Inflation Calculator
Adjust any amount for inflation between years using official US CPI data. Past to present, present to past, future projections, and custom rates.
Updated
What is the Inflation Calculator?
Inflation Calculator instantly shows how inflation changes the real value of money over time.
Enter any dollar amount, pick start and end years (1913–2026), and see the inflation-adjusted equivalent using official US CPI-U data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Supports past-to-present, present-to-past, future projections, and fully custom yearly inflation rates.
Perfect for understanding purchasing power, planning retirement, negotiating salaries, comparing historical prices, or modeling future costs. Accurate, fast, and completely client-side — no data leaves your browser.
How it works
The tool uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), the standard measure of inflation tracked by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How the calculation works
- Past to Present: Multiplies your original amount by (CPI_end / CPI_start)
- Present to Past: Divides your amount by the CPI ratio to find equivalent buying power in earlier years
- Future Projection: Uses the same CPI ratio for years within the dataset
- Custom Rates: Applies compound growth using your supplied annual rates:
Value_new = Value_old × (1 + rate)
Formula:Adjusted Amount = Original Amount × (CPI_to / CPI_from)
Yearly breakdown shows the progressive effect of inflation each year. All calculations are pure JavaScript and run instantly in your browser for maximum privacy and speed.
Examples
What $100 in 2000 is worth today
See how inflation has eroded purchasing power since the year 2000.
Future value projection
Project savings needed in 5 years accounting for expected inflation.
Custom annual rates scenario
Model your own inflation assumptions year-by-year.
Frequently asked questions
What is CPI and why does it matter?
What is CPI and why does it matter?
CPI (Consumer Price Index) measures the average change over time in prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. It is the most widely used measure of inflation in the United States.
Which years are supported?
Which years are supported?
Historical and projected CPI data from 1913 through 2026. Data is based on official annual averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How accurate are the results?
How accurate are the results?
Results are highly accurate for US CPI-U. They reflect real historical inflation but are not financial advice. Future projections are estimates only.
Can I use this for other countries?
Can I use this for other countries?
Currently focused on US CPI. For international use, try the custom rates mode with your local inflation figures.
What does "multiplier" mean?
What does "multiplier" mean?
The multiplier shows the factor by which prices have increased (or decreased). A multiplier of 1.92 means prices are 1.92× higher (92% inflation).
Does it support custom inflation rates?
Does it support custom inflation rates?
Yes. Switch to Custom Rates mode and enter one decimal rate per line (e.g., 0.035 for 3.5%). Great for scenario planning.
Why does my $100 from 1950 seem so low today?
Why does my $100 from 1950 seem so low today?
Because of compounding inflation over decades. 1,300 today.
Is my data private?
Is my data private?
Completely. Everything runs client-side in your browser. No information is sent to any server.
Related tools
More utilities you might find handy.
Budget Allocator
Split income using the 50/30/20 budget rule with custom percentages and expense tracking
CAGR Calculator
Calculate compound annual growth rate, reverse CAGR, and compare investment scenarios with year-by-year breakdowns
Discount Calculator
Calculate final prices, total savings, and markups with our free online discount calculator. Supports stacked discounts, multi-item carts, and tax.