Expense Ratio Calculator: Calculate Fund Expense Ratio (ER)

Calculate the expense ratio of mutual funds and investment funds. Use our expense ratio calculator to determine the percentage of fund assets spent on annual expenses. Essential for evaluating fund costs.

Expense Ratio Calculator

Calculate the expense ratio of a fund or investment based on annual expenses and fund value.

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Enter annual expenses and fund value to calculate expense ratio

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Expense Ratio Calculator — Fund Expense Ratio Calculator

Our Expense Ratio Calculator helps investors understand the cost of owning mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment funds. Enter the annual expenses and fund value to instantly calculate the expense ratio — the percentage of fund assets spent on operating expenses each year. This is crucial for evaluating fund costs and making informed investment decisions.

What is an Expense Ratio?

An Expense Ratio (ER) is the annual cost of operating a mutual fund or investment fund, expressed as a percentage of the fund's total assets under management. It includes management fees, administrative costs, and other operating expenses. The expense ratio directly impacts investor returns — lower expense ratios mean more of your money stays invested.

How to Use the Expense Ratio Calculator

  1. Enter the annual expenses of the fund (total operating costs per year).
  2. Enter the fund's or asset's total value.
  3. Click Calculate to see the expense ratio percentage.
  4. Use this metric to compare fund costs and evaluate investment options.

Understanding Expense Ratios

Expense ratios are crucial for investors because they compound over time:

  • Low expense ratios (0.03%-0.50%): Index funds and passive management strategies
  • Moderate expense ratios (0.50%-1.50%): Actively managed funds with higher trading activity
  • High expense ratios (1.50%+): Specialized funds or those with higher fee structures
  • Impact over time: A 1% difference in expense ratio can result in thousands of dollars difference over decades

Expense Ratio Examples

Here are typical expense ratio scenarios:

  • Index Fund: $50,000 fund with $15 annual expenses = 0.03% expense ratio
  • Managed Mutual Fund: $500,000 fund with $5,000 annual expenses = 1.00% expense ratio
  • Specialty Fund: $1,000,000 fund with $25,000 annual expenses = 2.50% expense ratio
  • High-Cost Fund: $100,000 fund with $3,000 annual expenses = 3.00% expense ratio

Why Expense Ratios Matter

Lower expense ratios benefit investors in several ways:

  • More money remains invested and compounds over time
  • Reduces drag on investment returns year over year
  • Over 30+ years, expense ratio differences can result in significant wealth differences
  • Passive/index funds typically have much lower expense ratios than active management
  • Compare expense ratios before selecting investment funds

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What is an expense ratio?

An expense ratio is the annual cost of operating a fund, expressed as a percentage of the fund's total assets. It includes management fees, administrative costs, and operating expenses.

How do I calculate expense ratio?

Expense Ratio = (Annual Expenses / Fund Value) × 100. For example, if a $500,000 fund has $5,000 in annual expenses, the ER is (5,000 / 500,000) × 100 = 1.00%.

What is a good expense ratio?

Lower is generally better. Index funds typically have expense ratios below 0.20%. Actively managed funds average 0.50%-1.50%. Expense ratios above 2.00% are considered high.

Why should I care about expense ratios?

Over decades of investing, expense ratio differences compound significantly. A 1% difference per year can result in tens of thousands of dollars less wealth at retirement.

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