Explore a one-time investment
See how time, returns and inflation could change its value.
| After | Value |
|---|
How we calculate this
Value = amount × (1 + yearly return)^(months ÷ 12) Value in today's money = value ÷ (1 + inflation)^(months ÷ 12) (Inflation is divided out, not subtracted from the return.)
Calculation version 0.3 · A steady yearly return is a simplification. Taxes and costs you didn't include aren't counted.
Related: Monthly SIP plan · FD calculator · Emergency fund first
How to read your lumpsum result
A lumpsum is money you invest once, all at the start, for example in a mutual fund. This calculator shows what that amount could grow to if it earned the yearly return you type in. The result is a scenario built on your assumption. It is not a forecast or a promise.
What the numbers mean
You invest is the single amount you put in.
Value at the end is that amount grown at your expected return for the period you chose. The line under it shows the period in years.
Gain is the value at the end minus what you put in. If you enter a negative return, the label changes to Loss.
Value in today’s money appears only when you tick the inflation box. Inflation means prices rise over time, so the same rupees buy less later. This number shows what the end value could buy at today’s prices.
The table shows the value after each full year. If your period isn’t a whole number of years, the last row shows the part year (for example “2.5 years” for 30 months).
Worked example
The page opens with a fictional ₹1,00,000 invested for 60 months at an expected 10% a year. The 10% is a sample input, not a return we expect from any fund.
| After | Value |
|---|---|
| 1 year | ₹1,10,000 |
| 2 years | ₹1,21,000 |
| 3 years | ₹1,33,100 |
| 4 years | ₹1,46,410 |
| 5 years | ₹1,61,051 |
So the value at the end is ₹1,61,051, and the gain is ₹61,051. Each year grows on the year before, which is why the yearly increase gets bigger.
Now tick “Show the value in today’s money” and keep the starting inflation of 5%. The value in today’s money is ₹1,26,188. That is what ₹1,61,051 in five years could buy at today’s prices, if prices rise 5% every year.
We divide out inflation; we don’t subtract it. A quick shortcut would be “10% minus 5% = 5% a year”, and that gives ₹1,27,628. The shortcut overstates what your money can buy by ₹1,440 here. The gap grows the longer you stay invested.
What this tool doesn’t do
It assumes the same return every year. Real investments go up and down, and they can lose value, so the path will be bumpy even if the average turns out close. Enter a return after fund costs. Mutual funds charge an expense ratio (a yearly fee taken from the fund). A return before that fee will make the result look too high. The tool doesn’t include tax on gains or exit loads (a charge some funds take if you sell early). It doesn’t look at the past returns of any fund or compare funds. It won’t tell you what to buy either. If you plan to invest a fixed amount every month instead, use the SIP calculator.
Money you may need soon belongs in savings you can reach quickly, not in an investment that can fall. And be wary of anyone who promises you a fixed high return.
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Frequently asked questions
What return should I enter in a lumpsum calculator?
Enter your own assumption, and make it a return after fund costs. We don't suggest a figure, and past returns don't promise future ones. Try a few rates to see a range. In our fictional example, ₹1,00,000 for 5 years becomes ₹1,61,051 at 10% a year, but ₹1,46,933 at 8%. Plan around the lower result, not the higher one.
What does "value in today's money" mean?
It shows what the future amount could buy at today's prices. Prices usually rise over time, so ₹1,61,051 in five years buys less than it would today. At 5% inflation a year, it buys about what ₹1,26,188 buys now. We divide inflation out. Simply taking 5% off the return would show ₹1,27,628, which looks better than it is.
Can a lumpsum investment lose money?
Yes. Investments like mutual funds go up and down, and you can get back less than you put in. The calculator accepts a negative return to show this. At −10% a year, ₹1,00,000 falls to ₹59,049 after 5 years. If you may need the money soon, keep it in savings you can reach quickly. Be wary of anyone who promises a fixed high return.
Lumpsum or SIP: what's the difference?
A lumpsum puts all your money in on day one, so all of it is exposed to the market from the start. A SIP (systematic investment plan) invests a fixed amount every month. Neither one promises a result. Which suits you depends on when you have the money and how much risk you can carry. Compare both with the SIP calculator.
Does the calculator include tax and fund charges?
No. It shows the value before tax on gains. It doesn't count exit loads (a charge some funds take if you sell early) either. Fund running costs are counted only if you enter a return after the expense ratio (the yearly fee a fund takes). The result is a scenario based on your inputs, not a forecast for any fund.