Investment Return Calculator
Work out your return on an investment — the percentage gain or loss relative to what you put in, plus your net profit in dollars.
Measuring your return on investment
Return on investment (ROI) measures how much you gained or lost relative to what you put in. It turns a raw dollar gain into a percentage you can compare across very different investments — shares, property, a side project or a business purchase.
It is simple and quick, which is its strength. Its limitation is that it ignores time: a 50% return in one year is far better than 50% over ten, so for time-adjusted comparisons use the compound growth (CAGR) calculator.
The formula
Net profit = amount returned − amount invested. ROI (%) = (net profit ÷ amount invested) × 100.
Worked example
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount invested | $5,000 |
| Amount returned | $6,500 |
| Net profit | $1,500 |
| ROI | 30% |
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate ROI?
Subtract what you invested from what you got back to find your net profit, divide that by the amount invested, and multiply by 100.
Does ROI account for time?
No. ROI ignores how long the investment took. For an annualised, time-adjusted figure, use the compound growth rate (CAGR) calculator.
Does it include fees and tax?
No. Build any fees, transaction costs or tax into your figures if you want them reflected in the result.