ROI Calculator
Calculate return on investment as a percentage.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
+50.0%
$5,000
Net profit
$15,000
Total return
ROI = (gain − cost) ÷ cost × 100. Compare options on the same time horizon, since ROI ignores time.
What is ROI?
Return on investment (ROI) measures the profit from an investment relative to its cost, as a percentage. It's the universal yardstick for comparing where to put money.
ROI = (gain − cost) ÷ cost × 100
How to read your result
- A positive ROI means you made money; negative means you lost it.
- ROI ignores time — a 50% ROI over one month beats 50% over five years.
- Include all costs, not just the headline spend.
- Use it to compare options on the same time horizon.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate ROI?
Subtract the cost from the gain, divide by the cost, and multiply by 100 to express it as a percentage.