Expense Ratio Calculator
Calculate a fund's expense ratio, or estimate the annual fees you'll pay on an investment. Enter the fund's total expenses and total assets, or your investment amount, to see the cost.
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Pro Tips
- •Expense ratio represents the annual percentage of fund assets taken to cover operating costs, deducted automatically from returns
- •Even small differences in expense ratio compound significantly over long investment horizons
- •Index funds typically have much lower expense ratios than actively managed funds, since they require less active oversight
- •The expense ratio is separate from any sales loads, transaction fees, or advisory fees you might also pay
Most Popular
Most users compare expense ratios across similar funds to find lower-cost options
When to Use This Tool
Compare the ongoing cost of different mutual funds or ETFs before investing.
Estimate how much you'll pay annually in fees for holding a particular fund.
Understand the total cost drag from fees across your investment portfolio.
Calculate potential savings from switching to a lower-cost fund alternative.
How It Works
Divide the fund's total annual operating expenses by its total assets under management
Multiply the result by 100 to express it as a percentage
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's a typical expense ratio?
Index funds often have expense ratios well under 0.20%, while actively managed funds commonly range from 0.5% to over 1.5%, though this varies by fund type and provider.
How much does expense ratio actually cost me?
The expense ratio is applied to your total investment each year. For example, a 1% expense ratio on a $10,000 investment costs roughly $100 per year, deducted automatically from the fund's returns.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. All calculations happen instantly in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing you enter is transmitted anywhere.
Does a lower expense ratio always mean a better fund?
Not necessarily - expense ratio is just one factor. A fund's performance, risk profile, and strategy also matter, but for funds with similar strategies, lower fees generally benefit long-term returns.