ETF Calculator
ETF Calculator shows how an investment in a single ETF would have performed, using historical prices and dividends. It’s free and no signup is required.
How It Works
Pick an ETF, a starting amount and a time period. You can add monthly, quarterly or annual contributions or withdrawals, and increase them each year by a percentage or a fixed amount.
The calculator then runs your plan month by month against the ETF’s historical prices, dividends and splits.
Dividends
Reinvested dividends buy more shares, which can then earn dividends of their own. Dividends taken as cash are kept separate from your balance.
Switch between the two to see how dividend treatment affects the historical result.
Example: $1,000 a Month in VOO
$10,000 invested in VOO in August 2016, plus $1,000 every month for 10 years, with dividends reinvested.
| Period | Total Deposits | Earnings | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start (Aug 2016) | $10,000 | n/a | $10,000 |
| After 3 years (Aug 2019) | $46,000 | +$10,194 | $56,194 |
| After 5 years (Aug 2021) | $70,000 | +$52,074 | $122,074 |
| After 6 years (Aug 2022) | $82,000 | +$37,459 | $119,459 |
| After 7 years (Aug 2023) | $94,000 | +$57,767 | $151,767 |
| End (Aug 2026) | $130,000 | +$186,653 | $316,653 |
In 2022, the market fell and the balance dropped, even with $12,000 of new deposits that year. The investor kept contributing through the decline and ended with $316,653, more than double the $130,000 contributed.
Reading the Results
The summary shows your final value, earnings, dividends, and total deposits or withdrawals.
The table and charts show how your balance changed month by month and how much came from your own contributions versus investment growth.
Tips for Better Backtests
- Use long periods. A short window can miss a downturn entirely.
- Try different start dates. Compare periods before and after major market declines.
- Avoid cherry-picking. The start date with the best result tells you little about how the ETF performed across different conditions.
Data and Limitations
Results use monthly prices, dividends and splits. If your selected period goes further back than the ETF’s available history, the calculation starts from the earliest available data.
The ETF’s expense ratio is already reflected in its historical price. Taxes, inflation, broker fees, trading costs and currency conversion costs are not included.
Testing More Than One ETF
This calculator is designed for a single ETF.
To test several ETFs together and set your own allocation, use the ETF Portfolio Calculator. To see which funds are available, browse all ETFs.
Important Information
Past performance does not predict future returns. This tool is for education and research and is not financial advice. See our full disclaimer.
FAQ
What is an ETF calculator?
A tool that shows what an ETF investment would have been worth over a past period, based on historical prices and dividends rather than an assumed return.
What if I had started right before a crash?
Set the start date before a market decline and compare it with a later start. With regular contributions, investments made during a decline buy shares at lower prices.
Is a lump sum or monthly investing better?
Run both with the same ETF and dates: once as a single initial investment and once with monthly contributions. The results show how each approach would have performed historically.
Why is my result different from the ETF’s published return?
Published ETF returns may use different calculation methods and periods. This calculator uses monthly prices and your own contribution schedule.
Does it include taxes and fees?
The expense ratio is reflected in the historical price. Taxes, broker fees, trading costs and currency conversion costs are not included.