Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Projected returns are hypothetical and based on a constant rate of return — actual returns will vary and may be negative. Evercend Pty Limited does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.
Dollar cost averaging calculator inputs and results
Investment details
Enter 0 to start with regular contributions only.
Growth assumptions
Historical long-run average for diversified equity funds is around 7 to 10% before fees.
Management expense ratio — check your ETF or fund product disclosure statement.
Enter your investment details to begin
Enter a regular contribution amount or lump sum to model your investment growth over time.
How dollar cost averaging works
This calculator projects the future value of investing a fixed amount on a regular schedule, an approach known as dollar cost averaging. It shows how regular contributions can grow over time at an assumed rate of return, and separates how much you put in from the growth on top. The result is a model, not a prediction.
How to use this calculator
Enter a starting amount
Enter any starting amount you are investing today.
Enter the regular contribution
Enter the regular contribution and how often you make it, for example weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
Enter the rate of return
Enter an expected annual rate of return.
Enter the time period
Enter the number of years you plan to keep investing.
Read the results
The calculator projects the ending balance, the total you contribute, and the growth on top.
How this calculator works
Dollar cost averaging means investing a fixed amount at regular intervals, regardless of the price on the day. Because the amount is fixed, the same contribution buys more units when the price is lower and fewer units when the price is higher. Spreading purchases this way produces an average purchase price across the period. It does not guarantee a higher return than investing a lump sum at the start, and the value of the investment can still rise and fall. The projection works by compounding. Each contribution earns a return, and those returns are reinvested and earn further returns over time. Contributions made earlier have more time to compound than later ones, which is why most of the growth tends to build in the later years. The result is shown in future dollars and is not adjusted for inflation, so a dollar in the projection is worth less in real terms than a dollar today. A projection is a model, not a prediction. Real returns vary from year to year, and the actual amount can be higher or lower than the estimate.
Assumptions used
Assumptions used: the return you enter applies evenly across the period, contributions are made at the end of each period, and returns are reinvested. The projection does not model market ups and downs within the period, brokerage or platform or fund fees, tax on dividends or capital gains, or inflation. Fees and tax reduce a real world result.
Worked example
An investor puts in 500 dollars a month at an assumed 7% annual return for 10 years.
The total contributed is 500 multiplied by 12 months by 10 years, which is 60,000 dollars, plus the growth on top.
Because earlier contributions compound for longer, most of the growth builds in the later years.
The exact ending balance depends on the return and frequency you enter, which the calculator uses to produce the figure.
What changes your dollar cost averaging result
Several things change the final balance and total return from a dollar cost averaging strategy. The main ones are:
Regular contribution
The regular contribution and how often you make it.
Rate of return
The expected rate of return, which has a large effect over long periods.
Time period
The number of years, since a longer period gives more time to compound.
Starting amount
Any starting amount, which compounds from day one.
Fees
Fees, since brokerage and platform or fund fees reduce the return the projection assumes.
Tax
Tax, since dividends are assessable income and a sale can trigger capital gains tax, neither of which the projection includes.
Rates and assumptions used
| Item | Value used | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Compounding | Regular contributions grow through compounding, where returns are reinvested and earn further returns over time. | ASIC MoneySmart, Compound interest |
| Projection disclaimer | A projection is a model, not a prediction. Results are estimates and the actual amount may be higher or lower. | ASIC MoneySmart, Compound interest calculator |
| Future dollars | Projected results are shown in future dollars, with no adjustment for inflation. | ASIC MoneySmart, Compound interest calculator |
| Micro-investing | Investing small amounts regularly through an app or platform is possible, and it is important to understand the costs and risks. | ASIC MoneySmart, Micro-investing |
| Investment risk | Share prices move up and down, so an investment can fall below what you paid. | ASIC MoneySmart, Choosing shares to buy |
Figures checked against the sources above on 10 August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
It is investing a fixed amount at regular intervals regardless of price. Because the amount is fixed, it buys more units when the price is lower and fewer when it is higher.
Related calculators and guides
Sources
- •ASIC MoneySmart, Compound interest
- •ASIC MoneySmart, Compound interest calculator
- •ASIC MoneySmart, Micro-investing
- •ASIC MoneySmart, Choosing shares to buy
Content reviewed and figures checked against the sources above on 10 August 2026.