Free tool
Dividend Calculator
Estimate the dividend income any fund could pay you — then model what happens when you reinvest it, add money every month, and give it years to compound. Pick a ticker to load its real yield and payout schedule from our database, or enter a custom yield for anything else.
228 funds pre-filled from our database — yield, price, and payout schedule load automatically.
Custom assumptions
Growth & tax assumptions
Flat-rate withholding keeps this simple — real treatment varies by fund (qualified dividends vs ordinary income vs return of capital).
Year-20 income per month
-
Income per year, end of plan
-
Total distributions taken
-
Ending portfolio value
-
Total contributed
-
Income growth over plan
-
| Year | Income | Added | End value | Cum. income |
|---|
How this dividend income calculator works
Most dividend calculators ask you to look up a yield somewhere else and type it in. Ours starts one step ahead: the ticker picker is wired to the same database that powers our ETF profiles, so choosing a fund pre-fills its trailing 12-month yield, share price, and payout schedule — weekly, monthly, or quarterly. The income estimate then matches how that specific fund actually pays you.
From there, the projection adds the parts that matter over a real holding period. DRIP on reinvests every distribution into new shares, which pay their own distributions next period. Monthly contributions buy more shares along the way. Optional growth assumptions let you model distributions that rise (or fall) each year and a share price that drifts — price growth defaults to 0% on purpose, because that is the honest assumption for covered-call ETFs, where income comes from option premium rather than appreciation.
The year-by-year table and chart split your ending balance into portfolio value and cumulative income, so you can see how much of the final number came from contributions, compounding, and the market versus the income the fund actually handed you. Every scenario gets a shareable link — the inputs live in the URL, so what you copy is exactly what someone else opens.
From estimate to fund pick
Once you know the income you need, the next question is which funds can plausibly pay it without eroding. Browse the full ETF directory with our A-to-D grades, compare the monthly payers and weekly payers, or start with the guides to what income investing is and how DRIP works in income ETFs. If you are reinvestment-first, the dedicated DRIP calculator runs the same engine with reinvestment front and center.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to live off dividends?
Work backwards from your target monthly income. At a 4% portfolio yield, every $1,000 of yearly income needs about $25,000 invested; at an 8% yield (typical of covered-call ETFs), about $12,500. Enter your target as monthly income, adjust the yield, and read the starting amount you would need — then let the calculator show how monthly contributions can get you there.
How is dividend yield calculated?
Dividend yield is the annual distribution divided by the share price. This calculator uses the trailing 12-month yield from our database for the fund you pick, which reflects what the fund actually paid over the last year rather than a forecast. For custom mode, enter any yield you like — for example a fund’s indicated rate from its own fact sheet.
Does DRIP make a difference?
Yes, and it grows over time. Reinvesting distributions buys new shares, which then pay their own distributions. Over 20 years with realistic yields, the compounding from DRIP is often worth thousands of dollars versus spending the cash along the way. Toggle the DRIP box off and on to see the gap for your own numbers.
Are these dividend projections guaranteed?
No. Projections assume the yield and growth rates you enter stay constant, and real funds do not behave that way. Option-income ETFs in particular can see both distributions and share prices move with volatility. Treat the output as an illustration of how the math works, not a forecast, and confirm current figures on each fund’s profile page.
What is a good dividend yield?
For broad dividend-growth funds, 2% to 4% is normal. Covered-call and options-income ETFs often pay 8% to 14% but carry more risk that the share price erodes over time. A “good” yield is one that is sustainable: compare the payout against the fund’s total return and NAV trend rather than chasing the biggest number. Our A-to-D grades on each ETF page are built for exactly that check.
Disclaimer
Numbers on this site are for research and educational use only - not individualized investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell securities. ETFs involve risk including possible loss of principal. Past yield and performance do not predict future results. Yield to Freedom (YTF) grades are illustrative and subjective; verify all data independently.