2026 RESP Calculator: Estimate Your Grants (CESG) & Returns

Expected annual return

Education inflation

Grant mode (CESG) i

Children

Assumptions: contributions are monthly, investment growth is modeled inside RESP only, and any amount above the 50,000$ lifetime contribution limit is shown separately as "Outside RESP". Required contribution keeps your current child split (or equal split if all current contributions are 0).

Education cost planning per child

Annual education cost (Today's $) i

Years of studies (Average)

yrs

1. Funding coverage at age 18

Goal funded: 0%

On track

RESP - Total Cost -

Recommended monthly contribution

$ / month

2. Projection by child

3. Plan indicators

4. Annual breakdown table

Educational planning estimate only. CESG rules, carry-forward room, eligibility, and investment outcomes can differ from your actual account.

Advanced details

New contributions

New CESG grants

Investment growth

Outside RESP

Total savings (RESP + outside)

Estimated funding gap

How this RESP projection works

This calculator projects each child to age 18 and combines the totals. For every month, it adds contributions, estimates CESG grants under your selected mode, then applies growth assumptions.

What is an RESP?

An RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan) is a savings account designed for post-secondary education. Contributions are made by a subscriber for a beneficiary (the child), and growth can compound tax-deferred inside the plan.

How RESP funding works in practice

Contribute over time: regular monthly contributions build capital gradually.
Collect government grants: eligible contributions can receive CESG support each year.
Grow the balance: investment returns compound inside the plan while funds remain invested.
Withdraw for studies: payments usually combine contribution capital, grants, and growth based on enrollment rules.

RESP contribution limit: 50,000$ lifetime per beneficiary.
CESG baseline: 20% on eligible contributions, generally up to 500$ per year.
Catch-up mode: allows up to 1,000$ CESG in a year when room is available.
Income supplement mode: modeled with an extra 10% on the first 500$ annual contribution.
CESG lifetime maximum: 7,200$ per child.

RESP fundamentals in plain language

Contributions are not tax-deductible: unlike RRSPs, RESP contributions do not reduce your taxable income.
Tax sheltering during growth: investment growth inside the plan is tax-deferred while funds stay in RESP.
Withdrawals are split: contributions can be withdrawn tax-free, while EAP portions (grants + growth) are generally taxed to the student.
Family plan flexibility: siblings can share contribution room and projected education needs under one plan structure.

Optimization ideas for families

Capture CESG early: prioritize at least 2,500$/year per child when possible to secure the standard annual grant.
Use catch-up strategically: if contributions were missed, use higher annual deposits to recover grant room over time.
Adjust by child age: younger children have more compounding time, so front-loading can materially increase the age-18 balance.
Track the 50,000$ lifetime limit: once reached, extra savings should be redirected to other accounts or non-registered buckets.

Modeled assumptions can differ from real account timing, eligibility details, and institutional processing.

FAQ - RESP Calculator

Can I calculate a family RESP for multiple children?

Yes. You can add multiple beneficiaries to our RESP calculator. The tool projects the total family savings while tracking the individual Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) limits for each child separately.

What happens if I exceed the $50,000 RESP lifetime limit?

The "Outside RESP" figure represents any monthly contributions that exceed the official $50,000 lifetime maximum per child. This excess amount is tracked as a regular taxable investment, since it no longer qualifies for tax-sheltered growth.

How does this tool calculate the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG)?

This planning model applies the standard government rules (a 20% match on the first $2,500 contributed annually) to project your grants. Actual grant deposits may vary slightly based on your financial institution's exact processing times.

Can I use this calculator for RESP catch-up contributions?

Yes. If you have unused grant room from previous years, switch the grant mode to "Catch-up". This allows the calculator to model the maximum $1,000 annual CESG payout to help you recover missed government grants.

Does the calculator project RESP withdrawals for university?

No, this version specifically models the wealth accumulation phase up to age 18. It does not project Educational Assistance Payments (EAP) or Post-Secondary Education (PSE) withdrawal strategies during their actual studies.

RESP Calculator: Project Your Grants and Savings