ROI Calculator
Return on investment from any cost and payoff, with the annualized rate that makes results comparable across different timeframes.
ROI is (proceeds − cost) ÷ cost: the gain as a fraction of what you put in. It works for anything with a cost and a payoff: a stock trade, a rental property, a business project, an ad campaign. Its weakness is that it ignores time, so this calculator also annualizes when you provide the holding period: (proceeds ÷ cost)^(1/years) − 1.
Frequently asked questions
Should costs include fees and taxes?
For a true picture, yes, add commissions, closing costs, and expenses to the cost side, and subtract selling costs from proceeds. ROI on gross numbers flatters every investment.
What's a good ROI?
Compare the annualized figure to alternatives with similar risk: broad stock indexes have returned ~10% annually over long periods, investment-grade bonds less, and anything promising far more deserves proportional skepticism.
How is ROI different from ROE or ROIC?
ROI measures one investment from your own cost. ROE and ROIC are company-level profitability ratios (earnings against equity or invested capital) used to judge businesses, related ideas, different denominators.
Related tools
Calculators model hypothetical outcomes from the inputs you provide. They are informational only, not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.