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SIP, Step-up SIP & Lumpsum Calculator

Project a monthly SIP, a SIP that rises every year, or a one-time investment. See the year-by-year growth, the value in today's money, and how sensitive the result is to the return you assume.

A 10% step-up roughly tracks salary growth.
Test a cautious rate too. See "Choosing a sensible return" below.
Estimated value
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Total invested
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Estimated gains
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Value in today's money
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Growth year by year

Year-by-year table

YearMonthly SIPTotal investedValue at year endIn today's money

How this calculator works

A SIP (systematic investment plan) invests a fixed amount every month. Each instalment grows for a different length of time, so the future value is the sum of many small compounding streams. The calculator uses the standard formula, with each instalment invested at the start of the month:

Future value = P × [(1 + i)n − 1] ÷ i × (1 + i)
P = monthly amount, i = annual return ÷ 12, n = number of months

Example: ₹10,000 a month for 15 years at 12% means ₹18,00,000 invested and an estimated value of ₹50,45,760. Almost 64% of the final amount is growth rather than your own money, and most of that growth arrives in the last few years.

Step-up SIP: the monthly amount rises by a fixed percentage every 12 months. Raising the same SIP by 10% a year raises the total invested to ₹38,12,698 and the estimated value to ₹86,83,849. Our step-up SIP guide explains why it matters so much.

Lumpsum: a one-time investment grows as P × (1 + r)t. ₹5,00,000 at 12% for 15 years becomes ₹27,36,783.

The assumptions behind the numbers

  • A constant return. Real markets rise and fall. Two SIPs with the same average return can end far apart depending on when the good and bad years arrive, especially near the end. See our NIFTY 50 SIP data study for real paths.
  • The monthly-rate convention. Like most Indian SIP calculators, this one divides the annual rate by 12. A 1% monthly return compounds to 12.68% a year, so "12%" here is slightly more generous than a 12% CAGR. To model a true 12% annual return, enter about 11.39%.
  • No costs or taxes. Fund expense ratios are already reflected in a fund's reported returns, but taxes are not. Equity gains above ₹1,25,000 a year are taxed at 12.5% when you sell; see the capital gains guide.
  • Inflation. The "today's money" figure divides the final value by (1 + inflation)years. At 6% inflation, prices roughly double every 12 years, so this is the more honest number for long-term goals.

Choosing a sensible return

Over long periods, broad Indian equity indices have delivered roughly 10% to 13% a year including dividends, with large swings along the way. Debt funds and deposits have typically earned 6% to 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future ones, so plan with a cautious rate and treat anything better as a bonus. The line under the results shows how much the outcome changes if returns come in two percentage points lower.

Frequently asked questions

Is the return from a SIP guaranteed?

No. Equity and hybrid mutual funds carry market risk, and the return you enter is an assumption. The calculator shows what happens if that return is earned steadily; real results will differ, sometimes a lot.

What is XIRR and how does it relate to this calculator?

Because each SIP instalment is invested for a different period, fund statements report returns as XIRR, an annualised rate that accounts for the timing of every cash flow. The rate you enter here plays the same role: it is the steady rate that would turn your instalments into the projected value.

Should I stop my SIP when markets fall?

Generally no. Falls are when a SIP buys the most units for the same money. Investors who paused during the 2020 crash ended with less than those who continued; see our NIFTY 50 SIP data study.

Is a lumpsum better than a SIP?

If you already have the money, investing it at once has more often come out ahead, because markets rise more often than they fall. Spreading it out over a few months reduces the regret of investing everything just before a fall. For money you earn monthly, a SIP is simply the natural way to invest.

This calculator is for education and planning. Results depend entirely on the assumptions you enter and are not a forecast, a guarantee or investment advice. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent to us. Read our disclaimer. Built and checked by Pradeep Rawal.