ROI Calculator: Measure Your Return on Investment
This ROI calculator turns an investment cost and the amount you got back into a clear return on investment percentage, your net profit, and an annualized ROI — all updated instantly as you type. It is built for anyone weighing a stock, a property, a marketing spend, or a side business.
Return on investment (ROI) is the most common way to compare how well your money worked, no matter the asset. Beyond a single result, you can add a time period to annualize the return, line up to three more investments side by side, and check how your annualized ROI stacks up against familiar benchmarks like the S&P 500.
How to Calculate ROI
Enter your investment and return
Type the Investment Amount (your total cost) and the Return Amount (everything you received back, including the original investment). The ROI percentage and net profit appear the moment you type.
Add a time period
Enter how long you held the investment and toggle between Years and Months. The calculator returns an Annualized ROI so periods of different lengths can be compared fairly.
Compare investments
Open Compare Investments and use Add Investment to line up to three more options. Each one calculates on its own and a horizontal bar chart visualizes them against your current result.
Read the results
Green values mark a profit and red values mark a loss. The investment-versus-return bar shows the proportion of cost and gain, and a Common Benchmarks badge highlights when your annualized ROI lands near a familiar reference rate.
Features
Instant ROI Percentage
Enter an investment and a return amount to get the ROI percentage and net profit immediately — there is no calculate button to press.
Net Profit at a Glance
See the exact gain or loss in currency, with green for a positive return and red for a negative one.
Annualized ROI
Returns are converted to a per-year rate using the compound growth method, so a six-month and a five-year investment compare on equal terms.
Years or Months
Set the holding period in years or months with a single toggle to match exactly how long you held the investment.
Investment vs Return Bar
A color-coded bar shows the split between your original cost and your profit, turning red the moment an investment becomes a loss.
Benchmark Comparisons
Your annualized ROI is checked against the S&P 500 (~10%), Real Estate (~8%), Bonds (~7%), and Savings (~4%); the badge highlights when you land within two points.
Compare up to Four Investments
Add up to three more investments next to your current one, each with its own ROI, profit, and annualized return.
Visual Comparison Chart
A horizontal bar chart plots the annualized ROI of every investment side by side so the strongest option is obvious at a glance.
Multi-Currency Support
Pick your currency and every amount reformats with the right symbol and number style automatically.
Formula Reference
A built-in panel spells out the ROI formula so you can see exactly how each result is worked out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ROI and how is it calculated?
ROI (return on investment) measures the profit of an investment as a percentage of its cost. The formula is (Return − Investment) / Investment × 100. For example, invest $10,000 and get $15,000 back and your ROI is (15,000 − 10,000) / 10,000 × 100 = 50%.
What is the ROI formula?
The core formula is (Return Amount − Investment Amount) / Investment Amount × 100. The difference between the two amounts is your net profit, and dividing it by the investment then multiplying by 100 expresses that gain as a percentage.
How do I calculate annualized ROI?
Annualized ROI converts the total return into a yearly rate with the formula (Return / Investment)(1 / years) − 1. This lets you compare a 50% return earned over three years against a 20% return earned in one year on an even footing. Enter a time period and the calculator does it for you.
What is the difference between ROI and annualized ROI?
ROI shows your total percentage return regardless of how long it took, while annualized ROI spreads that return across a per-year basis. A 100% ROI over ten years is far weaker than a 100% ROI in one year, and annualized ROI is what captures that difference.
What is a good ROI?
A "good" ROI depends on the asset and the risk, so this tool gives you context instead of a single answer. Use the benchmark badges, which compare your annualized ROI to the long-run averages of the S&P 500 (~10%), real estate (~8%), bonds (~7%), and savings (~4%). Beating a benchmark for a similar level of risk is generally a strong result.
Can ROI be negative?
Yes. A negative ROI means the return was less than the investment, so you lost money. Invest $10,000 and receive only $8,000 back and your ROI is −20%. The calculator shows losses in red, and the bar turns red to make a negative outcome obvious.
What is the difference between ROI and ROAS?
ROI measures net profit relative to cost — it subtracts the investment before dividing. ROAS (return on ad spend) is a marketing ratio of revenue to ad spend that does not subtract the cost first, so it is usually written as a multiple like 4:1. This tool calculates ROI; for the same campaign, ROI will read lower than ROAS because it nets out the spend.
Can I compare several investments at once?
Yes. Open the Compare Investments section and use Add Investment to add up to three more — four in total alongside your current result. Each calculates independently and a chart plots every annualized ROI side by side for an easy comparison.
Is my data private?
Yes. Every calculation happens entirely in your browser. No amounts are sent to any server, and nothing is stored or tracked.
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