How much is $100 from 1971 worth today?

About $825.68 in 2026 dollars, based on the annual-average U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). 2026 is an estimate until the full-year CPI is published.

What was the inflation rate from 1971 to 2026?

Cumulative inflation was 725.7%, an average of 3.91% per year over 55 years.

What would $100 today have bought in 1971?

Today’s $100 buys what about $12.11 bought in 1971.

What was the highest one-year inflation since 1971?

1980, when the CPI rose 13.5% over the year before.

$100 in 1971 is worth $825.68 in 2026

$100 in 1971 has the same buying power as $825.68 in 2026. Prices rose 725.7% — about 3.91% a year. See $1 to $100,000 from 1971 in today’s dollars, using U.S. CPI-U.

Cumulative inflation

725.7%

1971 → 2026

Average per year

3.91%

over 55 years

$100 today in 1971

$12.11

same buying power

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2026 uses the Minneapolis Fed’s estimate of the annual-average CPI until the full year is published.

What $100 from 1971 is worth, year by year

Year	$100 from 1971 equals
1971	$100.00
1976	$140.49
1981	$224.44
1986	$270.62
1991	$336.30
1996	$387.41
2001	$437.28
2006	$497.78
2011	$555.31
2016	$592.59
2021	$669.14
2026	$825.68

1971 dollars in 2026 dollars

In 1971	In 2026
$1.00	$8.26
$5.00	$41.28
$10.00	$82.57
$20.00	$165.14
$50.00	$412.84
$100.00	$825.68
$500.00	$4,128.40
$1,000.00	$8,256.79
$5,000.00	$41,283.95
$10,000.00	$82,567.90
$50,000.00	$412,839.51
$100,000.00	$825,679.01

How this is calculated

Value today = amount × (CPI in 2026 ÷ CPI in 1971). The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, annual average) tracks what a typical basket of goods and services costs. Between 1971 and 2026the index rose by a factor of 8.257, so every 1971 dollar needs about $8.26 today to buy the same things. The biggest single-year jump in that span was 13.5% in 1980.

Frequently asked questions

How much is $100 from 1971 worth today?: About $825.68 in 2026 dollars, based on the annual-average U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). 2026 is an estimate until the full-year CPI is published.
What was the inflation rate from 1971 to 2026?: Cumulative inflation was 725.7%, an average of 3.91% per year over 55 years.
What would $100 today have bought in 1971?: Today’s $100 buys what about $12.11 bought in 1971.
What was the highest one-year inflation since 1971?: 1980, when the CPI rose 13.5% over the year before.

$100 in other years

Any amount, any two years — open the inflation calculator