Interest Rate Calculator

Solve for the interest rate given principal, final amount and time.

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If you know how much you started with, how much you ended up with, and how long it took, you can work backward to find the implied interest rate — useful for evaluating an investment or loan after the fact.

Simple vs. compound rate — two different answers

This shows both a simple annual rate (assuming linear growth) and a compound annual rate (assuming growth compounds each year) — for most real investments and loans, the compound figure is the more accurate representation of the actual return.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I get two different rates from the same numbers?

Simple and compound interest describe growth differently — over multi-year periods, they diverge more, so check which method matches how your specific investment or loan actually calculates interest.

Can this show a negative rate?

Yes — if your final amount is less than your starting amount, the calculated rate will be negative, reflecting a loss.