DocomintInflation Calculator
Calculate what an amount will be worth in the future, or what a past amount is worth today.
Inflation compounds the same way interest does, just working against purchasing power instead of for it — this covers both directions: projecting what something will cost years from now at a given inflation rate, or the reverse, converting an old price or salary figure into what it's actually worth in today's money.
Example: $1,000 today, projected forward at 3% annual inflation for 10 years, is expected to cost about $1,344 — meaning today's $1,000 has the same purchasing power as roughly $1,344 will have a decade from now, a useful sanity check when comparing an old salary offer to a new one.
How it works
- Choose whether you're projecting a future cost or converting a past amount to today's value
- Enter the amount, inflation rate, and number of years
- The adjusted value appears instantly, calculated on your device
Frequently asked questions
What inflation rate should I use?
Historical long-run average inflation in many developed economies is roughly 2–3% annually, though it varies significantly by country and time period. Use your country's actual historical average, or a specific target rate, for a more realistic projection.
Why does a dollar today buy less in the future?
Because prices for goods and services tend to rise over time (inflation), the same nominal dollar amount buys fewer goods later than it does now — which is why comparing salaries or prices across different years needs an inflation adjustment to be meaningful.
Is my numbers uploaded anywhere?
No — Inflation Calculator runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript/WebAssembly. Your numbers is never sent to a server.