Enter your monthly SIP amount, expected annual return and investment period to project your mutual fund's maturity value. Add a yearly step-up to model salary-linked increases, and see a year-by-year table of invested amount versus growth — a projection, not a promise, calculated instantly in your browser.
How to use the SIP calculator
- Enter your monthly investment — the SIP instalment you can comfortably sustain, for example ₹10,000.
- Enter the expected annual return. For long-term equity SIPs in India, 10–12% is the commonly used planning assumption; use 6–8% for a conservative estimate.
- Enter the time period in years. SIPs reward patience — the real compounding shows up after year 7 or 8.
- Set a yearly step-up (for example 10%) if you plan to raise your SIP as your salary grows.
- Read the projected maturity value, total invested and estimated gains, then scroll the year-by-year table to watch compounding take over.
How is SIP maturity calculated?
The calculator compounds your investment monthly at the equivalent monthly rate: monthly rate = (1 + annual return)1/12 − 1. Each month's instalment grows for the remaining months, so the first instalment compounds the longest and the last one barely at all. With a step-up, each year's monthly instalment is increased by the step-up percentage, modelling the realistic habit of investing more as income rises. The year-by-year table shows invested amount versus gains separately, so you can see the crossover point — usually around year 7–9 — where accumulated gains start exceeding what you put in. That crossover is the whole argument for starting early and staying invested.
A worked example: ₹10,000 a month at 12% for 10 years projects to about ₹23.2 lakh on ₹12 lakh invested. Add a 10% yearly step-up and the same plan projects to roughly ₹32.9 lakh on ₹19.1 lakh invested. Time and step-ups do the heavy lifting — the return assumption is only the third most important input.
What return should I assume for a SIP?
There is no correct answer, only honest ranges. Indian equity mutual funds have delivered roughly 11–13% annualised over long 10–15 year periods, but any single 5-year window can look very different, including flat or negative stretches. Debt funds sit nearer 6–8%. A sensible approach is to run the calculator three times — at 8%, 10% and 12% — and plan your goals around the middle figure while hoping for the top one. Anyone promising a guaranteed 15%+ SIP return is selling, not advising.
SIP vs lump sum vs RD — which wins?
A lump sum invested at the start beats a SIP if markets rise steadily, because the full amount compounds from day one — but almost nobody can time that, and a lump sum just before a crash is painful. A recurring deposit (RD) gives a fixed, guaranteed rate (around 6.5–7.5% at Indian banks) with zero market risk but fully taxable interest. A SIP sits between: market-linked growth with rupee-cost averaging, which buys more units when markets fall and fewer when they rise. For salaried investors without a large lump sum, the SIP's real advantage is behavioural — it automates investing so you do not have to decide every month.
When do investors use a SIP calculator?
Young professionals use it to answer "is ₹5,000 a month enough for a ₹1 crore retirement corpus?" (spoiler: at 12% it takes about 20 years). Parents model education goals — a 10-year SIP for a child's college fund. Couples compare the step-up SIP against a flat one to see what annual increments buy them. And sceptics run the 8% scenario to check whether the goal survives a disappointing decade of returns.
What are the limitations?
This is a projection, not a prediction: it assumes a smooth constant return, while real markets move in jumps and crashes. It does not deduct fund expense ratios (typically 1–2% for regular plans), exit loads, or taxes — Indian equity gains face capital-gains tax (long-term above the annual exempt limit, short-term at higher rates), which the calculator ignores. It also assumes you never miss an instalment and never redeem early. Treat the output as a planning range, and re-run it yearly with your actual fund performance.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SIP?
A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is a way to invest a fixed amount in a mutual fund every month (or quarter) automatically. Instead of timing the market with one large investment, you spread purchases across months — buying more fund units when prices are low and fewer when prices are high. This averaging effect is called rupee-cost averaging.
Are the projected SIP returns guaranteed?
No. Mutual fund returns are market-linked and can never be guaranteed — any projection, including this calculator's, is a "what if the return averages X%" scenario. The calculator is honest about this: change the return assumption by 2% and watch how much the maturity value moves. That sensitivity is the real lesson.
What is a step-up (top-up) SIP?
A step-up SIP automatically increases your monthly instalment by a fixed percentage each year — for example 10%. It mirrors real life, where salaries rise and you can afford to invest more. Over 15–20 years, a 10% step-up can add 30–40% to the final corpus compared with a flat SIP, which is why most advisors recommend it.
SIP vs RD — which is better?
An RD (recurring deposit) is a bank product with a fixed, guaranteed interest rate and zero risk — but modest, fully taxable returns. A SIP is market-linked: higher expected returns over long periods, but with volatility and no guarantee. Young investors with long horizons usually choose SIPs; anyone who cannot tolerate any fluctuation chooses RDs. Many people hold both.
Are SIP returns taxed in India?
Yes. Gains on equity mutual funds held over a year are taxed as long-term capital gains above the annual exempt threshold; gains on shorter holdings are taxed as short-term capital gains at a higher rate. Debt fund taxation follows different rules. Tax law changes frequently, so check the current rates or ask a tax advisor before redeeming — this calculator does not include tax.
Is my data uploaded or stored anywhere?
No. This calculator runs entirely in your browser — the numbers you type never leave your device, are never sent to a server, and are never stored. Closing the tab removes all trace.
Updated October 2026 · Built and tested by Sharjeel Tahir · How our tools are tested