Growth Rate Calculator
Measure how fast something grew between two values: revenue, users, followers, prices or population. You get the total growth, the compound growth rate per period (CAGR-style), the simple linear average and a projection of where the trend leads.
Time between the start and end values.
Future periods to project at the same growth rate.
How to use the Growth Rate Calculator
- Enter the starting and ending values.
- Enter the number of periods between them and choose the period type.
- Choose how many periods to project ahead (or 0 for none).
- Read the compound growth rate, total growth and linear average.
- Check the chart and table for the growth path and projection.
Growth rate formulas
- Total growth = (end − start) ÷ start × 100
- Compound growth per period = (end ÷ start)1/n − 1
- Linear average growth = total growth ÷ n
- Projection = end × (1 + compound rate)periods ahead
- Doubling time = ln 2 ÷ ln(1 + rate)
Example: 12,000 to 20,500 over 3 years is 70.8% total growth, a 19.54% compound annual rate, or a 23.6% simple average. Projected 5 more years at 19.54%: 20,500 × 1.19545 ≈ 50,047.
Compound rate needed to multiply a value
| Growth multiple | Over 3 periods | Over 5 periods | Over 10 periods | Over 12 periods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5× (+50%) | 14.47% | 8.45% | 4.14% | 3.44% |
| 2× (+100%) | 25.99% | 14.87% | 7.18% | 5.95% |
| 3× (+200%) | 44.22% | 24.57% | 11.61% | 9.59% |
| 5× (+400%) | 71.00% | 37.97% | 17.46% | 14.35% |
| 10× (+900%) | 115.44% | 58.49% | 25.89% | 21.15% |
Rule of 72: divide 72 by the growth rate in percent to estimate how many periods it takes to double. At 8% per year, a value doubles in about 9 years.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate growth rate?
Total growth rate = (end − start) ÷ start × 100. Growing from 12,000 to 20,500 is (20,500 − 12,000) ÷ 12,000 = 70.8% total growth.
What is the compound growth rate per period?
It is the constant rate that turns the start value into the end value when growth compounds each period: (end ÷ start)^(1/n) − 1. For 12,000 to 20,500 over 3 years it is 19.54% per year. When the periods are years this is the CAGR.
Why is the linear average different from the compound rate?
The linear average simply divides total growth by the number of periods (70.8% ÷ 3 = 23.6%). It ignores compounding, so it overstates the steady per-period rate for growth and understates it for decline. Use the compound rate for forecasts and comparisons.
Can I calculate monthly growth rate?
Yes. Choose Months as the period and enter the number of months. To convert a monthly compound rate to a yearly one, use (1 + monthly rate)^12 − 1.
Can growth be negative?
Yes. If the ending value is lower than the starting value, the growth rates are negative and the calculator shows the halving time instead of the doubling time.
Why must the starting value be positive?
Percentage growth is measured relative to the starting value, so a zero or negative start makes the rate undefined or misleading. For data that crosses zero, look at the absolute change per period instead.
Is my data stored or sent?
No. Everything runs in your browser.