Dividend Calculator
Project the future value of a dividend portfolio — reinvested dividends, monthly contributions, dividend growth, and price appreciation. Free, no signup, runs in your browser.
Last updated September 24, 2026.
How the dividend calculator works
The model runs a month-by-month simulation. Each month it adds your monthly contribution, pays a dividend equal to (portfolio value × annual yield) ÷ 12, subtracts your dividend tax rate, optionally reinvests the after-tax dividend, then applies one month of price growth.
Dividend growth is applied as a monthly ratchet — your yield increases at a constant compounded rate so it matches the annual growth you entered. Price growth is applied the same way.
Yield on cost = final annual dividend ÷ total contributed. The annualized return is a money-weighted return (IRR) that accounts for when each contribution was actually invested — see the methodology for details. The chart shows year-end snapshots; intermediate months are simulated but not plotted.
How much do you need for monthly dividend income?
Take the yearly income you want and divide it by the dividend yield. For example, $1,000 a month is $12,000 a year. At a 4% yield you need $12,000 ÷ 0.04 = $300,000 invested.
| Per month | 3% yield | 4% yield | 6% yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $200,000 | $150,000 | $100,000 |
| $1,000 | $400,000 | $300,000 | $200,000 |
| $2,000 | $800,000 | $600,000 | $400,000 |
| $5,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,000,000 |
Amount invested, before tax, if the yield stays the same. Yields change, and dividends can be cut.
With real yields as of Sep 25, 2026, $1,000 a month would take about:
A very high yield, like a covered-call fund’s, often pays less over time as the share price falls. Check the current yield before you rely on it.
To try your own numbers, use the monthly dividend calculator or the live off dividends calculator.
Dividend history by fund
Researched guides for popular dividend funds and stocks: dividends paid each year, current yield, payment dates and how each one earns its income, checked against the issuer’s own data.
SCHD dividend history
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
VOO dividend history
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
JEPI dividend history
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF
QQQI dividend history
NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF
TSLY dividend history
YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF
CONY dividend history
YieldMax COIN Option Income Strategy ETF
ULTY dividend history
YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF
SPYI dividend history
NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF
MSTY dividend history
YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF
JEPQ dividend history
JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF
O dividend history
Realty Income Corporation
AGNC dividend history
AGNC Investment Corp
QYLD dividend history
Global X NASDAQ 100 Covered Call ETF
VYM dividend history
Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
VTI dividend history
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
SPY dividend history
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
VOO vs VTI
Researched side-by-side comparison
JEPI vs JEPQ
Researched side-by-side comparison
SCHD vs VYM
Researched side-by-side comparison
Frequently asked questions
- How does dividend reinvestment (DRIP) actually grow a portfolio?
- Every dividend you receive buys more shares of the same stock. Those new shares pay dividends too. Over years, this compounding effect means most of your final value comes from dividends-buying-shares-that-pay-dividends — not from your original contribution.
- What yield should I assume?
- Most dividend-paying US stocks yield 1–4%. High-yield ETFs (covered-call funds, REITs, BDCs) can yield 6–12%, but those often have lower price growth or even price decay. A reasonable starting assumption for a broad dividend portfolio is 3–4%.
- How are dividend taxes calculated here?
- You enter your effective dividend tax rate (a flat percentage). Qualified dividends in the US are taxed at long-term capital gains rates (0%, 15%, or 20%). Non-qualified dividends are taxed as ordinary income. If unsure, 15% is a reasonable middle-bracket assumption.
- Why is "dividend growth" separate from "stock price growth"?
- A stock's share price can grow at one rate while its per-share dividend grows at another. A "dividend growth" stock like JNJ might have 5% price growth but 6% annual dividend increases. The calculator models both independently.
- How much do I need to invest to make $1,000 a month in dividends?
- $1,000 a month is $12,000 a year. Divide that by the dividend yield: about $400,000 at a 3% yield, $300,000 at 4%, or $200,000 at 6%. These amounts are before tax. A higher yield needs less money, but it often comes with slower growth or more risk.
- How much dividend income does $100,000 generate?
- Multiply the amount by the yield. At 3%, $100,000 pays about $3,000 a year ($250 a month). At 4% it pays $4,000 ($333 a month), and at 6% it pays $6,000 ($500 a month). The real amount changes when the yield or the dividend changes.
- How do I calculate my dividend income?
- Multiply the number of shares you own by the yearly dividend per share. For example, 200 shares that pay $1.20 a year earn $240 a year. If you only know how much you invested, multiply that amount by the dividend yield: $50,000 at a 4% yield pays about $2,000 a year. Divide the yearly amount by 12 to see your monthly income.
- How much money do you need to make $50,000 a year in dividends?
- Divide $50,000 by the yield: about $1,666,667 at a 3% yield, $1,250,000 at 4%, or $833,333 at 6%. That is before tax, so the amount you keep will be lower.
- Is this financial advice?
- No. The calculator is for educational purposes only. Real-world returns vary, dividends can be cut, and tax law changes. Always consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
Related calculators
Dividend Reinvestment Calculator
Dedicated DRIP page with scenario-shaped defaults and detailed projection.
Dividend Yield Calculator
Compute current yield, plus your monthly and quarterly income.
Yield on Cost Calculator
What your original purchase yields today after years of dividend growth.
Compound Interest Calculator
Project portfolio growth from any monthly contribution and annual return rate.
Dollar-Cost Averaging Calculator
See how regular fixed-amount investments compound over time.
Stock Profit Calculator
Calculate gain/loss on a single buy + sell transaction.
Dividend Income Calculator
See the annual, monthly, and weekly income an investment pays.
Dividend Growth Calculator
Project how a rising dividend grows your income and yield on cost.