Return Investment Calculator
ROI Calculator (Return on Investment) works out Net gain or loss and Return on investment from Amount invested (initial cost), Final value and Final proceeds. The default figures on this page give return on investment of 60.0000 %; change any entry and the result, the working and the sources update together.
Your figures
Updates as you typeHow this is worked out
2 steps
- Net gain = 400 - 250 = 150
- ROI = 100 x 150 / 250 = 60%
Its 5 worked examples are re-run on every release, last on 15 September 2026. What changed
Sources and references
4 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 ROI Calculator (Return on Investment) calculates
Computes the net gain and percentage return on an investment from its cost and final value, the price and total return of a share holding including dividends, and total shareholder return, with an optional annualised equivalent.
How to use this ROI Calculator (Return on Investment)
Enter Amount invested (initial cost), Final value, Final proceeds and Beginning price per share. Net gain or loss updates as you type, and “Use a worked example” loads checked figures you can adjust. 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 Net gain or loss, Return on investment and Price return.
The method follows Return on investment: ROI = (final value - cost) / cost, Holding period return of a share: price return and total return including distributions, Total shareholder return: TSR = (ending value + distributions - beginning value) / beginning value and CFA Institute, Rates and Returns - holding period return and the geometric mean.
Research R4139-GT-5: 250 invested, 400 realised example
With Amount invested (initial cost): 250, Final proceeds: 400, the calculator returns Net gain or loss: 150, Return on investment: 60. This example is checked against an independent source in the test suite.
What you can compare
Change one input at a time to see how it affects Net gain or loss, Return on investment and Price return. The inputs you can vary are Amount invested (initial cost), Final value, Final proceeds, Beginning price per share, Ending price per share and Cash distributions per share.
Results are general information, not financial, tax, legal, medical or engineering advice. Check any decision that matters with a qualified professional.
See something wrong? Report a problem with this calculator
Frequently asked questions
Is 20% return on investment realistic?
Computes the net gain and percentage return on an investment from its cost and final value, the price and total return of a share holding including dividends, and total shareholder return. On the figures this page opens with — amount invested (initial cost) 250 and final proceeds 400 — the return on investment is 60%. Put your own figures in their place and the working updates beside the result.
How can I calculate my return on investment?
Computes the net gain and percentage return on an investment from its cost and final value, the price and total return of a share holding including dividends, and total shareholder return. Open “How this is worked out” beside the result to see each step for your own figures.
What is the average return on a $300,000 investment?
On the figures this page opens with — amount invested (initial cost) 250 and final proceeds 400 — the return on investment is 60%. No single number fits everyone: change any figure above and the answer updates as you type, with each step of the arithmetic beside it.
What information do I need for the ROI Calculator (Return on Investment)?
You need Amount invested (initial cost), Final value, Final proceeds, Beginning price per share, Ending price per share, Cash distributions per share, Beginning value of the holding and Ending value of the holding. The page opens with default figures that give return on investment of 60.0000 %, so you can see the scale before entering your own.
What does this ROI Calculator (Return on Investment) show?
It shows Net gain or loss, Return on investment, Price return, Total return, Total shareholder return, Annualised equivalent, Growth multiple and What the return was measured on, with the working and any warnings for your entries.
Can I check how the ROI Calculator (Return on Investment) 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.