01
Enter your SIP
Your monthly investment, the annual return you expect, and how many years you'll invest.
SIP Calculator
Project your SIP maturity, total returns, and real worth after inflation — free.
Updated Reviewed by Sajid Hussain· Editor
Grow wealth on autopilot
What a SIP really turns into — after step-up and after inflation
A SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) invests a fixed amount in a mutual fund every month, so you buy more units when prices are low and fewer when they're high — and let compounding work for years. This calculator shows your maturity value, how much of it is pure returns, and — the part most calculators skip — what that corpus is actually worth in today's money.
The headline is your maturity value: everything you invest plus the returns it compounds into. By default we use the same annuity-due formula the big platforms do (contributions at the start of each month), so a 1,000 monthly SIP at 12% for a year comes to 12,809 — the figure you'll see on Groww or Zerodha. The difference is what we show around that number.
First, an annual step-up. Most people's income rises every year, but a flat SIP never does — so you quietly under-invest. Raising your SIP just 10% a year can add a large chunk to the final corpus for a small monthly increase. We compute the step-up maturity and the exact bonus it earns over a flat SIP, in one view, instead of making you open a separate "step-up" tool.
Second, inflation. A 10,000,000 corpus in 20 years sounds life-changing, but at 6% inflation it buys what about 3,100,000 buys today. We deflate your maturity value to today's purchasing power so you plan around what the money can really buy — not a big nominal number that quietly loses a third or more of its value.
Compounding milestones and caveats. We surface the year your returns overtake everything you've invested (when compounding takes over), your wealth multiple (how many times your money grew), and the cost of waiting — how much a single year's delay forfeits, because the first year compounds the longest. Return benchmarks reference long-run equity (Nifty 50 ~12%); we flag any assumption above ~15% so you don't build a plan on a number markets can't sustain. Works in any currency — no rates, no conversion.
Quick facts
- Computes
- Maturity · invested · returns · real value
- Step-up built in
- Maturity + the exact bonus vs flat SIP
- Inflation-aware
- Value in today's purchasing power
- Compounding moment
- Year returns overtake your investment
- Behavioural lever
- The real cost of delaying a year
- Any currency
- Universal math — no rates, no FX
How it works
From a monthly amount to a real-money corpus
Three inputs for the basics, two optional for the depth — under a minute.
02
Add step-up (optional)
Set a yearly % top-up to mirror salary growth. Leave it at 0 for a flat SIP.
03
Set inflation
Pick an expected inflation rate so we can show the corpus in today's money.
04
Read the result
Maturity value, total returns, real (inflation-adjusted) worth, your wealth multiple, and the year compounding takes over.
Steps to use the SIP Calculator: Enter your SIP, Add step-up (optional), Set inflation, Read the result.
Formula
Exactly what the calculator computes
Standard time-value-of-money math, in plain algebra — the same formulas every major SIP platform uses.
01
SIP maturity value (annuity-due)
FV = P × [ ((1 + i)^n − 1) ÷ i ] × (1 + i)
P = monthly amount, i = monthly return (annual ÷ 12 ÷ 100), n = number of months. The final × (1 + i) reflects contributions made at the start of each month — the convention Groww, Zerodha and ClearTax use.
Example: 1,000 × [((1.01)¹² − 1) ÷ 0.01] × 1.01 = 12,809 for one year at 12%.
02
Total invested
Invested = sum of every monthly contribution
For a flat SIP that's simply monthly × months. With a step-up, each year's amount is higher, so we add them up year by year.
03
Estimated returns
Returns = Maturity Value − Total Invested
The pure growth — everything your money earned on top of what you contributed.
04
Step-up SIP
Year y monthly = Starting amount × (1 + step-up%)^(y − 1)
The monthly amount rises each year. We compute the full maturity with the step-up applied, then subtract a flat SIP's maturity to show the exact step-up bonus.
05
Inflation-adjusted (real) value
Real Value = Maturity Value ÷ (1 + inflation%)^years
Deflates the future corpus to today's purchasing power, so you know what it can actually buy rather than just its nominal size.
06
Wealth multiple
Multiple = Maturity Value ÷ Total Invested
How many times your contributed money grew. A 2× multiple means your invested money doubled over the period.
Worked example
5,000 a month for 10 years, end to end
Watch the nominal number — and then what it's really worth.
Currency note: the example below uses a benchmark scenario priced in Indian Rupee (INR). Values are converted to US Dollar (USD) at the latest exchange rate so you can compare against your own numbers.
Scenario
You invest $5,000.00 every month for 10 years, expecting a 12% annual return, with 6% inflation. What do you end up with?
1
Step 1 · Total invested
$5,000.00 × 12 months × 10 years = $600,000.00. This is the money that actually leaves your account.
Invested: $600,000.00
2
Step 2 · Maturity value
Compounded at 12% a year (contributions at the start of each month), the corpus grows to $1,161,695.00 — that's $561,695.00 of pure returns on top of what you put in.
Maturity: $1,161,695.00 ($561,695.00 returns)
3
Step 3 · Wealth multiple
$1,161,695.00 ÷ $600,000.00 = 1.94×. Your invested money nearly doubled — without you timing the market once.
Grew 1.94×
4
Step 4 · What it's really worth
Deflated at 6% inflation over 10 years, the $1,161,695.00 corpus is worth $648,694.00 in today's money. Still a strong result — but plan around this number, not the headline.
In today's money: $648,694.00
The takeaway
A flat SIP nearly doubles your money in a decade — and a 10% annual step-up, which costs less than it sounds, lifts the final corpus far more than chasing a higher (and riskier) return assumption ever would.
Return benchmarks
What return rate is realistic?
Long-run nominal returns by asset class, so your expected-return input is grounded. Equity returns are volatile year to year — these are multi-decade averages.
| Metric | Poor | Average | Good | Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Large-cap equity / index NSE India — Historical Returns Data | — | 10–12% | 12% | 12–14% |
Flexi/mid/small-cap (higher risk) AMFI India — Mutual Fund Industry Data | — | 12–14% | 14–15% | 15%+ (not guaranteed) |
Hybrid / balanced funds AMFI India — Mutual Fund Industry Data | — | 8–10% | 10–11% | 11–12% |
Debt funds AMFI India — Mutual Fund Industry Data | — | 6–7% | 7–8% | 8%+ |
Realistic planning rate SEBI Investor Education — MF Returns | > 18% (don't) | 10–12% | 12% | Model 12%, treat more as upside |
Why this calculator
Calcrux vs typical SIP calculators
Most SIP calculators stop at the maturity value. The decisions you actually make need step-up, inflation, and the compounding story.
| Feature | Calcrux | ET Money Calculator | Groww Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maturity value + total returns | |||
| Annual step-up SIP (built in) | Separate tool | ||
| Step-up bonus vs flat SIP | |||
| Inflation-adjusted (real) value | |||
| Year returns overtake investment | |||
| Cost of delaying one year | |||
| Return-assumption realism check | |||
| Works in any currency, free | Usually one currency | Some |
Common mistakes
How SIP projections fool people
Assuming an unrealistic return
Why it matters
Punch in 18–20% and the maturity value looks incredible — so you save less, thinking returns will cover the gap. Markets don't sustain that, and you end up short of your goal.
Fix
Plan with 10–12% (long-run equity). Treat anything higher as upside, not the base case. We flag optimistic rates automatically.
Ignoring inflation
Why it matters
A 10,000,000 corpus in 20 years feels like wealth, but at 6% inflation it buys what ~3,100,000 buys today. Planning on the nominal number leaves you under-funded for the future cost of your goal.
Fix
Use the inflation-adjusted value as your real target, and inflate your goal amount (a child's education, retirement) to its future cost.
Never stepping up the SIP
Why it matters
Your income rises every year but a flat SIP doesn't, so you invest a smaller share of your earnings over time and leave a lot of final corpus on the table.
Fix
Add a 5–10% annual step-up that tracks salary growth. The step-up bonus here shows exactly what it adds.
Waiting for the "right time" to start
Why it matters
The first year you invest is the one that compounds the longest, so delaying even a year forfeits an outsized amount of the final corpus. Trying to time the market usually costs more than it saves.
Fix
Start now — the calculator quantifies the cost of a one-year delay so you can see what waiting really costs.
Confusing absolute return with annual return
Why it matters
Seeing "+94% absolute return" and thinking it's the yearly rate (it's the cumulative growth over the whole period) leads to wildly wrong comparisons.
Fix
Compare funds on annualised return (CAGR/XIRR). This tool shows both the annual input and the cumulative absolute return so they're never mixed up.
Stopping the SIP when markets fall
Why it matters
Falling markets are exactly when your fixed SIP buys the most units — pausing locks in the downside and breaks the cost-averaging that makes SIPs work.
Fix
Keep the SIP running through volatility. If anything, a market dip is the time a step-up helps most.
Tips
Get more from your SIP
Step up every year
A 5–10% annual increase tracks your salary and compounds into a much larger corpus for a small monthly bump.
Start early, not big
Time in the market beats amount. A smaller SIP started years earlier often beats a larger one started late.
Plan in real terms
Set your goal in today's money, inflate it to its future cost, then target the inflation-adjusted maturity value.
Keep the rate honest
Use 10–12% for equity. A conservative assumption that you beat is far safer than an optimistic one you miss.
Don't pause in downturns
Falling prices buy more units. Staying invested through dips is where cost-averaging pays off.
Match horizon to goal
Equity SIPs suit 7+ year goals; for shorter goals, a lower-return, lower-volatility assumption is more realistic.
Use cases
When this calculator helps
The SIP Calculator works across every stage of the workflow.
Planning retirement
See what a monthly SIP builds over 20–30 years, and what it's worth after inflation when you actually retire.
Saving for a child
Work out the SIP needed for education or marriage, inflated to its future cost rather than today's price.
Comparing flat vs step-up
Quantify how much a yearly top-up adds, and decide whether the higher contribution is worth it.
First-time investors
Understand how a small monthly amount compounds — and why starting now beats waiting for a "better" time.
Reverse-checking a goal
Try different monthly amounts and horizons until the inflation-adjusted corpus matches your real target.
Setting a return assumption
Use the realism check to ground your expected return in long-run equity averages instead of a hopeful number.
Glossary
SIP & investing vocabulary
Every important term you'll encounter in this calculator and the broader topic.
- SIP
- Systematic Investment Plan — investing a fixed amount in a mutual fund at regular intervals (usually monthly) instead of a lump sum.
- Maturity value
- The total value of your SIP at the end of the period — all contributions plus the returns they compounded into.
- Step-up (top-up) SIP
- A SIP whose monthly amount automatically increases by a set percentage each year, usually to match income growth.
- Cost averaging
- Because you invest a fixed amount regularly, you buy more units when prices are low and fewer when high, smoothing your average cost.
- Annuity-due
- A stream of payments made at the START of each period. SIP calculators use it because your contribution is invested at the beginning of the month.
- Absolute return
- Total gain over the whole period as a % of money invested — different from the annual (per-year) return.
- CAGR
- Compound Annual Growth Rate — the smoothed per-year return. The right number for comparing funds (your "expected return" input is a CAGR).
- Inflation-adjusted (real) value
- A future amount expressed in today's purchasing power, so you know what it can actually buy.
- Wealth multiple
- Maturity value ÷ total invested — how many times your contributed money grew.
- Compounding
- Earning returns on your past returns, not just your contributions. It's why the later years of a long SIP grow the fastest.
Help & answers
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about how the SIP Calculator works.
01What is a SIP and how does a SIP calculator work?
A SIP invests a fixed monthly amount in a mutual fund at regular intervals. A SIP calculator projects the maturity value using the annuity-due formula: FV = P × [((1+i)^n−1)÷i] × (1+i). This one also shows returns separately, inflation-adjusted real worth, and your wealth multiple.
02How is SIP maturity value calculated?
It uses the annuity-due formula: FV = P × [((1+i)^n−1)÷i] × (1+i), where P is monthly amount, i is monthly return (annual÷12), n is months. The ×(1+i) reflects contributions at month-start — the convention Groww and Zerodha use. 1,000/month at 12% for one year gives 12,809.
03What is a step-up (or top-up) SIP, and how much does it add?
A step-up SIP raises your monthly investment by a set % each year, typically matching salary growth. Because higher contributions compound longer, a 10% annual step-up meaningfully boosts the final corpus. This calculator shows the exact step-up bonus versus a flat SIP of the same starting amount.
04Why does this calculator show an inflation-adjusted value?
Your maturity value in today's purchasing power is lower than the headline because inflation erodes buying power year by year. At 6% inflation, a 10,000,000 corpus in 20 years has the purchasing power of ~3,100,000 today — we deflate using Real Value = Maturity ÷ (1+inflation)^years. Set your goal against this inflation-adjusted figure, not the headline.
05What return rate should I assume for my SIP?
Plan with 10–12% for Indian large-cap equity SIPs, 8–11% for hybrid funds, and 6–8% for debt funds — these are long-run averages, not guarantees. The Nifty 50 has compounded at roughly 12% over multi-decade periods. Building a plan on 15–20% makes you under-save; we flag aggressive and unrealistic rates automatically.
06Are SIP returns guaranteed?
No. SIPs invest in market-linked mutual funds — returns are not guaranteed. A SIP calculator shows a projection at a constant assumed return, not a promise. Equity returns are volatile year to year; over 7+ year horizons cost averaging smooths this, but short-term losses are possible.
07SIP or lump sum — which is better?
A SIP spreads investment over time (cost averaging), lowering peak-entry risk — ideal for regular monthly income. A lump sum works immediately, winning in steady rising markets but hurting near peaks. Many stagger a large sum with an STP. Our SIP vs Lumpsum calculator compares both side by side.
08What does "returns overtake investment" mean?
It's the year cumulative returns exceed total contributions — compounding takes over as the bigger driver. Early on, contributions dominate; later, past returns compound faster. For a 12% equity SIP this crossover typically falls well into the second decade, which is why long horizons matter.
09What is the minimum amount for a SIP?
Most fund houses allow SIPs from 500/month; some offer 100 or 250. No upper limit exists. Compounding rewards time more than size, so starting small early often beats waiting to afford more — use the "cost of delaying a year" figure here to see exactly what waiting costs.
10Does this SIP calculator work for any currency or country?
Yes — fully global. Enter your monthly amount in any currency and all results come back in it. The math is universal; the benchmarks reference long-run equity returns that hold broadly in local-currency terms worldwide.
11How can I reach a specific goal amount with a SIP?
Work backwards: inflate your target to its future cost, then try monthly amounts and periods until the inflation-adjusted maturity matches. A longer horizon and annual step-up reach it with a smaller starting SIP. Our Goal SIP calculator solves for the monthly amount directly.
12Does the calculator account for taxes and exit loads?
No — it projects pre-tax, pre-cost maturity value, which is the standard approach. Real returns are reduced by CGT (in India: 12.5% on long-term equity gains, 20% short-term), any exit load, and the fund's expense ratio. Apply your local tax rules to the gains for a net figure.
Keep exploring
Related tools
Lumpsum Calculator
What a lumpsum investment grows into — total value, real worth, year by year.
Open tool
SIP vs Lumpsum Calculator
Compare SIP vs lumpsum on the same sum — verdict, gap, and when each wins.
Open tool
SIP Goal Calculator
Work backwards from your goal to find the exact monthly SIP you need.
Open tool
Retirement Calculator
Find the corpus you need and the monthly SIP to get there.
Open tool
FIRE Calculator
Your FIRE number, the earliest age you can retire, and whether it survives.
Open tool
Capital Gains Tax Calculator
Work out STCG and LTCG tax on shares, property and gold.
Open tool
In-Hand Salary Calculator
Convert CTC to monthly take-home with full tax and deduction breakdown.
Open tool
Category
Operational Financial Planning
Subcategory
personal finance
Availability
Global · 9 markets
Price
Free forever
Topics
sip calculatorsipsystematic investment planmutual fund calculatorstep up sip calculatorsip returnssip maturity valueinvestment calculatorinflation adjusted returnswealth calculatorstock sip calculatormonthly sip calculator
Explore 500+ more tools
Calculators, simulators, and decision tools for every stage of business operations.