Payback period calculator

Enter the investment and the cash it brings in each year — for example from solar panels, a machine or a business project. The calculator shows when it has paid for itself.

Last updated: October 28, 2026 · By Furkan Çetinkaya · About & Methodology

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Initial investment

$

Cash inflow per year

$

Yearly growth of inflow

%

Discount rate

%

Payback period

—

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Copy this code into your page. It's free — please keep the link to Abacurio.

<iframe src="https://abacurio.com/embed/en/payback-period-calculator/" title="Payback period calculator" width="100%" height="620" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:13px sans-serif"><a href="https://abacurio.com/payback-period-calculator/">Payback period calculator</a> — free calculator by Abacurio</p>Copy code

How is it calculated?

Payback = investment ÷ yearly cash flow

Discounted payback values future money less, using your discount rate, so it is always longer — and more realistic for long projects.

Common questions

What is a good payback period?

Many businesses look for under 3–5 years; home energy projects often accept 7–10.

What does payback ignore?

Everything after the payback point. Use NPV or IRR for a full picture.

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