ROI Calculator
Calculate return on investment quickly and accurately.
Input
ROI
Recommended Tools
Hand-picked utilities you might find useful
Measuring Return on Investment (ROI)
Overview
Return on investment (ROI) tells you how much you gained or lost relative to what you put in, expressed as a percentage. It's the simplest way to compare very different investments on equal footing — a stock, a marketing campaign, or a piece of equipment. This calculator computes ROI instantly in your browser from the amount you invested and the amount you got back, with nothing sent to a server.
How to Use (Step by Step)
- 1
Enter the amount invested
Put in your total cost — the money and, if relevant, other quantifiable inputs you committed.
- 2
Enter the amount returned
Add the final value or total return you received from the investment.
- 3
Read your ROI
The percentage appears instantly, showing gain or loss relative to what you put in.
How It Works
ROI is the net profit divided by the cost of the investment, times 100. You enter the initial investment and the final value (or total return); the tool subtracts your cost to find the net gain, divides by the cost, and shows the result as a percentage. A positive ROI means a gain, a negative one a loss. All calculation is local, so your figures stay private.
When to Use This
Comparing the payoff of two possible investments before choosing one. Evaluating whether a marketing spend actually paid for itself. Checking the return on a rental property, course, or piece of gear. Reporting the result of a completed project to stakeholders. Deciding if a side project earned enough to justify the time and money. Setting a target return before committing funds.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Basic ROI ignores time, so a 50% return over one month and over ten years look identical. For time-sensitive comparisons, use annualized ROI or a metric like IRR.
Important Notes
ROI is only as honest as its inputs. It doesn't capture risk, timing, or costs you forgot to include — treat it as one comparison tool, not a full financial verdict.