Perpetuity Calculator
Value a level or growing perpetuity from payment, discount rate, and growth rate.
Last Updated: May 2026
Valuation
Inputs
Growing Perpetuity Value
$83,333.33
Level Perpetuity Value
$62,500.00
Discount Rate
8.00%
Growth Rate
2.00%
Calculation Details
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Payment | $5,000.00 |
| Spread | 6.00% |
Investment Planning Notice
Results support education and scenario analysis. They do not provide personalized investment, tax, accounting, or legal advice.
Reviewed For Methodology, Labels, And Sources
Every CalculatorWallah calculator is published with visible update labeling, linked source references, and review of formula clarity on trust-sensitive topics. Use results as planning support, then verify institution-, policy-, or jurisdiction-specific rules where they apply.
Reviewed By
Laxman Kumawat, Finance & Engineering Calculator Owner, reviews methodology, labels, assumptions, and trust-sensitive publishing decisions for this topic area.
Review editor profileTopic Ownership
Financial calculators, Engineering calculators, Electrical and HVAC planning calculators, Investment, salary, loan, and technical design-estimate workflows
See ownership standardsMethodology & Updates
Page updated May 2026. Finance and engineering calculators are reviewed when formulas, rate assumptions, or technical references change, and during broader category refreshes.
How to Use the Perpetuity Calculator
Step 1: Set Payment per period
Start with payment per period such as $5000 so the growing perpetuity value calculation has the correct base.
Step 2: Complete the scenario inputs
Add discount rate, and growth rate using the same period and quote convention as your source data.
Step 3: Review Growing perpetuity value
Read the growing perpetuity value result first, then check the supporting values to confirm the formula used the expected inputs.
Step 4: Compare against a benchmark
Compare the result with a required hurdle rate, cost of capital, acquisition price, or the NPV from a competing project.
How This Perpetuity Calculator Works
Perpetuity Calculator applies Payment / (Discount rate - Growth rate) to the values entered in the form. Percentage inputs are converted to decimals during calculation, while currency, count, and list inputs keep their displayed units.
Cash-flow metrics depend heavily on sign convention, payment timing, discount rate selection, and whether cash flows are evenly spaced. The result should be read with the example inputs and formula reference below so the metric is tied to the exact scenario being modeled.
What You Need to Know
Worked Example Setup
The default setup follows the page scenario: Value a level or growing perpetuity from payment, discount rate, and growth rate. Start with these values to check the formula, then replace each input with your own source data.
| Input | Example value | How to treat it |
|---|---|---|
| Payment per period | $5000 | Use the payment per period from the same scenario as the other inputs. |
| Discount rate | 8% | Use the discount rate from the same scenario as the other inputs. |
| Growth rate | 2% | Use the growth rate from the same scenario as the other inputs. |
Formula Reference
| Metric | Formula | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Growing perpetuity value | Payment / (Discount rate - Growth rate) | Requires discount rate above growth rate |
Formula Terms Explained
The formula is only useful when each term comes from the same scenario. The table below maps the fields in the calculator to the values used in the worked example.
| Formula term | Example value | How the calculator uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Payment per period | $5000 | Used directly as the payment per period term in the scenario. |
| Discount rate | 8% | Converted from a percentage to a decimal before the formula is applied. |
| Growth rate | 2% | Converted from a percentage to a decimal before the formula is applied. |
Worked Example Walkthrough
| Step | Example detail |
|---|---|
| 1. Start with the example inputs | Payment per period: $5000; Discount rate: 8%; Growth rate: 2% |
| 2. Normalize the inputs | Discount rate 8%; Growth rate 2% are treated as percentages and converted to decimals. |
| 3. Preserve list order | No ordered cash-flow or value list is needed for this formula. |
| 4. Apply the formula | Growing perpetuity value = Payment / (Discount rate - Growth rate) |
| 5. Interpret the output | Read the growing perpetuity value result with the supporting rows from the calculator widget before comparing it with a benchmark. |
When to Use Perpetuity Calculator
| Use case | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Project screening | Test whether expected cash flows justify the upfront investment. |
| Valuation review | Discount future payments into present value terms. |
| Return comparison | Compare IRR or MIRR against a required hurdle rate. |
Interpreting Growing perpetuity value
The output values a stream of payments by accounting for timing, discount rates, reinvestment assumptions, or terminal value.
A positive valuation or high return is strongest when the discount rate reflects risk and the cash-flow forecast is defensible.
Compare the result with a required hurdle rate, cost of capital, acquisition price, or the NPV from a competing project. Cash-flow models can look precise even when the forecast or terminal value assumption is fragile.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Flipping signs | Initial outflows should be negative when future inflows are positive. |
| Weak discount rate | The discount rate should reflect risk, time, and opportunity cost. |
| Terminal value overreach | A large terminal value can dominate the estimate. |
Before You Use the Result
| Review point | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Same-period inputs | Growing perpetuity value is easier to trust when every input uses the same time period, currency, and quote convention. |
| Benchmark selected | Compare the result with a required hurdle rate, cost of capital, acquisition price, or the NPV from a competing project. |
| Risk and cost review | Check taxes, fees, liquidity, downside risk, and data quality before treating the output as an investment decision. |
| Known limitation | Cash-flow models can look precise even when the forecast or terminal value assumption is fragile. |
Keep the research moving with NPV Calculator – Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return (IRR) Calculator, MIRR Calculator - Modified Internal Rate of Return, and Discounted Cash Flow Calculator (DCF).
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Calculators
NPV Calculator – Net Present Value
Calculate net present value from an initial investment, future cash flows, and discount rate.
Use NPV Calculator – Net Present ValueInternal Rate of Return (IRR) Calculator
Estimate IRR from a series of dated or periodic cash flows.
Use Internal Rate of Return (IRR) CalculatorMIRR Calculator - Modified Internal Rate of Return
Calculate modified IRR using separate finance and reinvestment rates.
Use MIRR Calculator - Modified Internal Rate of ReturnDiscounted Cash Flow Calculator (DCF)
Discount projected cash flows and terminal value to estimate present enterprise value.
Use Discounted Cash Flow Calculator (DCF)Present Value / Future Value Calculator
Solve broader time-value scenarios for present value, future value, and payments.
Use Present Value / Future Value CalculatorSources & References
- 1.SEC Investor.gov - Financial Calculators(Accessed May 2026)
- 2.Corporate Finance Institute - Investment and Finance Formulas(Accessed May 2026)
- 3.CFA Institute - Investment Foundations(Accessed May 2026)