What is the rule of 72?

BankingWarren TeamPublished April 25, 2026

Quick answer

The rule of 72 estimates how many years it takes for an investment to double, given a fixed annual return: 72 ÷ rate = years. At 8% return, money doubles every 9 years (72/8). At 6%, every 12 years.

Rule of 72 examples: doubling time at various return rates.

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