Inflation Calculator
Adjust dollar amounts using US CPI historical data, project future values at a custom inflation rate, or find past purchasing power.
CPI Inflation Calculator
Convert an amount between two years using US Consumer Price Index data (1913–2026).
Forward Inflation Calculator
What will an amount be worth after inflation?
Backward Inflation Calculator
What was an amount worth in the past, adjusted for inflation?
Formulas
FV = PV × (1 + r)n
CPI: Amount × (CPIto / CPIfrom)
CPI: Amount × (CPIto / CPIfrom)
How to use this inflation calculator
- CPI tool: Enter an amount and select a from-year and to-year to adjust using historical US CPI.
- Forward tool: Project how much today's dollars will be worth after a given inflation rate over time.
- Backward tool: Find the equivalent past purchasing power of a current amount.
Inflation formulas
Future value = Present value × (1 + inflation rate)years
Past value = Present value ÷ (1 + inflation rate)years
CPI adjustment = Amount × (CPI in target year ÷ CPI in base year)
Real-world uses
- Salary planning: See what a $50,000 salary from 1990 equals in today's dollars.
- Retirement: Estimate how much you'll need in 20 years at 3% average inflation.
- Historical comparison: Compare prices, wages, or asset values across decades fairly.
Frequently Asked Questions
US Consumer Price Index reference values from 1913 through 2026, with interpolation for years between published anchor points.
Forward projects future purchasing power (prices rise). Backward finds what a current amount was equivalent to in the past (deflating).
Long-run US inflation averages about 2–3% per year, but your forecast may differ. Use CPI data for historical accuracy or a custom rate for projections.