Any calculator, from the most basic to the most advanced, will enable you to quickly and accurately perform basic arithmetic and, if you know what you’re doing, solve advanced problems. But it’s important to choose a calculator that best suits the kinds of problems you want to solve. If you’re in business and finance, one of the best financial calculators could be a worthwhile investment.
Financial calculators look a lot like scientific calculators; they feature a number pad, a (typically) one-line display and a variety of function buttons. The difference is that the functions are purpose built for solving financial problems. Calculations you can make using one of the best financial calculators include:
- Interest Rates
- Loan Payments
- Pensions
- Rate of Return
- Time Value of Money
- Break-Even Points
- Depreciating value
Some financial calculators are more intuitive to use, while others allow you to perform a wider array of functions but may have a greater learning curve.
Besides functionality, there are other factors to consider. For example, are the buttons easy to press, and do they have a good tactile sense? Other external features like solar-powered batteries and included cover cases can impact your decision.
These are the best financial calculators to get, including options from TI, HP and Casio. We’ve also included a couple of alternatives for users who are looking for a calculator to perform more basic or alternative calculations as well as represent data visually. Scroll down to find the best calculator for you.
Related Stories
1. Texas Instruments BA II Plus Financial Calculator
BEST OVERALL
The Texas Instruments BA II Plus Financial Calculator is a great all-around financial calculator which is suitable for statisticians, managers and students. This versatile, battery-powered device can be used for common math as well as numerous applications in a variety of fields, including economics, accounting and general finance. It also includes a prompted display guide to help you through certain calculations. The worksheet mode has a range of handy tables for things like compound interest, bond, depreciation and amortization. Plus, it comes with over 9,000 five-star ratings from users.
2. Helect Standard Function Desktop Calculator
BEST BASIC
No, this Helect Standard Function Desktop Calculator can’t help you with more complicated financial functions and equations, but what it can do is provide a comfortable and user-friendly way to perform the most basic day-to-day calculations, including tax and currency conversion. For ease of use, the device includes a 12-digit display and large, hard-to-miss number buttons. It can also be powered by one AA battery or sunlight, when the sun is bright enough. Furthermore, the calculator is available in five different colors and comes backed by over 12,500 five-star ratings from Amazon users.
3. Casio FX-991EX Engineering/Scientific Calculator
BEST SCIENTIFIC
If you aren’t completely focused on financial mathematics and just want an advanced calculator for working through multi-step problems, the Casio FX-991EX Engineering/Scientific Calculator is a solid choice. It has received over 6,500 five-star ratings and features a high-resolution, LCD display, which provides clear and comprehensive viewing and minimizes the amount of scrolling required. The calculator can be powered by battery or solar power for greater reliability. Additionally, this advanced device lets you convert results or tables into an easily shared QR code so you can view them on other internet-connected devices.
4. Casio FC-200V Financial Calculator
BEST MULTI-LINE DISPLAY
If Casio can make a wristwatch with a calculator, then you know their financial calculators will be feature-rich for their size. This calculator is compact, but it boasts a solar panel, directional arrows and a four-line screen. In addition to the built-in functions, this calculator makes it easy to repeat functions you often have to do, thanks to the two shortcut buttons. A slide-on case is also included for taking on the go.
5. Sharp EL-738FB 10-Digit Financial Calculator
ALSO CONSIDER
The Sharp EL-738FB 10-Digit Financial Calculator features a 10-digit, two-line display with a handy playback function so you can always go back and see your work. It’s capable of computing a range of business and educational functions, including time-value-of-money calculations, interest rate conversions and amortization calculations. In addition, the battery-powered device sports a user-friendly layout for faster number entry and also lets you perform two-variable statistics with linear regression.
6. Casio fx-9750GII Graphing Calculator
BEST GRAPHING
For calculator-based graphical analysis of your data, there’s no better choice than the Casio fx-9750GII Graphing Calculator. It’s capable of displaying a range of different graph types including conics graphs, pie charts, inequality graphs, regression graphs and bar graphs. It also features an impressively large, 21-character, eight-line display with a user-friendly menu for easy access to the calculator’s advanced functions. Plus, you’ll enjoy over 200 hours of battery life from the four included AAA batteries and get to choose from three different color options.
7. Texas Instruments BA II Plus Professional Financial Calculator
PROFESSIONAL PICK
Texas Instruments remains the standard-bearer in the world of calculators, but with so many offerings, it can be hard to know which to get. The Texas Instruments BA II Plus Professional Financial Calculator is a great option for students and professionals, and it’s suitable for use on the CFA exam. It can be used for a variety of time-value-of-money calculations. The buttons are clearly labeled and organized in a not too busy way, making it easy to find the functions you want to perform.
8. HP 17BII+ Financial Calculator
BEST FREE TRAINING
The HP 17BII+ Financial Calculator is another tried-and-tested finance calculator which is suitable for use by business, accounting and real estate students and professionals alike. It incorporates a user-friendly design, allowing quick calculations of everything from loan payments and interest rates to conversions and percentages. It also includes 28KB of user memory and is capable of over 250 functions. Handily, this HP device comes with free online training to help you make the most of the calculator.
9. Victor 1310 Big Print Commercial Printing Calculator
BEST PRINTING
If you’re more into finance and accounting, where a device that is capable of printing your workings would be beneficial, consider the Victor 1310 Big Print Commercial Printing Calculator. The calculator’s extra-large print size, which is 2.5 times bigger than the standard, makes the numbers easier to read on the thermal printing paper. You can choose a smaller print size if you want to fit more digits per line. The calculator also prints impressively quickly, maxing out at six lines per second. Furthermore, this accounting-friendly device includes designated keys for tax, item counting, grand total and the time and date.
10. HP 12CP Financial Calculator
PORTABLE PICK
HP’s 12CP Financial Calculator is an update to the classic HP 12C and comes packed with features. It has large buttons, and can quickly run any of the 120 built-in functions, up to six times faster than its predecessor. The buttons are clearly labeled and intuitively organized. The numbers on the one-line display are given with comma breaks, making it easier to quickly tell the number you’re working with without having to count zeroes. It can be used for either RPN or algebraic calculations.
11. HP 12C Financial Calculator
NOSTALGIA PICK
It may not be the newest kid on the block, but if you were using a device for financial calculations in the ’80s and ’90s, it was more than likely this one. While there is an updated version of the HP 12C Financial Calculator, it still remains one of the most popular options thanks to its easy-to-use layout, which helps keep typing errors to a minimum. You’ll also have more than 120 built-in functions at your fingertips and can trust in the device’s power-off memory protection to ensure your important data is always kept safe. Additionally, its three-by-five-inch size makes it a truly portable calculator which is easily kept in pockets, backpacks or work bags.
Effortlessly Transform Your Home Into a Movie Theater With These Short-Throw Projectors