💵NPV & IRR Calculator

About this tool

List the cash flows one per line — the investment as a negative number first, then each period's net inflow — and set the discount rate. The tool returns NPV, IRR, simple and discounted payback, the profitability index and a table of discount factors and present values per period.

Reading NPV and IRR

Money now is worth more than the same money later, because it could be earning a return in the meantime. Net present value discounts each future cash flow by (1 + rate)^period and adds them to the upfront cost: a positive NPV means the project earns more than your required return, a negative one means you would do better elsewhere. The discount rate should be your cost of capital or the return available at similar risk — 8–12% is common for small businesses. The internal rate of return is the rate at which NPV is exactly zero; the tool solves it by bisection and reports ‘none’ when the flows never change sign, rather than inventing a number. When flows change sign several times there can be more than one IRR, and NPV is the reliable guide. Payback shows how long until the money is back; the profitability index ranks projects when cash is limited. The ROI calculator gives the simple view, the break-even calculator works in units, How to calculate your break-even point (and what it doesn't tell you) explains the basics, and the loan calculator prices the financing. General information, not financial advice.

Frequently asked questions