Free Inflation Calculator
Adjust US dollars between 1913 and 2025 with official BLS CPI-U annual averages, or project any currency with your own inflation rate.
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How to adjust money for inflation with CPI data
See what a past US dollar amount is worth in another year using official CPI-U data, or project how prices in any currency will change at a rate you choose.
- Choose US historical or Custom rate.
- For US historical, enter an amount and pick the from and to years between 1913 and 2025.
- Read the adjusted amount, the CPI values used, the cumulative change and the average yearly inflation.
- For Custom rate, enter an amount, currency, yearly rate and number of years, and choose a future cost or today's value.
- Copy the result or download the year-by-year projection as CSV.
When to use an inflation calculator
Prices rarely stand still, so a dollar amount from the past is hard to judge without adjusting it. An inflation calculator tells you what an old salary, a house price, a movie budget or a family story about the cost of bread would mean in today's money. It is also handy for checking whether a raise or an investment return kept up with rising prices.
The second mode looks forward. If you want to know what a 1,000 dollar, euro or peso expense might cost in ten years, or what a fixed future payment will be worth in today's terms, enter an assumed rate and let the tool project it year by year.
Worked example: from 2000 to 2025
Enter 100 dollars, from 2000 to 2025. The CPI-U annual average was 172.2 in 2000 and 321.943 in 2025, so the calculator shows that 100 dollars in 2000 had the same buying power as 186.96 dollars in 2025. Prices rose 86.96 percent in total, an average of 2.53 percent a year. A shorter, more recent span looks different: 100 dollars in 2020 equals 124.39 dollars in 2025, an average of 4.46 percent a year. Going back to the start of the data, 1 dollar in 1913 equals 32.52 dollars in 2025.
In Custom rate mode, 1,000 at 3 percent a year for 10 years becomes 1,343.92, a 34.39 percent rise in prices. Asked the other way, 1,000 received in 10 years is worth about 744.09 in today's money at the same rate.
How the calculations work
In US mode the adjusted value is the amount times the CPI in the target year divided by the CPI in the starting year. The cumulative change is that ratio minus 1, and the average yearly rate is the ratio raised to the power of 1 divided by the number of years, minus 1. The index values are the official BLS CPI-U annual averages, U.S. city average, all items, with 1982 to 1984 equal to 100.
In custom mode the future cost is the amount times (1 plus the rate) to the power of the years, and today's value of a future amount divides by that same factor. The rate stays the same every year.
Common mistakes to avoid
CPI measures average prices for urban consumers, so a specific item such as housing, college tuition or medical care may have risen much faster or slower. Use the result as a general guide to buying power, not the price of one thing. Also keep in mind that annual averages smooth out the year; a comparison between two specific months can differ a little.
In custom mode, a single steady rate is a simplification. Real inflation changes from year to year, so try a few rates to see a range. For decisions about savings or pay, consider talking with a financial professional.
Useful tips and limitations
- Use Swap years to turn a then-to-now question into a now-to-then question.
- For non-US prices, use your country's official inflation rate in the custom mode.
- Download the custom projection CSV to use the yearly price factors in your own budget spreadsheet.
- Use the average annual inflation figure from US mode as a realistic starting rate for custom projections.
Common questions
Where does the inflation calculator get its US data?
It uses the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. city average, annual average, for 1913 through 2025. The values are built into the page.
Why might the inflation calculator differ from the BLS online calculator?
The BLS calculator uses monthly CPI values, while this tool uses annual averages. Comparing specific months can give a slightly different answer.
Can the inflation calculator work for other currencies?
Yes, in Custom rate mode. Enter the yearly rate you want to assume and pick a currency for display. Historical data is only built in for the United States.
Which CPI years does the inflation calculator include?
Every year from 1913 through 2025, using the BLS CPI-U annual average. Years without a published annual average are not included.
Does the inflation calculator use live data?
No. The CPI table is built into the page, so calculations happen in your browser without an internet lookup. The data ends with the 2025 annual average.
Can the inflation calculator handle deflation?
Yes. In US mode, years when the CPI fell, such as the early 1930s, give a smaller adjusted value. In custom mode you can enter a negative rate.
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