NPV calculator
Evaluate capital investments, machinery upgrades, and business projects using discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis. Enter your upfront initial outlay, discount rate / hurdle rate, and annual cash flows to calculate Net Present Value (NPV), Profitability Index (PI), and payback periods. Features period-by-period discount factor schedules, an internal rate of return (IRR) solver, and CSV export — all computed locally on your device without uploading confidential financial data.
Runs locally · Capital budgeting solver · DCF analysis · Not financial advice
Upfront capital expenditure or initial cash cost.
WACC, required rate of return, or opportunity cost.
Standard DCF assumes year-end cash realization.
Formatting prefix for outputs.
Adds value above 8% discount rate.
Exceeds 8% hurdle rate by 9.23%.
PI ≥ 1.0 indicates value creation per pound invested.
Simple nominal payback: 3.33 yrs
Economically viable. The project yields a positive Net Present Value of £13,293.57, adding value above the 8% cost of capital.
Cash Flow Schedule by Period
Enter annual cash flows (positive for inflows/savings, negative for ongoing maintenance or future expansions).
| Period | Description / Milestone | Cash Flow (£) | Discount Factor | Present Value | Cumulative NPV | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Initial Outlay (t=0) | −£50,000 | 1.000000 | −£50,000 | −£50,000 | — |
| Year 1 | 0.925926 | +£13,888.89 | −£36,111.11 | |||
| Year 2 | 0.857339 | +£12,860.08 | −£23,251.03 | |||
| Year 3 | 0.793832 | +£11,907.48 | −£11,343.55 | |||
| Year 4 | 0.735030 | +£11,025.45 | −£318.10 | |||
| Year 5 | 0.680583 | +£13,611.66 | +£13,293.57 | |||
| Totals & Net Realization | £30,000.00 | — | £13,293.57 | NPV = £13,293.57 | ||
Example
£50,000 machinery upgrade at 8% hurdle rate
An initial £50,000 outlay followed by £15,000 annual net savings for 4 years and £20,000 in Year 5 yields an NPV of +£13,493.56 and an IRR of 17.57%. Because NPV > 0 and PI is 1.27, the capital project is financially viable.
Related: Seller financing calculator, Owner financing calculator, XIRR calculator, Break-even calculator
FAQ
- What is Net Present Value (NPV)?
- Net Present Value (NPV) is a capital budgeting metric that calculates the difference between the present value of cash inflows and the present value of cash outflows over a specific period of time. It accounts for the time value of money by discounting future earnings to today's value.
- How do I interpret a positive versus negative NPV?
- A positive NPV (NPV > 0) means the investment is projected to generate returns exceeding the cost of capital, adding economic value to the business. A negative NPV (NPV < 0) indicates the project falls short of the required hurdle rate and should be rejected or renegotiated.
- What discount rate should I use for NPV?
- The discount rate reflects your opportunity cost of capital or required rate of return (hurdle rate). For corporate projects, companies typically use their Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC). For independent investments, use target market returns or commercial borrowing interest rates.
- What is the difference between simple and discounted payback period?
- The simple payback period calculates the number of years required to recover the initial investment from nominal, undiscounted cash flows. The discounted payback period incorporates the time value of money, calculating when cumulative discounted present values fully offset the initial outlay.
- How does this NPV calculator differ from the XIRR calculator?
- This NPV calculator models periodic discounted cash flows (typically annual or monthly periods) at a predetermined discount rate. In contrast, the XIRR calculator solves for the exact annualized rate of return across irregularly dated, specific calendar events.
- What is Profitability Index (PI)?
- Profitability Index (also known as benefit-cost ratio) equals the present value of future cash inflows divided by the initial investment outlay. A PI of 1.0 represents breakeven; values greater than 1.0 indicate value creation per pound or dollar invested.
- How is NPV calculated mathematically?
- Given initial outlay C_0 and future cash flows C_t at discount rate r: NPV = -C_0 + sum_{t=1}^N (C_t / (1 + r)^t). Each period's cash flow is multiplied by its discount factor 1 / (1 + r)^t, and all discounted values are summed.