CAGR Calculator
The compound annual growth rate that takes a starting value to an ending value over a number of years — the single steady rate behind any growth path.
CAGR = (end ÷ start)^(1/years) − 1.
How the cagr calculator works
CAGR = (end ÷ start)^(1/years) − 1. It smooths uneven growth into one annual rate that would produce the same result, which makes investments, revenues or populations over different periods comparable. The calculator also shows the total growth and the doubling time at that rate.
Formula: CAGR = (V_end / V_start)^(1/n) − 1
Worked examples
| Inputs | CAGR | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 10,000 → 18,000 in 5 years | 12.475% | 12.47% a year |
| 100 → 200 in 10 years | 7.177% | 7.18% (doubling) |
| a fall: 100 → 80 in 2 years | -10.557% | −10.56% |
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is CAGR?
The constant annual growth rate that would turn the start value into the end value over the period — a geometric average.
Why not just divide total growth by the years?
Growth compounds; 80% over 5 years is 12.5% a year compounded, not 16%.
Can CAGR be negative?
Yes, when the ending value is lower than the start.
What is the rule of 72?
Doubling time ≈ 72 ÷ rate%: at 8% money doubles in about 9 years.
Does CAGR show volatility?
No — it hides the path. Two investments with the same CAGR can have very different risk.
Where these figures come from
- NIST Digital Library of Mathematical Functions — reference definitions for elementary and special functions
- Wolfram MathWorld — definitions and formulas for every topic on this page
- NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical Methods — the statistical formulas (mean, variance, z, confidence intervals, sample size)
- National curriculum in England — Mathematics — the terms and methods taught in UK schools
Last checked: September 2026. Formulas are fixed by mathematics and do not change with tax years or regulations.