Compound interest chart: $10,000 over 40 years
One deposit, three growth rates, 40 years: the clearest picture of compound interest there is.
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What the data shows
- 4% a year: $10K at Year 0, $48K at Year 40 (4.8× higher).
- 7% a year: $10K at Year 0, $150K at Year 40 (15× higher).
- 10% a year: $10K at Year 0, $453K at Year 40 (45× higher).
About this chart
Compound interest means earning returns on your past returns. At 7% a year money doubles about every ten years (the rule of 72: 72 ÷ 7 ≈ 10), so the line bends upward instead of rising in a straight line.
The three rates are illustrative: roughly a high-yield savings account, a balanced portfolio, and the US stock market's long-run average before inflation. Real returns vary from year to year.
The data
Source: Annual compounding of a single $10,000 deposit; no taxes, fees or inflation.
| Date | 4% a year | 7% a year | 10% a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 0 | $10K | $10K | $10K |
| Year 1 | $10.4K | $10.7K | $11K |
| Year 2 | $10.8K | $11.4K | $12.1K |
| Year 3 | $11.2K | $12.3K | $13.3K |
| Year 4 | $11.7K | $13.1K | $14.6K |
| Year 5 | $12.2K | $14K | $16.1K |
| Year 6 | $12.7K | $15K | $17.7K |
| Year 7 | $13.2K | $16.1K | $19.5K |
| Year 8 | $13.7K | $17.2K | $21.4K |
| Year 9 | $14.2K | $18.4K | $23.6K |
| Year 10 | $14.8K | $19.7K | $25.9K |
| Year 11 | $15.4K | $21K | $28.5K |
| Year 12 | $16K | $22.5K | $31.4K |
| Year 13 | $16.7K | $24.1K | $34.5K |
| Year 14 | $17.3K | $25.8K | $38K |
| Year 15 | $18K | $27.6K | $41.8K |
| Year 16 | $18.7K | $29.5K | $46K |
| Year 17 | $19.5K | $31.6K | $50.5K |
| Year 18 | $20.3K | $33.8K | $55.6K |
| Year 19 | $21.1K | $36.2K | $61.2K |
| Year 20 | $21.9K | $38.7K | $67.3K |
| Year 21 | $22.8K | $41.4K | $74K |
| Year 22 | $23.7K | $44.3K | $81.4K |
| Year 23 | $24.6K | $47.4K | $89.5K |
| Year 24 | $25.6K | $50.7K | $98.5K |
| Year 25 | $26.7K | $54.3K | $108K |
| Year 26 | $27.7K | $58.1K | $119K |
| Year 27 | $28.8K | $62.1K | $131K |
| Year 28 | $30K | $66.5K | $144K |
| Year 29 | $31.2K | $71.1K | $159K |
| Year 30 | $32.4K | $76.1K | $174K |
| Year 31 | $33.7K | $81.5K | $192K |
| Year 32 | $35.1K | $87.2K | $211K |
| Year 33 | $36.5K | $93.3K | $232K |
| Year 34 | $37.9K | $99.8K | $255K |
| Year 35 | $39.5K | $107K | $281K |
| Year 36 | $41K | $114K | $309K |
| Year 37 | $42.7K | $122K | $340K |
| Year 38 | $44.4K | $131K | $374K |
| Year 39 | $46.2K | $140K | $411K |
| Year 40 | $48K | $150K | $453K |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the rule of 72?
Divide 72 by an annual growth rate to estimate how many years it takes money to double. At 4% that's about 18 years, at 7% about 10, and at 10% about 7.
Where does this data come from?
Annual compounding of a single $10,000 deposit; no taxes, fees or inflation. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.
Can I turn this chart into a video?
Yes. Open it in the editor, change the title, theme, colors or format (9:16 for Reels and TikTok, 16:9 for YouTube), and export an MP4. Free exports are 720p with a small watermark; Pro ($11.99/month) removes it and adds 1080p, 4K and 60 fps.
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