Child Savings / Education Fund Calculator
Plan savings for your child's education or future. Calculate how regular annual deposits grow with compound interest over a custom period.
Conservative: 3–5% · Moderate: 6–8% · Aggressive: 8–12%
Number of years you will contribute
When you need the funds (must be ≥ deposit period)
How to use
- Enter annual deposit amount.
- Enter expected annual return rate.
- Enter the deposit period (years you will contribute).
- Enter the total duration until you need the funds.
- Click Calculate.
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A child savings calculator helps you plan how much to save regularly to build a fund for your child's education, first home, or any future milestone. The strategy is simple: make regular annual deposits during the early years, then let the accumulated corpus grow with compound interest until the funds are needed.
Starting early is the most powerful factor. Saving $2,000 per year from birth to age 15, then letting it grow until age 21 at 7% return, produces approximately $76,000 — with only $30,000 contributed. The remaining $46,000 is pure compound growth. Starting just 5 years later (age 5 to 15) reduces the final amount to around $52,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What return rate should I use for a child savings plan?
For conservative planning (bank savings, government bonds): 3–5%. For moderate (balanced funds, index funds): 6–8%. For aggressive (equity funds over 15+ years): 8–12%. Use a lower rate to avoid overestimating; any extra growth is a bonus.
Should I use an education savings account or a regular investment account?
Many countries offer tax-advantaged education accounts: 529 plans (US), Junior ISA (UK), RESP (Canada), SSY (India). These typically offer tax-free growth for education expenses and should be prioritised before taxable accounts.
What if I can only save for some years?
Set the deposit period to the number of years you plan to contribute. The calculator will show how the corpus grows after you stop depositing. Even a 5-year savings window can produce significant results over a 20-year horizon.
How much should I save for college?
University costs vary widely: $50,000–$250,000 in the US, £30,000–£60,000 in the UK (domestic), ₹5–25 lakhs in India for private colleges. Work backward from your target amount using this calculator to find the required annual saving.
Disclaimer: Results are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Figures may vary based on actual terms. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before making financial decisions.