Cumulative Growth Calculator
Cumulative growth calculator works out Compound growth rate per period and Growth rate as a decimal from Beginning value, Ending value and Number of periods. The default figures on this page give total growth over the whole period of 100.0000 %; change any entry and the result, the working and the sources update together.
Your figures
Updates as you typeHow this is worked out
5 steps
- Growth multiple = ending / beginning = 20000 / 10000 = 2
- Compound rate per period = multiple^(1/5) - 1 = 2^0.2 - 1 = 0.1486983549970351
- As a percentage: 14.869835499703509% per period
- Total growth over all 5 periods = 100 x (2 - 1) = 100%
- Doubling time = ln(2) / ln(1 + 0.1486983549970351) = 4.999999999999997 periods
Value at the end of each periodtable
| period | value |
|---|---|
| 1 | 11,486.98355 |
| 2 | 13,195.079108 |
| 3 | 15,157.165665 |
| 4 | 17,411.011266 |
| 5 | 20,000 |
Its 5 worked examples are re-run on every release, last on 15 September 2026. What changed
Sources and references
3 sources
Keep this result
Save it, change one figure, then compare the two
The calculation stays free. Save this scenario, adjust one assumption, save that too, and put them side by side to see exactly what the change costs you. A free account keeps 5 scenarios and 2 comparisons; Personal makes both unlimited and adds exports and private links. Nothing is saved unless you press Save.
What the cumulative growth calculator calculates
Computes the compound annual growth rate between a beginning and an ending value over a number of periods, together with the total cumulative growth, the growth multiple and the value at the end of each period.
How to use this cumulative growth calculator
Enter Beginning value, Ending value and Number of periods. Compound growth rate per period updates as you type. Change one figure at a time to see what drives the result.
How the result is worked out
Open “How this is worked out” beside the result for the step-by-step calculation behind Compound growth rate per period, Growth rate as a decimal and Total growth over the whole period.
The method follows Compound annual growth rate: the geometric mean return, rate = (ending / beginning)^(1/n) - 1, CFA Institute, Quantitative Methods: the geometric mean return of a holding period and OpenStax, Elementary Algebra 2e - proportional relationships.
What you can compare
Change one input at a time to see how it affects Compound growth rate per period, Growth rate as a decimal and Total growth over the whole period. The inputs you can vary are Beginning value, Ending value and Number of periods.
Results are general information, not financial, tax, legal, medical or engineering advice. Check any decision that matters with a qualified professional.
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Frequently asked questions
What information do I need for the cumulative growth calculator?
You need Beginning value, Ending value and Number of periods. The page opens with default figures that give total growth over the whole period of 100.0000 %, so you can see the scale before entering your own.
What does this cumulative growth calculator show?
It shows Compound growth rate per period, Growth rate as a decimal, Total growth over the whole period, Growth multiple (ending / beginning), Absolute change, Periods to double at this rate and Value at the end of each period, with the working and any warnings for your entries.
Can I check how the cumulative growth calculator result was calculated?
Yes. The “How this is worked out” section shows the calculation steps, and the sources section identifies the references used for the method.