Compound Daily Interest Calculator

About Compound Daily Interest Calculator

Welcome to the Compound Daily Interest Calculator, a powerful visualization tool for traders and investors to understand the dramatic effect of daily compounding on account growth. Whether you are preparing for a prop firm trading challenge, planning your forex or crypto trading goals, or simply exploring the mathematics of exponential growth, this calculator shows you exactly how reinvesting daily gains can transform a small account into significant wealth.

What is Compound Daily Interest?

Compound daily interest occurs when your earnings are reinvested each day, allowing you to earn returns not just on your original principal, but also on the accumulated profits from previous days. This creates exponential growth that accelerates over time, contrasting sharply with simple (linear) interest where you only earn on the original amount.

Where:

• A = Final amount (principal + interest)
• P = Principal (starting capital)
• r = Daily interest rate (as decimal, e.g., 1% = 0.01)
• n = Number of compounding periods (days)

The Power of Daily Compounding

The difference between compound and simple interest becomes dramatic over time. Consider these examples with a $10,000 starting balance and 1% daily gains:

• After 30 days: Compound = $13,478 vs Linear = $13,000 (Advantage: $478)
• After 60 days: Compound = $18,167 vs Linear = $16,000 (Advantage: $2,167)
• After 100 days: Compound = $27,048 vs Linear = $20,000 (Advantage: $7,048)
• After 200 days: Compound = $73,163 vs Linear = $30,000 (Advantage: $43,163)

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter Starting Capital: Input your initial trading account balance.
2. Set Daily Gain Percentage: Enter your target daily return (e.g., 0.5%, 1%, or 2%).
3. Choose Time Period: Select the number of trading days to simulate.
4. Select Trading Schedule: Choose 5 days (stocks), 6 days, or 7 days (crypto/forex) per week.
5. Analyze Results: Review the growth chart, milestones, and day-by-day breakdown.

Rule of 72: Quick Doubling Time Estimate

The Rule of 72 provides a quick mental estimate for how long it takes to double your money:

For example:

• 1% daily: ~72 days to double
• 2% daily: ~36 days to double
• 0.5% daily: ~144 days to double

Trading Challenge Applications

This calculator is particularly useful for traders participating in:

Prop Firm Challenges

• FTMO, MyForexFunds, True Forex Funds: Typically require 8-10% profit targets
• With 1% daily compounding, an 8% target can be reached in approximately 8 days
• Understand how small daily gains compound into significant challenge profits

Funded Account Growth

• Visualize how a funded $100,000 account grows with consistent daily gains
• Plan realistic withdrawal schedules while maintaining compound growth
• Set achievable daily targets based on your risk tolerance

Important Considerations

Realistic Expectations

While this calculator shows the mathematical potential of compounding, consistent daily gains are extremely difficult to achieve in practice:

• Professional traders typically aim for 1-3% monthly returns, not daily
• Markets have losing days - no trader wins every day
• The scenarios shown should be viewed as theoretical maximum potential, not expected returns

Risk Management

• Higher daily targets require taking more risk
• A single large loss can erase weeks of compound gains
• Consider using position sizing calculators to manage risk
• The Kelly Criterion can help determine optimal bet sizes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is compound daily interest?

Compound daily interest is when your gains are reinvested each day, so you earn returns not just on your original capital but also on accumulated profits. This creates exponential growth where your money grows faster over time compared to simple interest.

Is 1% daily return realistic in trading?

While 1% daily returns are used in trading challenges and prop firm evaluations, consistently achieving this is extremely difficult. Professional traders typically aim for 1-3% monthly returns. This calculator helps visualize potential scenarios but should not be taken as expected returns.

How long does it take to double money with compound interest?

Use the Rule of 72: divide 72 by your daily percentage gain. For 1% daily returns, 72/1 = 72 days to double. For 2% daily, it takes about 36 days. The exact formula is ln(2)/ln(1+r) where r is the decimal rate.

What is the compound interest formula for daily compounding?

The formula is A = P(1 + r)^n, where A is the final amount, P is the principal (starting capital), r is the daily interest rate as a decimal (e.g., 1% = 0.01), and n is the number of compounding periods (days).

Why is compound interest called the eighth wonder of the world?

This quote, often attributed to Einstein, highlights how compound interest creates exponential growth. Small consistent gains accumulate dramatically over time. For example, $10,000 at 1% daily becomes over $137,000 in just 100 days - a 1,270% total gain from 100 individual 1% gains.

Related Calculators

• Compound Interest Calculator - For traditional investment compounding
• Position Size Calculator - Calculate optimal trade sizes
• Kelly Criterion Calculator - Optimal betting/position sizing
• Risk of Ruin Calculator - Assess trading risk
• Martingale Strategy Calculator - Understand position doubling risks

Additional Resources

• Compound Interest - Wikipedia
• Rule of 72 - Wikipedia