Dollar-Cost Averaging Calculator
Outcome of investing a fixed amount monthly over time.
Result
- Total invested via DCA$30,000.00
- Gain from DCA$6,983.35
- — Comparison: lump-sum —
- $30,000.00 invested upfront grows to$44,695.37
- Lump-sum gain$14,695.37
- DCA wins bypositive = DCA produced more dollars-$7,712.02
Personal-finance essentials
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How to use this calculator
- Enter your planned monthly contribution.
- Set the time horizon in months (60 = 5 years, 120 = 10 years).
- Use 7-8% for long-term US equity returns.
- In the lump-sum field, type what you'd alternatively invest upfront for an apples-to-apples comparison.
About this tool
Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) means investing a fixed dollar amount on a regular schedule regardless of price — you buy more shares when prices are low, fewer when they're high. This calculator shows what a fixed monthly investment grows to over time at an average return rate, plus a side-by-side comparison with investing the same total amount upfront (lump-sum). Honest answer: lump-sum mathematically beats DCA about 2/3 of the time in the historical US market. DCA wins as a behavioral tool — it's the strategy you can actually stick to when markets dip.
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