Investment Fee Calculator
How much fund and platform fees cost you over time, comparing two fee levels.
About this tool
Enter your starting amount, monthly contribution, how many years you'll invest and the return you expect before fees. Then enter two total annual fee levels, for example a low-cost index fund against an actively managed fund or adviser service. The calculator shows each final pot, how much each loses to fees compared with paying nothing, the difference between the two, and a chart of all three over time.
Why small fees make a big difference
Investment fees are quoted as a small percentage a year, such as 0.2% or 1%, but they're taken from your whole pot every year, not just from your gains. That means they compound against you in the same way returns compound for you. The total cost of investing usually combines a fund's ongoing charge (the OCF or expense ratio), a platform or account fee, and sometimes an adviser or management fee, so add them together. With 10,000 to start, 300 a month for 30 years and a 6% return before costs, total fees of 0.2% leave about 336,300, while 1% leaves about 287,800: a gap of roughly 48,500 from a 0.8 percentage point difference. Lower fees aren't automatically better if the investments are very different, but for similar funds, such as two trackers following the same index, the cheaper one usually comes out ahead. Honest limits: real returns vary from year to year, and this assumes a steady rate. It also ignores trading costs, spreads, taxes, inflation and one-off charges, and past performance doesn't predict future returns. Not financial advice. The compound interest calculator, the SIP calculator and the retirement calculator model growth. Compound interest, explained with real numbers explains compounding.
Frequently asked questions
How much do investment fees really cost?
Over decades, a lot: on regular saving for 30 years, a 1% fee instead of 0.2% can cut the final pot by around 15%.
What fees should I include?
The fund's ongoing charge or expense ratio, platform or account fees, and any adviser or management fees.
Are low-fee funds always better?
Not always, but for similar investments, such as two trackers of the same index, the cheaper one usually wins.
Is my data saved?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing is stored or sent.