ETF Savings Plan Calculator 2026
Calculate the final capital, return and costs of your ETF savings plan – with TER, taxes and inflation
As of September 2026Basis: Sections 18–20 InvStG, 2026 base rateCalculated in your browser – your inputs are not transmitted and are kept on this device only if you choose
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Before costs; global equities about 6–8% in the long run
You can also drag the handle on the chart
Applies TER, historical return and ETF type
More detailsTER 0.2% · Equity ETF · Accumulating · with taxes · inflation 2%
Low-cost ETFs: 0.1–0.3%
Distribution type
€1,000 for singles, €2,000 for couples
Enter or drag a target final capital – the savings rate adjusts
€53,000 in deposits grow to €112,421 after 20 years – after costs and taxes. In today's purchasing power that is €75,656.
- 17 yrReturn exceeds deposits
- 18 yrFirst €100,000
- 20 yrFinal capital €112,421
- 17 yrReturn exceeds deposits
- 18 yrFirst €100,000
- 20 yrFinal capital €112,421
- Deposits€5,000 start + €48,000 instalments
- €53,000
- Return
- + €70,606
- Fund costs (TER)
- − €2,029
- Ongoing taxes
- − €661
- Tax on sale
- − €8,495
- Final capital after sale
- €112,421
- Effective annual returnafter costs and taxes
- 6.42%
- Real annual return
- 3.14%
- Purchasing power in today's money32.7% loss of purchasing power
- €75,656
- Profit after costs and taxes
- €59,421
- Cost ratio
- 1.67%
- Partial exemption
- 30%
- Final capital before sale tax
- €120,916
What you can do
€50 more per month+€23,323
Final capital then €135,744.
Save for 25 years+€55,133
You pay in €12,000 more – compound interest does the rest.
ETF with 0.1% TER+€1,356
Lower ongoing costs at the same return.
With 2% inflation, your capital loses 33% of its purchasing power.
For accumulating ETFs, the advance lump-sum tax (Vorabpauschale) has been due since 2018. The calculation uses min(base yield, actual gain) under § 18 InvStG (base rate 3.20%, 2026).
Selling at the end of the term triggers approx. €8,495 in additional taxes on the gain (sec. 20 (4) EStG, with advance lump sums credited under sec. 19 InvStG).
Over long investment horizons, market fluctuations can be well balanced out (cost-average effect).
Withdraw money later with €112,421?
How this was calculated
Each month: savings rate minus order costs into the portfolio, return on the balance, then ongoing costs (pro-rata TER) are deducted.
The TER of 0.2% is deducted continuously from the fund's assets – it reduces the return every year.
Taxes: each year the advance lump sum or distributions, 30% partial exemption, tax-free allowance €1,000; on sale the tax on the remaining gain (flat-rate withholding tax plus solidarity surcharge).
The Total Expense Ratio (TER) is the overall cost ratio of an ETF. It is deducted annually from the fund's assets and covers management fees, custodian fees and other operating costs. Low-cost ETFs have a TER of 0.1-0.3%.
Calculation without guarantee. Past returns are no guarantee of future performance. Not investment advice.
RZ-26 · headon.pro
ETF savings plan: everything you need to know
With our ETF savings plan calculator, you calculate how your investment develops over time. The calculator accounts for all relevant cost factors: TER (total expense ratio), order costs, taxes and inflation.
Advantages of an ETF savings plan
- Diversification
- With one ETF you invest in hundreds or thousands of stocks at once
- Low costs
- ETFs have significantly lower fees than actively managed funds (0.10-0.25% TER)
- Flexibility
- Savings rate adjustable at any time, no minimum term
- Cost-average effect
- Regular purchases mean you buy more shares when prices are low
How your ETF savings plan develops
Popular ETFs for savings plans
- 1iShares Core MSCI WorldTER 0.20% - broad diversification across ~1,500 companies worldwide
- 2iShares Core S&P 500TER 0.07% - the 500 largest US companies
- 3Vanguard FTSE All-WorldTER 0.22% - incl. emerging markets, over 3,000 companies
- 4iShares Core DAXTER 0.16% - the 40 largest German companies
- Monthly savings rate
- €200.00
- Assumed return p.a.
- 7.0%
- TER (annual costs)
- 0.2%
- After 10 years (paid in: €24,000)
- ~€34,500
- After 20 years (paid in: €48,000)
- ~€102,500
- After 30 years (paid in: €72,000)
- ~€236,000
Taxes on ETFs in 2026
Since the 2018 investment tax reform, ETF returns in Germany have been taxed with the flat-rate withholding tax (26.375% incl. solidarity surcharge). However, investors get some relief.
Tax advantages for ETF investors
- Partial exemption
- For equity ETFs, 30% of returns are tax-free → effective tax rate approx. 18.5%
- Tax-free allowance
- €1,000 (single) or €2,000 (married) per year completely tax-free
- Tax deferral
- For accumulating ETFs, most of the tax is only due upon sale
- Exemption order
- Be sure to set this up with your bank to make use of the allowance
Frequently asked questions about ETF savings plans
Everything important for beginners and advanced investors
How does an ETF savings plan work with compound interest?
With an ETF savings plan, every deposit is converted into ETF shares. Price gains and — for accumulating ETFs — reinvested dividends then keep working on their own and generate new returns (compound interest). Over long periods the compound-interest share clearly exceeds your own deposits: at €200/month and 7% p.a. over 30 years, €72,000 in deposits grows to around €236,000 in final capital.
What is an ETF savings plan and how do I get started?
An ETF savings plan is a regular, automatic investment in exchange-traded index funds (ETFs). You set up a monthly savings order with an online broker — from €25, many neobrokers are free. This way you benefit from the cost-average effect and invest independently of the current price level.
What does TER mean in the ETF calculator?
The Total Expense Ratio (TER) is the annual overall cost of an ETF, deducted daily on a pro-rata basis from the fund assets. It reduces the effective return. Low-cost MSCI World ETFs have a TER of 0.10–0.20%. The ETF savings plan calculator automatically deducts the TER from the stated return so you see the real final capital.
How are ETFs taxed in Germany in 2026?
ETF gains in Germany are subject to the flat-rate withholding tax (25% + solidarity surcharge = 26.375%). For equity ETFs the partial exemption applies: 30% of returns are tax-free, giving an effective tax rate of around 18.5%. The tax-free allowance is €1,000 (single) or €2,000 (married). For accumulating ETFs, an advance lump-sum tax is due annually and is credited on sale.
Accumulating or distributing – which is better for a savings plan?
For long-term wealth building, accumulating ETFs are usually more advantageous: dividends are reinvested immediately, the compound-interest effect works optimally, and there is no tax payment on distributions. Distributing ETFs are better if you need regular cash flows to live on — for example in retirement.
How much should I save monthly in ETFs – what is realistic?
Financial experts recommend saving 10–20% of net income. More important than the amount is regularity: just €50 monthly over 20 years at 7% p.a. and 0.2% TER results in around €25,600 before tax. With €200/month over 25 years, that becomes around €157,800. Use the ETF calculator to compare different savings rates.
What is the MSCI World ETF and what return is realistic?
The MSCI World Index contains around 1,500 companies from 23 industrialized countries. Over the last 30 years it achieved an average of 7–9% p.a. (in euros, before costs). For planning purposes, 7% p.a. after inflation (real 4–5%) is considered a conservative benchmark. The ETF savings plan calculator lets you test different return assumptions.