Present Value Calculator
Find what future money is worth today.
About the Present Value Calculator
A dollar in the future is worth less than a dollar today — present value tells you exactly how much less. Enter the future amount, a discount rate, the number of years, and the compounding frequency to get today's equivalent value. It's a core tool in finance for valuing future cash flows, comparing a lump sum to payments, and deciding whether a future payout is worth waiting for.
How to use the Present Value Calculator
- 1Enter your future value, discount rate, years, and compounds per year.
- 2Read the result instantly — it recalculates as you type.
- 3Adjust the numbers to model different scenarios.
Frequently asked questions
What is present value?
The current worth of a future sum, discounted at a chosen rate. It reflects that money available now can be invested to grow.
What discount rate should I use?
Often your expected rate of return or the interest rate on an alternative use of the money. A higher rate lowers the present value.
How does it relate to future value?
They're inverses — present value discounts backward; future value compounds forward. Use the Future Value Calculator for the other direction.