Mutual fund fees calculator
Compare your fund’s expense ratio against a low-cost alternative and see the dollars lost to fees.
Method: Monthly compounding of return − expense ratioReviewed Oct 2026
Your numbers
$
$
%
%
%
yrs
Results
Cost of the higher fee
$171,989
17.1% of the low-cost result
Your fund
$831,830
At 0.85% expense ratio
Low-cost fund
$1,003,819
At 0.05% expense ratio
You keep $831,830 (83%)Lost to fees $171,989 (17%)
Fees consume 17.1% of what you would otherwise have after 30 years.
Your fund vs. the low-cost fund
Your fundLost to feesFormula
Cost = FV(r − ER_low) − FV(r − ER)
With your numbers
Cost = $1,003,819 − $831,830 = $171,989
In plain EnglishA 0.85% expense ratio sounds small, but it is taken from your whole balance every year and the money removed stops compounding. Compared with a 0.05% fund, you end up with $171,989 less after 30 years on identical contributions.
- 1Net return, your fund = return − ER6.15%
- 2Net return, low-cost fund6.95%
- 3Months n = years × 12360
- 4Total contributed$230,000
- 5Your fund ending value$831,830
- 6Low-cost fund ending value$1,003,819
YearYour fundLost to feesLow-cost fund
1$59,335$447$59,783
2$69,261$1,006$70,267
3$79,815$1,690$81,504
4$91,036$2,512$93,548
5$102,967$3,488$106,455
6$115,654$4,636$120,289
7$129,142$5,973$135,116
8$143,484$7,522$151,006
9$158,734$9,303$168,037
10$174,948$11,342$186,289
11$192,188$13,664$205,852
12$210,518$16,300$226,818
13$230,008$19,280$249,289
14$250,732$22,640$273,372
15$272,766$26,418$299,183
16$296,194$30,653$326,847
17$321,104$35,391$356,495
18$347,590$40,681$388,271
19$375,752$46,575$422,327
20$405,696$53,131$458,827
21$437,533$60,413$497,946
22$471,385$68,487$539,872
23$507,379$77,428$584,807
24$545,650$87,316$632,966
25$586,341$98,239$684,580
26$629,607$110,291$739,899
27$675,611$123,576$799,186
28$724,524$138,205$862,729
29$776,532$154,298$930,831
30$831,830$171,989$1,003,819
Where do I find my expense ratio?
In the fund’s prospectus or fact sheet, usually listed as “net expense ratio”.
Why does a small fee matter so much?
The fee is charged on your whole balance every year, and every dollar taken out also stops compounding.