npv calculator
Published On: 25/02/2026
NPV Calculator (Net Present Value)
Calculate Net Present Value (NPV) for an investment using an initial cost and a series of future cash flows. The calculator discounts each cash flow back to today using your discount rate.
Inputs explained:
• Initial investment: your upfront cost at time 0 (usually entered as a positive number, but treated as an outflow).
• Discount rate: your required return (e.g., 10% per year).
• Cash flows: the net cash received (or paid) each period (year, month, etc.).
• Period: pick whether cash flows are yearly or monthly (this changes how the rate is applied).
• Initial investment: your upfront cost at time 0 (usually entered as a positive number, but treated as an outflow).
• Discount rate: your required return (e.g., 10% per year).
• Cash flows: the net cash received (or paid) each period (year, month, etc.).
• Period: pick whether cash flows are yearly or monthly (this changes how the rate is applied).
Enter as a positive number (we subtract it).
Enter one cash flow per period. You can use negatives for costs (e.g., -500).
Tip: If NPV is positive, the investment may meet your required return (depending on assumptions). If negative, it may not.
NPV Calculator — Description
The NPV Calculator (Net Present Value) helps you evaluate an investment by discounting future cash flows back to today using a chosen discount rate. Enter the initial investment (time 0) and the cash flows for each period, and the calculator returns the present value of the cash flows and the final NPV.
A positive NPV suggests the investment may meet or exceed your required return (depending on assumptions), while a negative NPV suggests it may fall short.