A SIP calculator estimates what a fixed monthly investment could grow to if it earns a steady yearly return. Type your monthly SIP amount, an expected return and the number of years. You get the total invested, the estimated gain and a year by year growth table.
Read the result as a what if, not a forecast. A fund's value rises and falls with the market instead of earning a set rate. The calculator is most useful for comparing amounts and time frames, and for seeing why starting early matters so much.
At a glance
- FormulaFV = P × ((1 + i)^n − 1) ÷ i × (1 + i)
- PMonthly SIP amount
- iMonthly return: yearly return ÷ 12 ÷ 100
- nNumber of months
- Example₹5,000 a month, 12%, 10 years: about ₹11.6 lakh
- ReturnAn assumption, not a promise
How the SIP calculator estimates your returns
A systematic investment plan puts the same amount into a mutual fund every month. Each instalment buys units and then grows for the months that are left. The first instalment grows the longest; the last one hardly grows at all. The SIP return calculator adds up the growth of every instalment using the future value formula for a monthly annuity:
FV = P × ((1 + i)^n − 1) ÷ i × (1 + i)
The final (1 + i) assumes each instalment goes in at the start of the month, which is how most Indian SIP calculators work. Take ₹5,000 a month at an assumed 12% for 10 years: i = 0.01, n = 120. The estimated value is ₹11,61,695 on ₹6,00,000 invested, an estimated gain of ₹5,61,695.
Time matters more than the amount
Here is ₹5,000 a month at an assumed 12% a year, held for different periods:
| Years | Total invested | Estimated value | Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | ₹6,00,000 | ₹11,61,695 | ₹5,61,695 |
| 15 | ₹9,00,000 | ₹25,22,880 | ₹16,22,880 |
| 20 | ₹12,00,000 | ₹49,95,740 | ₹37,95,740 |
Doubling the time from 10 to 20 years doubles what you put in but more than quadruples the value. Even ₹1,000 a month for 25 years at the same assumed return reaches about ₹19 lakh on ₹3 lakh invested. This is the compounding effect explained on the compound interest calculator page, working on a monthly stream instead of one deposit.
Choosing a sensible expected return
The return you type drives everything, so be honest with it. Some guide points:
- Equity funds have had long stretches of strong returns and long stretches of flat or negative ones. Try 10%, 12% and 8% to see a range.
- Debt funds move closer to deposit rates. Try 6% to 7.5%.
- Hybrid funds sit in between.
- The return you see in a fund factsheet is before your taxes and after its expense ratio.
A ₹10,000 SIP for 10 years gives about ₹20.7 lakh at 10% and ₹23.2 lakh at 12%. The gap shows why a fixed number is never safe to plan around. The mutual fund returns calculator lets you subtract the expense ratio as well.
SIP calculators for every plan
The basic SIP calculator above assumes the same amount every month. Real plans often look different, so each variation has its own page:
| Your plan | Use this |
|---|---|
| Raise the SIP every year with your salary | Step up SIP calculator |
| Adjust the result for rising prices | SIP calculator with inflation |
| Invest every day or every week | Daily SIP calculator |
| Invest once a year | Yearly SIP calculator |
| One lumpsum, or lumpsum plus SIP | Lumpsum calculator |
| Take a monthly income from a corpus | SWP calculator |
| Check the return your SIP actually earned | SIP CAGR and XIRR calculator |
| SIP or lumpsum, after expense ratio | Mutual fund returns calculator |
A gold SIP in a gold fund or gold ETF works the same way; use a return that suits gold, which has moved very differently from shares over time.
Top up your SIP: why small raises matter
A top up, also called a step up, lifts your SIP by a set percentage every year. Over 20 years, a flat ₹5,000 SIP growing at 12% reaches about ₹50 lakh. Raising it by 10% each year takes the estimate to about ₹99 lakh. The step up SIP calculator shows the exact figures and the amount you would be investing in the last year.
Most fund houses let you set the top up when you register the SIP, so it happens on its own. If your income rises unevenly, you can raise the amount by hand instead.
SIP interest calculator vs a deposit
People often search for a SIP interest calculator, but a SIP does not pay interest. You buy fund units at the day's price, and your gain is the change in their value. That is why a SIP cannot be compared to an RD calculator result on equal terms: an RD pays a fixed, known rate and carries bank deposit insurance cover, while a SIP's value can be below what you invested at any point.
The two can sit side by side. An RD suits money you need on a fixed date. A SIP in an equity fund suits goals at least 5 to 7 years away, where you can wait out bad years.
Taxes on SIP returns
Each SIP instalment is treated as a separate purchase. When you sell, every instalment's holding period is counted on its own.
- Equity funds: gains on units held over 12 months are long term and taxed at a concessional rate above a yearly exempt limit; units held 12 months or less are short term and taxed at a higher flat rate.
- Debt funds: gains are generally treated as ordinary income at slab rates.
Tax rules change with budgets, so check the current rates with a tax adviser before you plan a withdrawal. The calculator shows pre tax values.
How to use the result well
- Start from a goal: an amount and a year, such as a child's college in 12 years.
- Try three returns, a hopeful one, a middle one and a cautious one.
- Use the cautious result to set your SIP amount.
- Add inflation with the inflation adjusted SIP calculator so the goal is in future rupees.
- Review once a year, not every week.
Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. This SIP calculator is for estimates and learning only. It does not recommend any fund. For advice suited to you, speak to a SEBI registered investment adviser. Fund rules and documents are at the AMFI website.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is a SIP calculator?
The math is exact for the return you type, but real returns are not steady. Your actual value will be different, sometimes higher and sometimes lower. Use it to compare plans, not to predict a figure.
What return should I use in the SIP calculator?
Try a range. Many people test 8%, 10% and 12% for equity funds and 6% to 7.5% for debt funds. Plan with the lower figure so a weak market does not leave you short.
How much will ₹5,000 a month become in 10 years?
At an assumed 12% a year, about ₹11.6 lakh on ₹6 lakh invested. At 10% it is about ₹10.3 lakh. Real results depend on the fund and the market.
Is a monthly SIP better than a yearly lumpsum?
A monthly SIP spreads your buying across market ups and downs and fits a monthly salary. A lumpsum invested at the start of the year has more time in the market. The yearly SIP and lumpsum calculators let you compare.
Can I stop or pause a SIP?
Yes. Most fund houses let you pause or cancel a SIP online with no penalty. Units already bought stay invested. Some funds have an exit load if you sell units within a set period.
Does the SIP calculator include tax?
No. It shows values before tax and after the return you type. Taxes depend on the fund type and how long you hold each instalment.