Fox Periodical

Free Calculator

Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) Calculator

See how regular fixed contributions add up over time at an assumed average return.

Free to use No sign-up Runs in your browser

Calculator

Contribution per period (USD)

Periods per year

Years

Assumed annual return (%)

Total contributed

—

Projected value

—

For educational and informational purposes only — not financial, investment or tax advice. Results are estimates based on the figures you enter.

How the calculation flows

Amount / period Frequency Avg return % Periods

↓

Σ contributions, grown at the rate

↓

Total invested + value

The inputs you enter feed a fixed formula to produce the result. Change any input to see how sensitive the outcome is.

Conceptual diagram

Illustrative: a fixed sum buys more units when the price dips and fewer when it rises, lowering your average cost per unit. Shape only — not a forecast.

What the DCA calculator does

The Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) calculator models the result of investing a fixed amount at regular intervals — say $100 every week — instead of a single lump sum. DCA is a discipline for investing through volatility: you buy more units when prices are low and fewer when they are high, which smooths your average entry price and removes the pressure of timing the market.

How it works

The calculator adds your contribution each period and grows the running balance at a per-period rate derived from the annual return you assume.

Total invested = Contribution × periods | Value = each contribution grown for its remaining periods

Because every contribution compounds only for the time left after it is made, a DCA plan’s value depends heavily on how long you keep contributing.

Worked example

Illustrative example — your figures will differ

Invest $100 per week (52 periods/year) for 5 years at an assumed 10% annual return (the calculator’s defaults).

Total contributed: $100 × 260 weeks = $26,000
Projected value: about $33,700
Growth on top of contributions: about $7,700

$100/week for 5 years at an assumed 10% (illustrative)

Contributed$26,000

Growth~$7,700

Projected value~$33,700

Lump sum versus DCA

Neither approach is universally “better.” A lump sum invested early captures more upside if prices rise steadily; DCA reduces the regret of buying everything just before a fall. The table frames the trade-off.

Approach	Strength	Weakness
Lump sum	More time in the market	Full exposure to bad timing
Dollar-cost averaging	Smooths entry price; easy to automate	Can lag a lump sum in a steady bull market

How to use it

Set your contribution per period and periods per year (52 weekly, 12 monthly).
Enter the number of years you plan to keep going.
Add an assumed annual return — keep it conservative.
Compare total contributed with projected value to see the role of growth versus your own deposits.

Limits to keep in mind

Real returns are lumpy and can be negative; a smooth assumed rate flatters the result.
It excludes transaction fees, which matter more on small, frequent buys.
DCA manages timing risk, not the risk that an asset falls and never recovers.