The Rule of 72 (2024)

Private Equity

Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding the Rule of 72

Last Updated February 22, 2024

What is the Rule of 72?

The Rule of 72 is a shorthand method to estimate the number of years required for an investment to double in value (2x).

In practice, the Rule of 72 is a “back-of-the-envelope” method of estimating how long it would take an investment to double given a set of assumptions on the interest rate, i.e. rate of return.

In This Article

The Rule of 72 is a quick method to estimate the time needed for an investment to double in value.
The Rule of 72 is calculated by dividing 72 by the annualized interest rate (i.e. the rate of return).
Luca Pacioli, an Italian mathematician, is often credited with coming up with the Rule of 72 – albeit, there is uncertainty around its origins.
The Rule of 72 is a reliable approximation intended for “back-of-the-envelope” math, but the estimated number of years is still a mere approximation at the end of the day.

Table of Contents

How to Calculate the Rule of 72
The Rule of 72 Formula
Illustrative Rule of 72 Example
The Rule of 72 Chart
Compound Interest vs. Simple Interest: What is the Difference?
Rule of 72 Calculator
The Rule of 72 Calculation Example
The Rule of 115 Calculation Example

How to Calculate the Rule of 72

The Rule of 72 estimates the time needed to double the value of an investment.

The Rule of 72 is a convenient method to estimate the approximate time for invested capital to double in value.

By merely taking the number 72 and dividing it by the rate of return (or interest rate) expected to be earned, the output is the approximate number of years for an investment to double.

Therefore, the Rule of 72 is a “back of the envelope” estimate of the time to double an investment, yet the method produces a relatively accurate figure.

On that note, using Excel (or a financial calculator) is recommended for a more precise figure, especially in higher stake circ*mstances.

The Rule of 72 is well-known in finance and is perceived by most as a general rule of thumb to estimate the number of years that it would take an investment to double in value.

Yet, despite the simplicity of the calculation and convenience, the methodology is rather accurate, within a reasonable range.

The Rule of 72 Formula

The formula for the Rule of 72 divides the number 72 by the annualized rate of return (i.e. the interest rate).

Illustrative Rule of 72 Example

For example, if an investor – i.e. a limited partner (LP) of the fund — decided to contribute $200,000 to an active investor’s fund.

According to the firm’s marketing documents, the normalized return should range around 9% approximately, i.e. the 9% is the set return targeted by the fund’s portfolio of investments over the long term (and various economic cycles).

If we assume the 9% annual return is in fact achieved, the estimated number of years for the original investment to double in value is roughly 8 years.

Number of Years to Double (n) = 72 ÷ 9 = 8 Years

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The Rule of 72 Chart

The chart below provides the approximate number of years for an investment to double.

The left column lists the rate of return – from 1% to 10% – while the right column lists the number of years it would take for the investment to double in value based on the corresponding return.

Compound Interest vs. Simple Interest: What is the Difference?

The Rule of 72 only applies to cases of compound interest, rather than simple interest.

Simple Interest → The accumulated interest to date is not added back to the original principal amount.
Compound Interest → The interest is calculated based on the original principal, as well as the accumulated interest incurred from prior periods (“interest on interest”).

Rule of 72 Calculator

We’ll now move on to a modeling exercise, which you can access by filling out the form below.

The Rule of 72 Calculation Example

Suppose an investment earns 6.0% each year.

Q. Given the 6.0% rate of return, how many years will it take for the value of the investment to double?

If we divide 72 by 6, we can calculate the number of years it would take for the investment to double.

The Rule of 115 Calculation Example

There is also a related but lesser-known rule, called the “Rule of 115”.

Number of Years to Triple = 115 ÷ Interest Rate (%)

By dividing 115 by the rate of return, the estimated time for an investment to triple (3x) can be calculated.

Continuing off the previous example with the 6% return assumption:

Implied Number of Years to Triple (3x) = 115 ÷ 6 = 19 Years