# Inflation Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/finance/inflation/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The inflation calculator shows how inflation changes what money is worth over time: the future cost of something at an expected inflation rate, and how much buying power today's money loses – or the inflation rate between two prices.

## Inputs

- Amount (today's money)
- Expected inflation rate (%)
- Number of years
- Old price
- New price
- Years between the prices

## Results

- Future cost of the same goods
- Buying power of the amount in the future
- Loss of buying power
- Average inflation between the prices

## Formula

```
Future price = price × (1 + inflation)^years
Buying power of today's money in the future = amount ÷ (1 + inflation)^years
Inflation between two prices = (new ÷ old)^(1/years) − 1
```

## Explanation

At 3% inflation prices double in about 24 years. The Federal Reserve targets 2% inflation over time. To see historical U.S. inflation between two years, use the CPI inflation calculator.

### How to use the Inflation Calculator

- **Amount (today's money)**
- **Expected inflation rate**
- **Number of years**
- **Old price**
- **New price**
- **Years between the prices**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Enter an amount, the expected inflation rate and the number of years – and optionally an old and new price.

### Tips

- Use real (inflation-adjusted) figures to compare across years.
- Check whether data are seasonally adjusted.
- Use the same currency and base year throughout.
- Economic models simplify reality – treat results as illustrations, not forecasts.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Mixing nominal and real values.
- Comparing percentage changes with percentage-point changes.
- Treating correlations as causes.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterAmount (today's money)Amount in your currencyExpected inflation rateIn %Number of yearsA numberOld priceAmount in your currencyNew priceAmount in your currencyYears between the pricesA number

### What each result means

- **Future cost of the same goods** = [Amount (today's money)]×(1 + [Expected inflation rate]÷100)^[Number of years]
- **Buying power of the amount in the future** = [Amount (today's money)]÷(1 + [Expected inflation rate]÷100)^[Number of years]
- **Loss of buying power** = (1 - 1÷(1 + [Expected inflation rate]÷100)^[Number of years])×100
- **Average inflation between the prices** = (([New price]÷[Old price])^(1÷[Years between the prices]) - 1)×100

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Amount** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Amount (today's money)Future cost of the same goods500671.967501,007.941,0001,343.921,2501,679.91,5002,015.872,0002,687.83

## Worked example

Inputs — Amount (today's money): $1,000; Expected inflation rate: 3 %; Number of years: 10; Old price: $2.5; New price: $3.75; Years between the prices: 10.

Results — **Future cost of the same goods = $1,343.92**; Buying power of the amount in the future = $744.09; Loss of buying power = 25.59 %; Average inflation between the prices = 4.14 %.

## FAQ

**How does inflation affect money?**
Each dollar buys less as prices rise.

**What is a normal inflation rate?**
Central banks typically target about 2% a year.

**How long until prices double?**
72 ÷ the inflation rate gives a quick estimate.

**What formula does the Inflation Calculator use?**
Future price = price × (1 + inflation)^years.


## Sources

- [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Consumer Price Index](https://www.bls.gov/cpi/)