Skip to main contentSkip to calculator
RechnerpilotCalculation platform for everyday life, finance, data and technology
108 calculatorsLive resultsStep-by-step solutions

Rechnerpilot Calculator

ETF Calculator

Calculate your expected ETF wealth, the required savings rate, term or return – including the TER cost effect, partial exemption, capital gains tax and inflation-adjusted purchasing power.

Available

Inputs

Enter values

Live
Calculate final wealthHow much ETF wealth is created?
€

Optional lump-sum investment at the start.

€

Regular ETF savings amount per interval.

%

Gross return before costs (scenario assumption).

Investment period in full years.

Load example

For illustration only – your own calculation is what counts.

Explanation

How ETF Calculator works

The ETF calculator shows how an ETF savings plan or an ETF lump-sum investment develops over time – and it does so closer to reality than a plain interest calculation: it takes ongoing costs (TER), optional execution and purchase costs as well as – if desired – taxes and inflation into account.

Value development after costsNet return = Gross return − TER

The ongoing expense ratio (TER) is deducted from the expected gross return. The portfolio grows at this net return; compound interest therefore acts on the fee-adjusted amount.

What matters is the difference between your own deposits and the increase in value: over long periods, the increase in value often clearly exceeds the sum of the deposits. The cost effect becomes just as visible – even a few tenths of a percent of TER cost a considerable part of the wealth over decades, because the lost compound interest counts as well.

Knowledge

Understanding ETF wealth building

Why costs, time and taxes make the difference when saving with ETFs.

An ETF savings plan thrives on three levers: time (compound interest), costs (TER and fees) and taxes. Those who start early, invest cheaply and use the partial exemption as well as the saver's allowance get significantly more out of it over decades.

  • Time beats rate: The longer the term, the greater the share of the increase in value in the final wealth.
  • Costs have a double effect: The TER costs not only the fee, but also its lost compound interest.
  • Use the partial exemption: For equity funds, 30% of the gains are exempt from capital gains tax.
  • Make full use of the saver's allowance: 1,000 euros of capital gains per year remain tax-free (2,000 euros for joint assessment).
  • Keep inflation in mind: The nominal final value is worth significantly less in today's purchasing power.

Practice

Practical examples

For illustration only – your own calculation is what counts.

ETF savings plan over 25 years

EUR 200 monthly in a global equity ETF at 7% expected return and 0.2% TER over 25 years. How much wealth is created?

Result: After 25 years, an ETF wealth of approx. EUR 157,869 is created. Of this, EUR 60,000 are your own deposits and approx. EUR 97,869 are the increase in value. The ongoing costs (TER) have cost around EUR 5,091 in wealth over the term.

ETF final wealth after tax

Same savings plan (EUR 200 monthly, 25 years, 7%, 0.2% TER), but with an estimated capital gains tax on sale. Equity ETF, saver's allowance EUR 1,000, no church tax.

Result: The wealth before tax is approx. EUR 157,869. On sale, after the 30% partial exemption and the saver's allowance, approx. EUR 17,805 in capital gains tax is due — leaving around EUR 140,063 net. The advance lump sum during the accumulation phase is deliberately not included.

Savings rate for EUR 500,000 in 30 years

How much must flow into an ETF each month to reach EUR 500,000 (before tax) in 30 years — at 6% return and 0.2% TER?

Result: Around EUR 515 per month is needed. Over 30 years, approx. EUR 185,260 is deposited; the remaining approx. EUR 314,740 is the increase in value.

How long until EUR 200,000?

EUR 300 monthly at 6% return and 0.2% TER. After how many years is EUR 200,000 reached?

Result: The goal of EUR 200,000 is reached after 25 years (wealth then approx. EUR 202,590). By then, EUR 90,000 has been deposited.

What return must the ETF deliver?

EUR 250 monthly over 20 years, goal EUR 150,000 (before tax), TER 0.2%. What annual gross return is required for this?

Result: The ETF would have to earn approx. 8.3% gross per year (approx. 8.1% net after deducting the 0.2% TER) to turn EUR 60,000 in deposits into EUR 150,000. That is ambitious and not guaranteed.

Initial capital for EUR 100,000 in 15 years

In addition to EUR 100 monthly, an initial capital should help reach EUR 100,000 (before tax) in 15 years — at 6% return and 0.2% TER. How high must the initial capital be?

Result: An initial capital of around EUR 29,922 is required. Together with the EUR 18,000 in ongoing deposits, the portfolio grows to EUR 100,000 in 15 years.

How much does the TER slow things down?

EUR 200 monthly over 30 years at 7% return, but with an expensive fund (0.8% TER instead of 0.2%). What does that cost?

Result: With a 0.8% TER, a wealth of approx. EUR 209,842 is created. Compared with a cost-free path, around EUR 35,576 is lost over 30 years — not just the fee itself, but also its forgone compound interest.

ETF wealth in today's purchasing power

EUR 10,000 initial capital plus EUR 300 monthly over 20 years at 6.5% return and 0.2% TER, inflation-adjusted at 2% per year.

Result: Nominally, a wealth of approx. EUR 179,539 is created. In today's purchasing power (2% inflation), that corresponds to only about EUR 120,825 — a difference that should not be underestimated over long terms.

Notes

Common mistakes

  1. Underestimating ongoing costs (TER)

    A seemingly small difference from 0.2% to 0.8% TER has an enormous impact over decades, because in addition to the fee, the compound interest attributable to it is also lost. With 200 euros per month over 30 years, that can amount to tens of thousands of euros.

    When comparing ETFs, always include the TER and prefer low-cost, broadly diversified index funds. The cost comparison chart in the calculator makes the effect visible.

  2. Misunderstanding the return assumption as a forecast

    The return you enter is a scenario assumption. Historical averages are no guarantee – real prices fluctuate, and the actual period can deviate significantly.

    Calculate several scenarios (e.g. 5%, 6%, 7%) and treat the return assumption explicitly as an assumption.

  3. Extrapolating the advance lump sum over the entire term

    The base rate for the advance lump sum is set anew each year. Projecting it as constant over decades creates a false precision that is not reliable.

    For the annual advance lump sum, use the dedicated advance lump sum calculator with the respective current base rate instead of extrapolating a single value.

  4. Confusing final wealth before and after tax

    As long as taxes are not activated, the final wealth shown is a value before tax. When you later sell, capital gains tax reduces the amount paid out.

    For a realistic payout, activate the tax estimation and take partial exemption and the saver's allowance into account.

  5. Ignoring the loss of purchasing power due to inflation

    A nominally large final amount is worth significantly less in today's purchasing power. At 2% inflation, purchasing power roughly halves every 35 years.

    Activate the inflation adjustment to assess the real value of the final wealth.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What exactly does the ETF calculator compute?

It projects the value development of an ETF savings plan or an ETF lump-sum investment over time. In addition to the expected final wealth, it shows your own deposits, the increase in value, the effect of the ongoing costs (TER) and – optionally – an estimate of the tax on sale and the inflation-adjusted purchasing power. Instead of the final wealth, you can also have it calculate the required savings rate, the term, the necessary return or the initial capital.

How is the TER (ongoing costs) taken into account?

The total expense ratio (TER) is modelled as an annual return deduction: the TER is subtracted from the expected gross return, and the portfolio grows at this net return. The calculator additionally shows a cost-free comparison curve so you can see how much wealth the costs actually cost over the entire term – including the lost compound interest.

Accumulating or distributing – which variant does the calculator use?

The calculator models an accumulating ETF, in which earnings are automatically reinvested – this is the most common case for long-term wealth building. With distributing ETFs, you would have to reinvest the distributions yourself for the same value development to arise; the ongoing taxation of the distributions then differs.

How are taxes handled?

Taxes are switched off by default so that the pure value development remains visible. If you activate them, the calculator estimates the capital gains tax on sale: 25% capital gains tax plus the solidarity surcharge (and optionally church tax) on the gain – after deducting the partial exemption (30% for equity funds) and the saver's allowance. This is a simplified estimate, not tax advice.

Why is the advance lump sum not included in the projection?

The advance lump sum depends on the base rate, which the Federal Ministry of Finance sets anew each year. Projecting this single known value as constant over decades would create a false precision that is not reliable. The calculator therefore reports the tax as a tax on sale and, for the annual advance lump sum, refers to the dedicated advance lump sum calculator.

Which return should I enter?

The return is a scenario assumption, not a forecast. Broadly diversified global equity ETFs historically achieved roughly 6–8% per year before costs and taxes over very long periods – with considerable fluctuations. Calculate several scenarios (e.g. 5%, 6%, 7%) and treat each explicitly as an assumption.

What is the difference from the savings plan calculator?

The savings plan calculator shows the pure capital development at a constant interest rate without product-specific costs and taxes. The ETF calculator adds exactly these ETF specifics: ongoing costs (TER), execution and purchase costs, partial exemption and capital gains tax as well as the cost and inflation effect. For a quick overview, the savings plan calculator is sufficient; for an ETF-oriented assessment, this calculator is the one to use.

Can I plan for an annual increase of the savings rate (dynamic)?

Yes. In the advanced settings you can specify an annual increase (e.g. 2%, 3% or 5%). The savings rate then rises by this percentage at the beginning of each year – useful for reflecting salary increases or the inflation adjustment.

Limits

Limitations

  • Constant return: The calculator uses a steady annual return. Real ETF prices fluctuate strongly – the actual result can be significantly above or below the calculated value.
  • TER as a return deduction: The ongoing costs are modelled in a simplified way as an annual deduction from the gross return. Actual fund costs, spreads and tracking differences can deviate.
  • Tax as an estimate only: The capital gains tax is calculated in a simplified way on the total gain at the time of sale. The annual advance lump sum is not included; it is covered by the advance lump sum calculator.
  • Not investment or tax advice: The results are for orientation and do not replace individual advice.

Sources

Sources and references

  • Investmentsteuergesetz (InvStG) § 20 – TeilfreistellungBundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de

    Legal basis for the partial exemption rates (30% for equity funds, 15% for mixed funds) for the taxation of investment funds.

    View sourceRetrieved: 09/16/2026 · Verified on: 09/16/2026 · Primary source
  • Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG) § 32d – AbgeltungssteuerBundesministerium der Justiz / gesetze-im-internet.de

    Separate tax rate of 25% for income from capital assets plus the solidarity surcharge and, where applicable, church tax.

    View sourceRetrieved: 09/16/2026 · Verified on: 09/16/2026 · Primary source
  • Deutsche Bundesbank – WertpapierstatistikenDeutsche Bundesbank

    Official statistics on fund and securities holdings as a neutral reference for classifying investment scenarios.

    View sourceRetrieved: 09/16/2026 · Verified on: 09/16/2026 · Primary source

Related calculators

More tools

Similar task

Savings Plan Calculator

The savings plan calculator shows the pure capital development without ETF-specific costs and taxes.

Next step

Inflation Calculator

The inflation calculator shows how much the ETF wealth is worth in today's purchasing power.

Knowledge