SIP Calculator
Estimate how a Systematic Investment Plan can grow. Set a monthly amount, expected return and time period, then add a lump sum or yearly step-up if you like.
Projected value
Enter your details above to see results.
In today's money
Amount invested
Estimated returns
Wealth multiple
Last monthly SIP
Invested amount vs returns
Growth over time
Year-by-year
| Year | Monthly SIP | Invested | Returns | Value |
|---|
Projected returns are estimates, not guarantees. Market-linked investments carry risk, including loss of capital. This is not financial advice.
What is a SIP?
A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) lets you invest a fixed amount into a mutual fund at regular intervals, usually every month. Instead of trying to time the market with one large payment, you spread your money across many purchase dates. When prices are low your money buys more units, and when prices are high it buys fewer. This is often called cost averaging, or dollar-cost averaging.
How this SIP calculator works
The calculator treats each monthly instalment as invested at the start of the month, which matches the usual annuity-due formula.
FV = P × [((1 + i)n − 1) / i] × (1 + i)
P is the monthly amount, i is the expected annual return divided by 12 and n is the number of months. When you add a lump sum or a yearly step-up, the calculator runs the same logic month by month so every instalment grows for the right amount of time.
| Period | Invested | Returns | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 600,000 | 224,864 | 824,864 |
| 10 years | 1,200,000 | 1,123,391 | 2,323,391 |
| 15 years | 1,800,000 | 3,245,760 | 5,045,760 |
| 20 years | 2,400,000 | 7,591,479 | 9,991,479 |
The 12% rate is only an example. Equity fund returns change from year to year and can be negative in the short term.
Step-up SIP
A step-up SIP increases your instalment by a set percentage every year, usually in line with salary growth. Even a 5% to 10% yearly step-up can add a lot to the final value over 15 or 20 years. Use the step-up field to try it.
Step-Up SIP Example
Raising the monthly amount a little every year is one of the simplest ways to grow the end value, because your later and larger instalments are added when your income is usually higher. The table uses 10,000 a month at an assumed 12% a year, with the amount rising 10% after every 12 months of the plan.
| Period | Value, no step-up | Invested with step-up | Value with 10% step-up | Last monthly amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 years | 2,323,391 | 1,912,491 | 3,374,326 | 23,579 |
| 15 years | 5,045,760 | 3,812,698 | 8,683,849 | 37,975 |
| 20 years | 9,991,479 | 6,873,000 | 19,888,715 | 61,159 |
In 20 years the step-up version ends with roughly 2.0 times the value, but you also invest more in total, so compare the invested amount as well as the final value.
Inflation-Adjusted SIP Value
A large future number is less impressive once you ask what it can buy. Take 10,000 a month at 12% for 20 years, which grows to 9,991,479. If prices rise 6% a year, that amount is worth about 3,115,390 in today’s money. At 4% inflation it is about 4,559,981. The inflation field in the calculator shows this figure next to the headline result.
Lump Sum Plus Monthly SIP
If you already have a sum to invest, put it into the lump sum field. With 500,000 at the start and 10,000 a month for 10 years at 12%, the projected value is about 3,973,584. The SIP alone would give 2,323,391, so the lump sum adds 1,650,193 through ten years of growth.
SIP Return Table: 8%, 10% and 12%
Quick reference for three common monthly amounts. Values assume the same method as the calculator (instalment at the start of each month, no step-up, no tax).
| Monthly SIP | Return | After 10 years | After 20 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 | 8% | 920,828 | 2,964,736 |
| 5,000 | 10% | 1,032,760 | 3,828,485 |
| 5,000 | 12% | 1,161,695 | 4,995,740 |
| 10,000 | 8% | 1,841,657 | 5,929,472 |
| 10,000 | 10% | 2,065,520 | 7,656,969 |
| 10,000 | 12% | 2,323,391 | 9,991,479 |
| 25,000 | 8% | 4,604,142 | 14,823,680 |
| 25,000 | 10% | 5,163,801 | 19,142,423 |
| 25,000 | 12% | 5,808,477 | 24,978,698 |
How Fees and Expense Ratios Change the Result
Mutual fund plans charge a yearly cost, and a regular plan usually costs more than a direct plan because of distributor commission. Even a small gap compounds. The table shows the same SIP at 12% and at 11%, which is what a 1 percentage point higher cost would do to a fund that earns the same before costs.
| Period | At 12% | At 11% | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 years | 2,323,391 | 2,189,873 | 133,518 |
| 20 years | 9,991,479 | 8,735,731 | 1,255,749 |
| 30 years | 35,299,138 | 28,302,278 | 6,996,859 |
The exact difference between plans depends on the fund, so check the expense ratios in the fund’s factsheet before choosing. This is an illustration, not a recommendation of any product.
How Units and NAV Work in a SIP
Each instalment buys units at that day’s net asset value (NAV). If the NAV is 50, a 10,000 instalment buys 200 units. If the NAV falls to 40 the next month, the same 10,000 buys 250 units, so your average cost is 20,000 / 450 = 44.44 per unit. When you redeem, the proceeds are the number of units times the NAV on the redemption day, less any exit load and tax. That cost-averaging effect is the main reason people use a SIP.
Using the result wisely
- Be conservative with the expected return. A lower figure gives a safer plan.
- Check the inflation-adjusted value to see what the money could buy in today's terms.
- Remember that fund expense ratios, exit loads and taxes can reduce what you keep.
- Stay invested for the long term and review your plan once a year.
Frequently asked questions
What return should I assume for a SIP?
There is no guaranteed rate. Many people test a range, such as 8%, 10% and 12%, to see best and worst cases. Past returns of a fund do not predict future returns.
Is a SIP the same as a mutual fund?
No. A mutual fund is the investment. A SIP is a method of investing in it, by paying a fixed amount at regular intervals.
Does this calculator include taxes and fees?
No. It shows a gross projection. Expense ratios, exit loads and capital gains tax depend on the fund and your country, so check the fund documents.
What happens if I miss a SIP instalment?
Your plan simply has one fewer contribution. Some funds or banks may charge a small fee for a failed auto-debit. You can restart at any time.
Can I use this in any country or currency?
Yes. Choose your currency above. The calculation is the same for any monthly investing plan, such as a regular contribution to an index fund.
Is my data saved or shared?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser, and the numbers you enter are not uploaded or stored.
What is a step-up SIP and how much difference does it make?
A step-up SIP raises your monthly amount by a fixed percentage every year. At an assumed 12% return, 10,000 a month for 20 years grows to about 9,991,479, while the same plan with a 10% yearly step-up grows to about 19,888,715. Use the step-up field in the calculator to test your own numbers.
How do I calculate an inflation-adjusted SIP value?
Divide the future value by (1 + inflation) raised to the number of years. For example, 9,991,479 after 20 years at 6% inflation is worth about 3,115,390 in today's money. The calculator shows this as the inflation-adjusted value when you enter an inflation rate.
Can I combine a lump sum with a monthly SIP?
Yes. Enter the lump sum in the lump sum field. A lump sum of 500,000 plus 10,000 a month for 10 years at 12% grows to about 3,973,584, compared with 2,323,391 for the SIP alone (all figures are projections, not guarantees).
How much does a higher expense ratio cost over time?
Costs reduce your return every year. If a higher-cost plan returns 1 percentage point less (11% instead of 12%), 10,000 a month over 20 years ends about 1,255,749 lower. Actual expense ratios differ by fund and plan type, so check the fund's documents.
How are mutual fund units calculated in a SIP?
Units bought = amount invested divided by the NAV on the purchase date. If you invest 10,000 when the NAV is 50 you get 200 units, and if you invest 10,000 next month when the NAV is 40 you get 250 units. Your average cost per unit is then 450 units for 20,000, which is about 44.44.
Is this calculator accurate for real mutual fund returns?
It is an estimate based on a constant yearly return. Real funds go up and down, so actual results will differ. The calculator ignores taxes, exit loads and expense changes, and it assumes each instalment is invested at the start of the month.
Sources and further reading
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Investor.gov. Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.
- Annuity-due future value formula, as used in standard finance references.