Calculation desk / pricing
ROI Calculator
Measure net return and return on investment from gain and investment cost.
ROI Calculator: Calculate net return and a simple percentage return from the total value received and the amount invested. The calculation subtracts your investment cost once, allowing gains and losses to be compared with the original outlay. Runs 100% locally in your browser with zero server file uploads.
- Category
- Calculators
- Runs
- In your browser
- Cost
- Free · no sign-up
- Availability
- Ready to use
Return on investment
50%
- Net return
- $5,000.00
ROI = (gain − cost) ÷ cost × 100- Gain and cost use the same time period and currency.
- This simple ROI does not adjust for time value, risk, or compounding.
Formula and worked example
ROI = (gain − cost) ÷ cost × 100
A worked example with sample values:
| Inputs | |
|---|---|
| Investment gain | $15,000.00 |
| Investment cost | $10,000.00 |
| Results | |
|---|---|
| Return on investment | 50% |
| Net return | $5,000.00 |
Subtract the outlay before calculating the return
Net return = total value received − investment cost. ROI (%) = net return ÷ investment cost × 100. Receiving 15,000 from an investment costing 10,000 gives 15,000 − 10,000 = 5,000 net return; 5,000 ÷ 10,000 × 100 = 50% ROI. Both money inputs must use the same currency.
ROI definitions can vary with the accounting question. OpenStax's treatment of operating-segment ROI (https://openstax.org/books/principles-managerial-accounting/pages/12-3-evaluate-an-operating-segment-or-a-project-using-return-on-investment-residual-income-and-economic-value-added) compares income with invested assets. Here, the stated formula uses the total value received and original investment cost, rather than an average asset balance.
ROI versus advertising return
If revenue of 12,000 came from ad spend of 3,000 and that were the only cost, ROAS would be 4× while simple ROI would be (12,000 − 3,000) ÷ 3,000 × 100 = 300%. Additional campaign expenses change the ROI calculation and its cost base; they do not automatically change media-only ROAS.
Define what the investment includes before using the result: purchase expenses, fees and other costs need a consistent treatment. This calculation does not account for the timing of payments, changing valuations, inflation or risk. When money arrives on several dates, one total and one outlay cannot describe the full cash-flow pattern.
How to use it
- Enter values that cover the same scope and reporting period.
- Choose a display currency when the calculation includes money.
- Calculate, then review the formula and assumptions beside the result.
Privacy & limitations
Every value and calculation stays in your browser. This is a planning utility, not accounting, tax, legal, or investment advice. Verify material decisions in your source system and with an appropriate professional.
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Frequently asked questions
Should Investment gain contain profit or the full value received?
Enter the full value received, as the field hint states. The tool then subtracts investment cost to obtain net return. Entering profit alone would subtract the original cost a second time and understate ROI.
Is this ROI an annual rate?
Only if the inputs describe one year, and even then it is a simple period return. The tool has no duration field and does not annualise or compound the result. Two identical period ROIs over different holding periods do not represent identical rates of growth.
Can ROI be negative, and how does it differ from ROAS?
Receiving less than the positive investment cost gives negative ROI. Receiving nothing gives −100%. ROAS instead compares advertising revenue with media spend before subtracting expenses, so its revenue multiple should not be interpreted as this net-return percentage.
Embed this tool
Free to use on any website. Paste the code where the tool should appear; the link under it lets readers open the full page.
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<p style="margin:4px 0 16px;font-size:13px"><a href="https://toea.com/roi-calculator">ROI Calculator</a> · TOEA</p>
<script>addEventListener("message",function(e){if(e.origin!=="https://toea.com"||!e.data||e.data.type!=="toea-embed-height")return;document.querySelectorAll("iframe").forEach(function(f){if(f.contentWindow===e.source)f.style.height=e.data.height+"px"})})</script>Free tool · runs in your browser · no account required