Savings Goal Calculator

Find out when you'll reach your savings target or how much you need to save

Time to Reach Goal
10 years 7 months
127 months total
Goal Amount
$100,000
target savings
Interest Earned
$26,935
by goal date
Monthly Needed
$500
your contribution
Your Parameters
$100,000
$10,000
$500
5%
%
Required Monthly Savings

To reach $100,000 in…

3 Years
$2,281/mo
5 Years
$1,282/mo
10 Years
$538/mo
Progress to Goal
Balance
Contributions
Goal
25% milestone
2y 3m
$25,000
Halfway there
5y 5m
$50,000
75% milestone
8y 2m
$75,000

How the Savings Goal Calculator works

Pick a target amount and a deadline, and this calculator tells you the monthly saving required to get there, accounting for interest or investment growth along the way. It answers the practical question behind every goal: what does this cost per month?

Growth does part of the work, so the required contribution is less than the goal divided by the months — and the longer the runway, the bigger that discount. For short-term goals the interest effect is small, and the math is mostly about discipline.

The formula
PMT = FV · r / ((1 + r)^n − 1)
  • PMT — required monthly contribution
  • FV — savings goal (future value)
  • r — monthly return (annual ÷ 12)
  • n — months until the deadline

Tips to get the most out of it

  • For goals under ~3 years, keep the money in high-yield savings or similar — market dips don't respect deadlines.
  • Automate the transfer on payday; goals funded from "whatever's left" rarely get funded.
  • Break large goals into milestones — hitting 25% on schedule is early proof the plan works.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I keep short-term savings?

High-yield savings accounts, money market funds, or CDs matched to your deadline. They're stable and liquid. Stocks are a poor fit for short deadlines because a downturn near your date can force selling at a loss.

What return should I assume for my goal?

Match the assumption to where the money will actually sit: current high-yield savings rates for cash goals, a conservative blended rate for multi-year invested goals. Overestimating the return understates the monthly saving needed — err low.

Should I save for multiple goals at once?

Usually yes, weighted by priority and deadline. Run this calculator per goal, then check that the combined monthly amounts fit your budget. If they don't, extend the flexible deadlines rather than dropping the critical goals.

Lump sum now or monthly contributions?

If you already have the cash, contributing it now maximizes time invested and reduces the required monthly amount. Monthly contributions are for money you earn along the way — the calculator combines both if you have a starting balance.

From the Knowledge Base

How Much Should You Save Each Month? Working Backwards From Any Goal

Vague saving fails; specific saving works. How to turn any goal — car, house, wedding, sabbatical — into one automatic monthly number.

Read the guide