Investing
Dollar-Cost Averaging Calculator
See what a fixed monthly investment turns into over time — and compare it to investing the same total as a single lump sum on day one.
$
%
Total invested
$180,000
750 × 12 × 20
End value (DCA)
$441,765
Monthly contributions
End value (lump sum)
$886,824
Same $180,000 invested on day one
DCA vs lump sum over time
Methodology & how to use this
How the model works
DCA grows month-by-month at 1/12th of the annual return and adds your monthly contribution at the end of each month. Lump sum assumes the same total capital is deployed on day one and left to compound. Both use the same constant return — no volatility.
Why lump sum usually wins here
With a positive, constant return, more time in the market beats less time in the market — lump sum's early dollars get more compounding. Real markets aren't constant; DCA's real value shows up in behavior and drawdowns, which this model can't capture.
Keep running the numbers
Related calculators worth pairing with this one.
