Inflation Calculator
Convert dollars between any two years from 1913 to 2025 with official BLS CPI data — or project future purchasing power
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Quick summary
Enter an amount and two years to convert dollars across time using official BLS CPI-U annual averages (1913–2025): $100 in 2000 has the buying power of about $187 in 2025. The math is simply amount × (CPI in target year ÷ CPI in source year). Forward mode projects future purchasing power at any assumed rate — at 3% inflation, today's $100 buys only $74 worth in 10 years.
Reviewed by Simple Calculators TeamLast reviewed
For planning only — not financial or tax advice. Results are estimates based on your inputs and the stated assumptions. Confirm important decisions with a qualified professional.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the inputs requested by the calculator.
- Choose the units or options that match your situation and review the assumptions.
- Run or update the calculation to see the result.
- Review the result, breakdown, and formulas shown on the page.
- Check the inputs, units, dates, and limitations before saving or sharing the result.
Frequently asked questions
How is inflation calculated between two years?
Multiply the amount by the ratio of the two years' Consumer Price Index values. $100 from 2000 (CPI 172.2) to 2025 (CPI 321.9): $100 × (321.9 ÷ 172.2) ≈ $187. This calculator uses BLS annual-average CPI-U — the same index behind official inflation statistics.
What is CPI-U?
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers — the BLS's main inflation gauge, tracking prices of a representative basket (housing, food, energy, medical care, etc.) for about 93% of the US population, indexed to 1982–84 = 100.
What has US inflation averaged historically?
About 3.1% per year since 1913, but with huge variation: near-zero in the 2010s, 13.5% in 1980, 8% in 2022, and outright deflation in the early 1930s. The Federal Reserve targets 2%; 2015–2025 averaged roughly 3%.
What was $100 in 1913 worth today?
About $3,250 in 2025 dollars — prices have risen roughly 32.5× since the CPI series began in 1913. Equivalently, a 2025 dollar has about 3% of a 1913 dollar's purchasing power.
Why does my personal inflation feel different from CPI?
CPI is a population-wide average. Your personal rate depends on your spending mix — renters in fast-growing cities, families paying college tuition, or heavy drivers can experience substantially higher inflation than the headline number, and vice versa.
Key terms
- CPI-U
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers — the standard US inflation index, published monthly by the BLS with annual averages.
- Purchasing Power
- What money actually buys. Inflation erodes it: 50% cumulative inflation means a dollar buys a third less.
- Nominal vs Real Dollars
- Nominal is the face amount; real is inflation-adjusted. Comparing 1990 salaries to today's without adjusting is a nominal comparison — usually misleading.
- Deflation
- Falling prices (negative inflation) — rare in the US since the 1930s, briefly seen in 2009.
Methodology, sources & limitations
This page shows the formula, assumptions, and limitations used for this estimate. Rates, thresholds, and other time-sensitive inputs can change, so verify them against the relevant official source before relying on a result.
For our review approach and the primary sources we consult, see the methodology and source policy. If you spot an outdated figure or formula, please contact us with a correction.