SIP Calculator
Calculate SIP returns, step-up SIP with annual increments, or find the monthly SIP needed to reach your financial goal.
📈 What is a SIP?
A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is a disciplined approach to investing in mutual funds where you invest a fixed amount at regular intervals — typically monthly — rather than making a one-time lump sum investment. Think of it as a recurring deposit into a mutual fund instead of a bank account, with the potential for much higher long-term returns.
When you start a SIP, your money buys units of a mutual fund at the current Net Asset Value (NAV) on your chosen date each month. When the market is down, your fixed amount buys more units. When the market is up, it buys fewer units. Over time, this averaging effect — called rupee cost averaging — reduces the risk of investing at a market peak and smooths out volatility.
The real magic of SIP investing is compound growth. Your returns generate returns in subsequent months, creating an accelerating snowball effect over years and decades. A modest monthly SIP of ₹5,000 at 12% annual returns for 20 years grows into approximately ₹49.96 lakh — compared to a total investment of just ₹12 lakh. The additional ₹37.96 lakh comes entirely from compounding.
This calculator supports three modes: Regular SIP for standard projection, Step-Up SIP (also called Top-Up SIP) for modelling annual increments aligned with salary hikes, and Reverse SIP for goal-based planning — answering "how much SIP do I need to reach ₹1 crore in 15 years?"
SIPs are suitable for a wide range of investors. They are ideal for salaried individuals who have a regular monthly income, people who want to build wealth gradually without monitoring markets daily, and investors who want to maintain financial discipline. SIPs can be paused, stopped, or increased at any time, making them extremely flexible compared to traditional fixed-income instruments.
Important caveat: unlike fixed deposits or PPF, SIP returns are not guaranteed because mutual fund performance depends on market conditions. The return rate you enter in this calculator is an assumed annual return for illustration purposes only. Historical equity mutual fund returns in India have averaged between 12% and 15% over 15–20 year periods, but past performance does not guarantee future returns.
📐 SIP Formula
This is the future value of an annuity-due formula (payments at the beginning of each period). For Step-Up SIP, the monthly amount P increases by the step-up percentage each year, so each year's 12 instalments are compounded for the remaining period. There is no single closed-form formula; the calculator iterates month-by-month. For Reverse SIP, the formula is rearranged: P = M ÷ [((1+r)n − 1) / r × (1+r)], solving for the required monthly amount given a target maturity M.
📖 How to Use This Calculator
Regular SIP — Step-by-Step
Step-Up SIP — Modelling Annual Increments
Reverse SIP — Goal-Based Planning
💡 Example Calculations
Example 1 — Regular SIP for Retirement
₹10,000/month at 12% for 25 years
Example 2 — Step-Up SIP Advantage
₹5,000/month, 10% annual step-up, 12% return, 20 years
Example 3 — Reverse SIP: ₹1 Crore Goal
Target ₹1 crore at 12% return in 15 years
📋 SIP Quick Reference Table
Estimated maturity values at 12% annual return. Use as a quick guide for goal planning — use the calculator above for exact numbers with your preferred rate.
| Monthly SIP | 10 Years | 15 Years | 20 Years | 25 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ₹1,000 | ₹2.32 L | ₹5.02 L | ₹9.99 L | ₹18.98 L |
| ₹3,000 | ₹6.96 L | ₹15.07 L | ₹29.97 L | ₹56.93 L |
| ₹5,000 | ₹11.60 L | ₹25.11 L | ₹49.96 L | ₹94.88 L |
| ₹10,000 | ₹23.21 L | ₹50.23 L | ₹99.91 L | ₹1.90 Cr |
| ₹20,000 | ₹46.41 L | ₹1.00 Cr | ₹1.99 Cr | ₹3.80 Cr |
| ₹50,000 | ₹1.16 Cr | ₹2.51 Cr | ₹4.99 Cr | ₹9.49 Cr |
Values are rounded for readability. Actual returns vary with market performance. For goal-based reverse calculations, use the Reverse SIP tab above.
🎯 SIP for Common Financial Goals
Below are indicative monthly SIP amounts at 12% annual return for popular goals. Use these as a starting benchmark and adjust with the calculator for your specific timeline and risk appetite.
Child's Higher Education (in 15 years)
Retirement Corpus (in 25 years)
Home Down Payment (in 5 years)
Emergency Fund / Liquid Reserve (in 3 years)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔗 Related Calculators
What is a SIP and how does it work?
A SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is a method of investing a fixed amount regularly - typically monthly - into a mutual fund or index fund. Over time, you benefit from cost averaging (buying more units when prices are low) and the power of compounding returns.
What is Step-Up SIP and how is it different from regular SIP?
A Step-Up SIP (also called Top-Up SIP) is a variant where you increase your monthly investment by a fixed percentage every year. For example, you start with ₹5,000/month and increase it by 10% each year: Year 2 becomes ₹5,500, Year 3 becomes ₹6,050, and so on. This aligns with salary hikes and dramatically boosts your final corpus. A ₹5,000/month regular SIP at 12% for 20 years yields ~₹49.96 lakh; the same SIP with 10% annual step-up yields approximately ₹1.08 crore - more than double.
How much SIP do I need to accumulate ₹1 crore?
The required monthly SIP depends on the expected return and time horizon. At 12% annual return: to reach ₹1 crore in 10 years, you need approximately ₹43,500/month; in 15 years, approximately ₹17,400/month; in 20 years, approximately ₹8,500/month. Use the Reverse SIP tab on this calculator to get the exact number for your target and tenure.
Is SIP income taxed in India?
Yes. SIP gains in equity mutual funds are taxed as capital gains on each instalment separately. Gains on units held for more than 1 year are Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) taxed at 12.5% on gains exceeding ₹1.25 lakh per financial year (FY2025-26 rate, revised from the earlier 10%/₹1 lakh rule). Gains on units redeemed within 1 year are Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG) taxed at 20%. ELSS SIPs also qualify for ₹1.5 lakh Section 80C deduction.
What happens if I miss a SIP payment?
Missing a SIP instalment is not a disaster. Your mutual fund account remains open, accumulated units are unaffected, and the fund house will simply not debit that month. After 2-3 consecutive missed payments, the SIP mandate may be paused or cancelled by the AMC, but you can restart it. There is no penalty for missing a payment, though it reduces your total invested amount and final corpus proportionally.
Is SIP return guaranteed?
No. SIP returns are market-linked and depend on the fund's performance. The return rate you enter is an assumed annual return for projection purposes. Historical global equity fund returns have averaged 8-14% annually over long periods, but past performance does not guarantee future results.
SIP vs PPF - which is better?
Both serve different purposes. PPF offers guaranteed, tax-free returns (~7.1% p.a. in 2024) with full capital safety - ideal for the risk-averse or as a debt component. Equity SIPs have historically returned 12-15% over long periods with market risk. For pure wealth building over 15+ years, equity SIP has delivered significantly higher returns. Many advisors recommend a combination: SIP for growth, PPF for stability. See our PPF Calculator to compare numbers directly.
SIP vs lump sum - which is better?
In a consistently rising market, a lump sum invested at the start outperforms SIP because it compounds for the entire period. In volatile markets, SIP wins by averaging costs across cycles. For most salaried investors with regular income and limited lump sum capital, SIP is the more practical and psychologically sustainable approach. Use our Compound Interest Calculator to model a lump sum scenario and compare.
Can I increase my SIP amount?
Yes, in two ways. You can either manually increase your SIP amount at any time by submitting a new SIP registration for a higher amount (the old SIP continues alongside). Or, many AMCs and platforms offer a Step-Up SIP facility that auto-increases the debit by a fixed amount or percentage annually. Use the Step-Up SIP tab on this calculator to project the impact of annual increments on your corpus.