Private, client-side calculation

Expense Ratio Calculator

Estimate annual fund fees, monthly cost and the long-term effect of an ETF or mutual fund expense ratio — entirely in your browser.

STEP 01💼

Enter investment details

Add your current balance, annual contributions, expected return and fund expense ratio.

STEP 02🧮

Calculate fund costs

The tool estimates annual fees and compares gross growth with net growth after expenses.

STEP 03📈

Review long-term drag

See the estimated fee impact over time and compare it with a lower-cost alternative.

Annual Fee

—

on current balance

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Monthly Cost

—

annual fee ÷ 12

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Net Return

—

return after ratio

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Projected Fees

—

long-term fee drag

⌛

Ending Value

—

after expenses

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Your Investment

Current balance

Annual contribution

Expected annual return

Expense ratio

Investment period 20 years

Lower-cost comparison 0.10%

Expense Ratio Level

—CURRENT EXPENSE RATIO

Very low ≤0.10%Low 0.11–0.25%Moderate 0.26–0.75%High >0.75%

0%0.10%0.25%0.75%2%+

Enter your details and click Calculate.

Cost Metrics

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Annual Fee

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Monthly Fee

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Net Return

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Gross Ending Value

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Net Ending Value

—

Fee Drag

SMART INSIGHT

Your result summary will appear here after calculation.

Projection Breakdown

Starting balance—

Total contributions—

Gross ending value—

Net ending value—

Estimated fee drag—

Lower-cost ending value—

Practical Action Plan

Compare similar fundsCompare funds with the same strategy, risk level and index—not only the fee.

Check all costsTrading costs, platform fees, loads and taxes may matter alongside the expense ratio.

Review tracking qualityA lower expense ratio is useful, but tracking error and fund structure also affect outcomes.

Avoid frequent switchingChanging funds can create taxes, spreads or transaction costs that offset fee savings.

Long-Term Value Comparison

Gross value
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After fees
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Fee drag
—

Lower-Cost Comparison

Alternative expense ratio 0.10%

Current fund ending value—

Alternative ending value—

Potential difference—

Annual ratio difference—

Calculate first, then move the slider to compare another ratio.

Frequently Asked Questions

An expense ratio is the annual percentage of a fund's assets used to cover operating costs. A 0.50% ratio is approximately $5 per year for each $1,000 invested, though the actual dollar amount changes as the balance changes.

The calculator compares annual compound growth using the gross expected return with growth using the expected return minus the expense ratio. Contributions are added at the end of each year.

No. Cost is important, but strategy, diversification, tracking error, liquidity, taxes and suitability also matter. Compare funds with similar objectives and risk profiles.

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Financial Information Disclaimer

This calculator provides general educational estimates only. It does not predict investment performance and does not include every possible fund, platform, tax or trading cost. Returns are assumed to compound annually and are not guaranteed. Consider professional financial advice before making investment decisions.

Expense Ratio Calculator

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