Inflation Calculator

See what an amount of money is worth in another year, and how much purchasing power it loses, at an annual inflation rate you choose.

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U.S. CPI inflation has averaged roughly 2.5–3% a year over recent decades.

Equivalent amount
$194.91

$100.00 in 2000 has the same buying power as $194.91 in 2026.

$100 from 2000 over time
Equivalent amountBuying power of the original
$0$50$100$150$2002000200420082012201620202024Year
Cumulative price change
94.91%
Original amount's buying power
$51.31
Purchasing power lost
48.69%
Show the working
  1. Years = 2026 − 2000 = 26
  2. Factor = (1 + 2.6%)^26 = 1.949088
  3. $100.00 × 1.949088 = $194.91

Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded.

Formula

Equivalent = amount × (1 + i)^(to year − from year)Purchasing power lost = 1 − 1 ÷ (1 + i)^years

How it works

Inflation is the general rise in prices over time. When prices rise, each dollar buys less, so the same amount of money is worth less in the future and was worth more in the past. This calculator compounds an average annual inflation rate across the years you choose.

Use it in either direction. Enter a past year first to see what an old price is in today's money, or a future year second to see how much you will need later to match today's buying power. Setting the "to" year before the "from" year converts backwards.

Because it uses one average rate, the result is an approximation. Actual inflation varies a lot year to year — U.S. consumer prices rose about 1% in some years of the 2010s and about 8% in 2022. For exact historical comparisons, use the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data for the specific years.

Frequently asked questions

What inflation rate should I use for planning?

The U.S. Federal Reserve targets 2% a year over the long run. Many planners use 2.5–3% to stay on the safe side for long-term goals like retirement.

How fast does inflation halve the value of money?

Divide 72 by the inflation rate. At 3%, prices double — and money's buying power halves — in about 24 years.

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