NPV calculator

Free NPV Calculator

Calculate net present value online from a discount rate and a stream of future cash flows. Use the existing Chartcrate NPV and IRR tool to evaluate projects, investments, and case-study cash flows in your browser.

What is NPV?

NPV, or net present value, measures the value of future cash flows in today's dollars. It discounts each future cash flow back to the present using a required return, cost of capital, or discount rate.

A positive NPV means the projected cash flows are worth more than the initial investment at the chosen discount rate. A negative NPV means the project does not meet that required return under the assumptions entered.

Who it is for

Use an NPV calculator when a decision depends on timing and cash flows.

Students

Calculate NPV and IRR for finance homework, business cases, capital budgeting assignments, and investment analysis projects.

Founders

Evaluate whether a project, product launch, or upfront investment creates value over time.

Analysts

Run quick discounted cash flow checks before building a larger model or investment memo.

Consultants

Turn project cash flow assumptions into a clean client-ready exhibit with NPV, IRR, and payback.

Why not Excel?

Use a purpose-built NPV calculator instead of formatting a spreadsheet.

Less setup

No formulas to rebuild, no cash flow rows to format, and no chart range to maintain.

Fast setup

Clear outputs

NPV, IRR, payback period, total undiscounted cash flow, and the cumulative chart are shown together.

Decision-ready

Export-ready

Use the tool to export a clean PDF or PNG instead of sending a spreadsheet tab or screenshot.

Shareable

Example NPV calculation

Suppose a project requires a $10,000 investment today and is expected to generate $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, and $4,000 over the next four years. At a 10% discount rate, each future cash flow is discounted back to today and summed with the initial investment.

The calculation is: NPV = -10,000 + 3,000 / 1.10 + 4,000 / 1.10^2 + 5,000 / 1.10^3 + 4,000 / 1.10^4. In this example, the NPV is approximately $2,736, so the project creates value at a 10% required return.

Start calculating

Open the NPV and IRR calculator.

Enter your discount rate and cash flows, then export your analysis when the model is ready.

Use the NPV tool

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