Frequently asked questions
About the site, your privacy, and how to interpret the calculator. Questions about specific results are also answered below the calculator.
Is the Dividend Calculator free?
Yes. There's no charge, no sign-up, and no account. Every feature is available to everyone.
Are my numbers saved or sent anywhere?
No. Calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. The values you type are not transmitted to a server and are not saved in your browser. Refreshing the page resets the calculator to its example values.
Does the calculator look up stock prices or dividends?
No. It doesn't connect to any market data service. You enter the share price, dividend, and growth assumptions yourself, which also means it keeps working offline once the page has loaded.
Does this site recommend stocks or funds?
No. We don't recommend any security, fund, or strategy, and nothing on the site is investment, financial, or tax advice. The calculator and guides are for education.
What's the difference between a dividend calculator and a DRIP calculator?
A DRIP calculator focuses on reinvesting dividends. This calculator handles both cases: switch reinvestment on or off, and the results compare the two side by side.
Why might my brokerage show different numbers?
Brokerages use actual payment dates, real prices on each reinvestment date, fees, and your actual tax situation. This calculator uses constant assumptions and smooth monthly price growth, so results will differ.
Can I use the calculator for ETFs and mutual funds?
Yes, as long as you enter the fund's distribution per share or yield and a share price. Fund distributions can include capital gains and return of capital, and they often vary more than company dividends, so test several scenarios.
Who writes the guides?
The guides are written and maintained by the Dividend Calculator site team. They are reviewed against official sources such as SEC Investor.gov and IRS publications, which are linked at the bottom of each guide. See the About page for details.
I found an error. How do I report it?
Please let us know through the Contact page. We review reported errors and update the calculator or guides when a correction is needed.
For concepts like yield, DRIP, and taxes, see the dividend guides. Still have a question? Contact us.