Investment Return Calculator
Start with an amount you already have, add a fixed sum every month, and see where it ends up. This is the calculator to use when your plan involves both a lump sum and a SIP.
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How to use this calculator
- Enter starting amount — What you are investing today. Enter 0 if you are starting from nothing. (optional — leave it as it is if it does not apply)
- Enter monthly contribution — Added at the start of every month. (optional — leave it as it is if it does not apply)
- Enter investment period
- Enter expected annual return
- Read the result — it updates as you type.
The formula used
FV = P × (1 + i)n + M × [ ((1 + i)n − 1) ÷ i ] × (1 + i)
- P
- Starting amount
- M
- Monthly contribution
- i
- Monthly return = annual ÷ 12 ÷ 100
- n
- Number of months
Two standard formulas added together: compound growth on the starting amount, plus the future value of the monthly contributions. Both use monthly compounding so they are directly comparable.
Worked example
₹2,00,000 today plus ₹10,000 a month for 15 years at 12%.
- Lump sum part₹2,00,000 × 1.01¹⁸⁰ = ₹11,99,160
- Monthly part₹10,000 SIP for 180 months = ₹50,45,760
- ₹11,99,160 + ₹50,45,760 = ₹62,44,920
You invest ₹20,00,000 in total and end with about ₹62.4 lakh — roughly ₹42.4 lakh of it from growth.
Why combine a lump sum with a SIP?
Most real plans look like this: you have some savings now, and you can add something every month. Splitting that across two calculators gives you two numbers you then have to add up yourself — this one does it in a single step.
Which part does more work?
Over short periods the lump sum dominates, because it compounds from day one. Over long periods the monthly contributions usually win on sheer volume — in the example above, ₹10,000 a month contributes far more to the final figure than the initial ₹2 lakh.
Keep the assumptions honest
One steady return rate is a simplification. Run the numbers again two or three percentage points lower and treat that as your realistic floor.
Tips and common mistakes
Getting more out of it
- Set the starting amount to zero to see how much the monthly habit alone achieves — it is usually the larger share over long periods.
- If your income is likely to rise, the Step-Up SIP Calculator will give you a more realistic picture than a flat monthly amount.
Mistakes to avoid
- Counting money that is already committed elsewhere as the starting amount.
- Using one optimistic rate for a plan spanning decades, when a lower rate is the safer basis for decisions.
- Forgetting that fund expenses come out of the return — enter a rate already net of them if you want caution.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set the starting amount to zero?
Yes. With no starting amount this behaves exactly like the SIP Calculator. With no monthly contribution it behaves like the Lump Sum Calculator.
Does it assume monthly compounding?
Yes, for both parts, which is the standard convention for market-linked investments and keeps the two halves consistent.
What if my monthly amount will increase?
Use the Step-Up SIP Calculator, which raises the instalment by a set percentage every year.
Are taxes and charges included?
No. The figures are before tax and before any fund expenses. Enter a slightly lower return to account for costs.
Related calculators
See what a monthly SIP could grow into over time.
Investment Lump Sum CalculatorGrowth of a one-time investment at an expected annual return.
Investment Step-Up SIP CalculatorSIP where you increase the monthly amount every year.
Investment Mutual Fund Goal CalculatorThe monthly SIP needed to reach a target amount.
Mutual Funds Retirement CalculatorCorpus you need at retirement and the SIP to get there.
Retirement CAGR CalculatorCompound Annual Growth Rate between a start and end value.
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