How does this estimate work?
Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) describes investing a set amount at regular intervals, so each contribution buys more units when the price is lower and fewer when it is higher. This calculator does not create a schedule or fetch market data. Instead, it applies your fixed contribution to each price you provide. For each purchase, it subtracts the flat fee from the contribution, then divides the remainder by that purchase's price to estimate units acquired.
The total units are added together. Total outlay includes each contribution and each fee. Average cost per unit is total outlay divided by total units. For a hypothetical three purchases of 100 currency units at prices 10, 8, and 12, the estimated units are 10, 12.5, and about 8.33. Together, 300 currency units buy about 30.83 units, for an average cost near 9.73 per unit. This is an illustration, not an observation or forecast.
The model assumes every contribution is the same, each listed value is an executable price, and flat fees are charged once per purchase in the same currency. Real fills may differ because of spreads, slippage, exchange fees, minimum order sizes, taxes, or other costs. It does not compare DCA with a lump-sum investment, assess risk, or predict whether a price path will rise or fall. A list of historical prices is not a promise about future returns.
You can use the result to inspect how a chosen set of prices changes the average purchase cost. It may be useful to compare different hypothetical sequences with the same contribution size, while remembering that changing the order of prices can change when units are acquired. The calculation describes those inputs only and cannot determine which approach suits a particular person.
Frequently asked questions
Does DCA guarantee a profit?
No. Repeated purchases do not remove market risk, and the value of the acquired asset can fall.
Should I enter dates too?
Dates are not used in this arithmetic model. Enter one price for each planned or hypothetical purchase.
How are fees handled?
The flat fee is added to each contribution in total outlay and deducted from the amount available to buy units.