Inflation Calculator (Custom Rate)
Enter an amount, a yearly inflation rate, and a number of years. See what your money will actually buy — and what you'd need in the future to match today's purchasing power.
| Needed then to match today's $10,000 | — |
| Total price increase | — |
| Annual loss of value | — |
How inflation erodes money
Future buying power = Amount ÷ (1 + inflation)years
At 2.7% inflation, $10,000 kept in cash for 20 years buys only what about $5,870 buys today. Flip it around: you'd need roughly $17,000 in 20 years to purchase what $10,000 purchases now.
Buying power of $10,000 over time
| Years | At 2% inflation | At 3% inflation | At 5% inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $8,203 | $7,441 | $6,139 |
| 20 | $6,730 | $5,537 | $3,769 |
| 30 | $5,521 | $4,120 | $2,314 |
What this means for your planning
- Cash loses by default. Money earning less than inflation shrinks in real terms every year — including most checking accounts.
- Raises must clear inflation. A 2% raise during 3% inflation is a real pay cut. Check yours with the pay raise calculator.
- Long-term goals need inflated targets. Retiring in 30 years on "today's $60,000 lifestyle" at 3% inflation means planning for about $145,000/year in future dollars.
Frequently asked questions
What will $10,000 be worth in 20 years?
At 2.7% average inflation, $10,000 will have the buying power of about $5,870 in current dollars. You would need roughly $17,000 then to buy what $10,000 buys today.
What inflation rate should I use for planning?
The US long-run average is close to 3%. Recent years ranged from under 2% to over 9%, so many planners test 2.5–3.5% for long horizons.
How do I protect savings from inflation?
Keep long-term money in assets that historically outpace inflation — diversified stock funds, I-bonds and TIPS (inflation-linked US bonds), or at minimum high-yield accounts paying near the inflation rate.
Is this calculator based on official CPI data?
No — it applies whatever constant rate you enter, which makes it useful for future projections and what-if scenarios. For exact historical conversions, the BLS CPI calculator uses recorded index values.
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Last updated: 2026-07-07