Kelevest

ETF DCA Calculator

Dollar-Cost Averaging Backtester

Configuration

Configure parameters and click Calculate

What is a DCA Calculator?

A Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) calculator is a backtesting tool that simulates what would have happened if you had invested a fixed amount of money into an ETF or stock at regular intervals over a chosen time period. Instead of trying to time the market with one large purchase, DCA spreads your investments evenly — weekly, monthly, or daily — which smooths out the impact of price volatility.

This calculator lets you backtest DCA on over 4,500 ETFs using historical price data. You can configure the investment amount, start and end date, frequency, and even account for the ETF's expense ratio to get a realistic picture of your net returns.

How Does It Work?

  1. Select an asset — search for any ETF or stock by ticker (e.g. VOO, QQQ, VWCE) or by name.
  2. Set a date range — choose the start and end date for your backtest. The longer the period, the more meaningful the results.
  3. Configure the investment — enter the amount you would invest each period and an optional initial lump-sum capital.
  4. Pick a frequency — daily, weekly, or monthly. For weekly and monthly you can also choose which day of the week or month to buy.
  5. Add the expense ratio — this models the annual cost drag of holding the ETF, reducing the final portfolio value accordingly.
  6. Calculate — the engine looks up real historical prices and simulates every purchase, then shows you your total return, CAGR, and a portfolio growth chart.

What Do the Metrics Mean?

Total Invested

The total amount of money you put in — your initial capital plus all periodic contributions over the selected period. This is your cost basis.

Portfolio Value

The total market value of all your accumulated shares at the final price, after subtracting the expense ratio drag. This is what your portfolio would be worth at the end of the period.

Total Return

The overall gain or loss expressed as a percentage and as an absolute amount. Calculated as (Portfolio Value − Total Invested) / Total Invested × 100. A positive value means profit; negative means loss.

CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)

The annualised growth rate that would produce the same end result if the portfolio grew at a constant rate each year. It lets you compare investments of different lengths on an equal footing. A CAGR of 10% p.a. means your money effectively grew 10% per year on average.

Average Price Paid

The weighted average purchase price per share across all your DCA buys. Because you buy more shares when the price is low and fewer when it is high, this is typically lower than the simple average market price — that is the core benefit of DCA.

Expense Drag

The estimated cost of the ETF's annual expense ratio applied to your portfolio over time. Even a seemingly small ratio like 0.20% compounds into a meaningful reduction of final value over many years. The calculator models this as a continuous deduction from the gross portfolio value.

Why Use Dollar-Cost Averaging?

DCA removes the psychological burden of trying to find the perfect entry point. Because you invest the same amount regardless of price, you naturally accumulate more shares during market dips and fewer during peaks — reducing your average cost over time.

Research consistently shows that for long-term investors, regular disciplined investing outperforms waiting for the "right moment." This calculator helps you see that story in the numbers — using real historical data for the assets you actually care about.

Disclaimer: The results shown by this calculator are based on historical price data and are provided for informational and educational purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This tool does not constitute financial, investment, or tax advice. Always consult a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.