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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

ItemValue
Payment$5,000.00
Spread6.00%

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 profile

Topic Ownership

Financial calculators, Engineering calculators, Electrical and HVAC planning calculators, Investment, salary, loan, and technical design-estimate workflows

See ownership standards

Methodology & 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

  1. Step 1: Set Payment per period

    Start with payment per period such as $5000 so the growing perpetuity value calculation has the correct base.

  2. Step 2: Complete the scenario inputs

    Add discount rate, and growth rate using the same period and quote convention as your source data.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

InputExample valueHow to treat it
Payment per period$5000Use the payment per period from the same scenario as the other inputs.
Discount rate8%Use the discount rate from the same scenario as the other inputs.
Growth rate2%Use the growth rate from the same scenario as the other inputs.

Formula Reference

MetricFormulaUse
Growing perpetuity valuePayment / (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 termExample valueHow the calculator uses it
Payment per period$5000Used directly as the payment per period term in the scenario.
Discount rate8%Converted from a percentage to a decimal before the formula is applied.
Growth rate2%Converted from a percentage to a decimal before the formula is applied.

Worked Example Walkthrough

StepExample detail
1. Start with the example inputsPayment per period: $5000; Discount rate: 8%; Growth rate: 2%
2. Normalize the inputsDiscount rate 8%; Growth rate 2% are treated as percentages and converted to decimals.
3. Preserve list orderNo ordered cash-flow or value list is needed for this formula.
4. Apply the formulaGrowing perpetuity value = Payment / (Discount rate - Growth rate)
5. Interpret the outputRead 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 caseHow it helps
Project screeningTest whether expected cash flows justify the upfront investment.
Valuation reviewDiscount future payments into present value terms.
Return comparisonCompare 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

MistakeWhy it matters
Flipping signsInitial outflows should be negative when future inflows are positive.
Weak discount rateThe discount rate should reflect risk, time, and opportunity cost.
Terminal value overreachA large terminal value can dominate the estimate.

Before You Use the Result

Review pointWhat to confirm
Same-period inputsGrowing perpetuity value is easier to trust when every input uses the same time period, currency, and quote convention.
Benchmark selectedCompare the result with a required hurdle rate, cost of capital, acquisition price, or the NPV from a competing project.
Risk and cost reviewCheck taxes, fees, liquidity, downside risk, and data quality before treating the output as an investment decision.
Known limitationCash-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

Growing perpetuity value uses Payment / (Discount rate - Growth rate). Cash-flow metrics depend heavily on sign convention, payment timing, discount rate selection, and whether cash flows are evenly spaced.

Perpetuity Calculator uses payment per period, discount rate, and growth rate. Keep those inputs on the same time basis and quote convention before reading the result.

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.

Treat the output as decision support. Real investment choices should also account for taxes, liquidity, risk, timing, fees, and professional advice where appropriate.

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.

Related Calculators

Sources & References

  1. 1.SEC Investor.gov - Financial Calculators(Accessed May 2026)
  2. 2.Corporate Finance Institute - Investment and Finance Formulas(Accessed May 2026)
  3. 3.CFA Institute - Investment Foundations(Accessed May 2026)