SIP Calculator (Mutual Funds)
Estimate the future value of your monthly mutual fund SIP investments and see how much you could accumulate over time.
India-specific calculator. It uses Indian rules, rates and rupee amounts, and the currency selector is switched off on this page.
A SIP calculator helps you plan mutual fund investments made through a Systematic Investment Plan. You invest a fixed amount every month, and this tool estimates how much your corpus could grow by the end of your investment period, given an assumed rate of return. It is the first step most Indian investors take before starting a mutual fund SIP.
How to use the SIP calculator
- Enter the amount you can invest every month.
- Choose an expected annual return. A common planning assumption is 12% for equity funds over the long term.
- Set your investment period in years.
- Click Calculate SIP to see your maturity value, the total you invested and the estimated returns.
Tip: run the same monthly amount for 10, 15 and 20 years. The difference in the final corpus shows the power of giving your money more time to compound.
SIP formula
Where P is the monthly investment, i is the monthly rate of return (annual rate ÷ 12 ÷ 100) and n is the number of monthly instalments. The final (1 + i) factor reflects that SIP instalments are typically invested at the start of each month.
Worked example
₹5,000 per month for 15 years at 12% p.a.
Total invested = 5,000 x 180 = ₹9,00,000.
Estimated maturity value ≈ ₹25,22,050, with returns of about ₹16,22,050 — roughly 2.8 times what you put in.
Remember that these figures are estimates. Actual fund performance depends on market conditions, fund management and inflation.
Who should use this calculator
- First-time investors deciding how much to invest each month and what that could become over time.
- Anyone planning a specific goal — a house down payment, a child's education, retirement — and checking whether the monthly amount is enough.
- Investors comparing a plain SIP with a step-up SIP as their income grows.
- People deciding between spreading a lump sum out over months or investing it all at once.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating the projected number as a promise. The calculator applies the return you type as a steady rate. Real markets move up and down, and a 12% average can include a very bad year.
- Stopping the SIP when markets fall. A fall means the same monthly amount buys more units. Pausing during a downturn is the most reliable way to underperform your own plan.
- Using an aggressive return assumption. Planning on 18–20% a year leads to under-investing. Long-term equity assumptions of 10–12% are far more defensible.
- Ignoring costs. Expense ratios, exit loads and any advisory fees quietly reduce the corpus. A 1% cost difference compounds into a large sum over 20 years.
- Starting late. Delaying a SIP by five years is much more expensive than investing a little more each month, because you cannot buy back the missing years of compounding.
Why time matters more than the amount
₹5,000 a month for 15 years at 12% works out to roughly ₹25 lakh, of which about ₹9 lakh is your own money and the rest is growth. Increase the period to 25 years and the same monthly amount crosses ₹90 lakh — not because you invested more per month, but because the later years compound on a much larger base.
This is why the earliest years of a SIP look disappointing. Nothing much seems to happen for the first three or four years, and then the curve steepens. Investors who quit during that flat phase give up almost all of the benefit, so decide the amount you can genuinely keep investing through a bad year before you start.
SIP terms explained
- NAV
- Net Asset Value — the price of one unit of a mutual fund. Your monthly instalment buys units at that month's NAV.
- Rupee cost averaging
- By investing a fixed amount every month you automatically buy more units when prices are low and fewer when they are high.
- Step-up SIP
- A SIP that increases by a set percentage each year, usually in line with your salary growth.
- Expense ratio
- The annual fee a fund charges, deducted from the fund's assets before returns reach you.
- Exit load
- A charge for redeeming units before a minimum holding period, typically 0.5–1% within one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SIP and how does a SIP calculator work?
A SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is a way to invest a fixed amount in a mutual fund every month. The SIP calculator assumes your money compounds monthly at your expected annual return and uses the annuity formula to estimate the value of your investments at the end of the chosen period.
Are SIP returns guaranteed?
No. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risk, and the actual return depends on market performance. The calculator shows an estimate based on the return rate you enter. Historically, equity mutual funds have delivered around 12% on average over long periods, but past performance never guarantees future results.
When should I start a SIP?
The earlier you start, the more you benefit from compounding. Starting a small SIP in your twenties can grow into a larger corpus than starting a bigger SIP later, simply because the money gets more time to compound. Consistency matters more than timing the market.
Can I change my SIP amount later?
Yes. You can increase, decrease, pause or stop most SIPs through your fund house or broker. Many investors use a step-up SIP, increasing the monthly amount each year as their income grows — this calculator shows the value of a fixed monthly SIP.