the rate keeps the calculator honest about being a projection, not a lookup of the past.
Can I use this to see what a past price would cost today?
This calculator projects forward from today. To adjust a past amount into today's dollars, you'd need historical CPI data for the specific years involved — the BLS inflation calculator is built for that specific use case.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or legal advice.