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Trading Compound Calculator

See what a consistent daily, weekly, or monthly return turns your account into, including the famous 1% a day, with deposits or withdrawals along the way.

Ending balance
$0
Total gain from returns
$0
Growth multiple
1x
Equivalent annual return
0%

Period Balance Gain that period Total added

Why compounding is so powerful (and so misleading)

Compounding means each period's return is earned on the previous period's gains too. Small, consistent returns snowball: 1% a day over a year of trading days turns $5,000 into roughly $61,000.

The catch is consistency. Real trading results swing up and down, and a string of losses compounds against you just as fast. A 50% drawdown needs a 100% gain to get back to even. Use this calculator to set a goal, then use the expectancy calculator to check whether your actual stats can get you there.

Some reference points

  • 0.5% a day for 252 days ≈ 3.5x
  • 1% a day for 252 days ≈ 12.3x
  • 2% a week for 52 weeks ≈ 2.8x
  • 5% a month for 12 months ≈ 1.8x

Frequently asked questions

What does 1% a day compound to? +

Over 252 trading days (about one year), 1% a day compounds to roughly 12.3 times your starting balance, about a 1,127% return. That's why it's a popular target, and also why almost nobody sustains it: the best investors in history have averaged closer to 20% to 30% a year.

How many trading days are in a year? +

US stock markets are open about 252 days a year once weekends and market holidays are removed. Weekly mode uses 52 weeks and monthly mode uses 12 months.

Is a steady daily return realistic? +

No. Real returns vary a lot from day to day, and losing days hurt more than the same-size winning days help: lose 10% then gain 10% and you're still down 1%. This calculator shows the ideal case. The trading expectancy calculator shows a more realistic spread of outcomes.

How do withdrawals work here? +

Enter a negative contribution to take money out every period. Withdrawals are applied after that period's return.

More free tools

Position size calculator How many shares to buy so a stop-out costs exactly the amount you're willing to lose. Risk-to-reward calculator Risk per share, reward per share, R:R ratio, and optimal position size from entry, stop, and target. Trading expectancy calculator Expectancy, profit factor, breakeven win rate, Kelly sizing, and simulated equity curves from your stats. Prop firm drawdown calculator Track a static or trailing drawdown day by day and see exactly how much room is left before a breach.

Want an AI agent working toward that curve?

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