How much do you need to invest each month to reach ₹1 crore?
Most calculators tell you what an amount grows into. The more useful question runs the other way: you know the target, you need the monthly figure. That is what this solves.
Monthly SIP needed to reach ₹1 crore at 12% a year
| Years you have | Monthly SIP needed | Total you invest | Growth does the rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 years | ₹43,040 | ₹51,64,865 | ₹48,35,135 |
| 15 years | ₹19,820 | ₹35,67,351 | ₹64,32,649 |
| 20 years | ₹10,010 | ₹24,02,046 | ₹75,97,954 |
| 25 years | ₹5,270 | ₹15,80,915 | ₹84,19,085 |
Same destination in every row. Five extra years between the 10- and 15-year plan cuts the monthly requirement by more than half, which is the entire argument for starting now rather than starting bigger.
Time matters more than the amount
Look down the third column. Reaching ₹1 crore in ten years needs you to contribute about ₹51 lakh of your own money. Over twenty-five years it needs about ₹16 lakh, and growth supplies the other ₹84 lakh.
Nothing about the target changed. The only difference is how long compounding was given to work, which is why the most valuable financial decision available to most people is simply starting earlier with a smaller amount.
Pick a return you would be comfortable missing
These figures assume 12% a year. That is a common planning assumption for Indian equity over long horizons, and it is an assumption, not an entitlement. Ten-year windows have delivered considerably less.
Run your target at 10% as well. If the plan only works at 12%, it is not a plan, it is a hope with a spreadsheet attached. If it works at 10% and 12% is a bonus, you have something you can actually rely on.
₹1 crore will not be ₹1 crore
A crore in twenty years does not buy what a crore buys today. At 6% inflation its purchasing power is roughly a third of today's. If the goal is a real-world thing — a house, an education, a retirement income — set the target in today's money and let the inflation adjustment show you what the nominal figure has to be.
This is the step that most goal planning skips, and it is the reason people arrive at a target on schedule and find it does not cover what they bought it for.
When the number is more than you can afford
There are only four levers, and it is worth being honest about which one you are pulling.
- Invest more — the direct route, and usually the constrained one.
- Give it longer — by far the most powerful, as the table shows.
- Step it up annually — start at what you can afford and raise it as income grows.
- Lower the target — the least popular and sometimes the correct answer.
Taking more risk is not on that list on purpose. Raising your assumed return does not raise your actual return; it just makes the shortfall arrive later and with less warning.
Frequently asked questions
About ₹19,820 a month at an assumed 12% a year. You would contribute roughly ₹35.7 lakh of that yourself and growth would supply the rest. At a more conservative 10% the monthly figure is meaningfully higher, which is worth checking before you commit.
On its own, usually not, and it depends entirely on your expenses and how many years it has to last. Use the retirement calculator, which works from the income you need rather than from a round number.
For long-horizon equity, 10–12% is the common planning range in India. Test your goal at the lower end. Debt-heavy portfolios should assume considerably less.
A lump sum invested early generally beats the same money spread over time, because it compounds for longer. The trade-off is timing risk, which is why many people split the difference and stagger a large amount over several months.
- Educational purpose only. This calculator is for educational and planning purposes only. Results are estimates based on standard financial formulas and current assumptions. They are not financial advice.
- Investment risks. Investment returns and financial outcomes are subject to market risks and uncertainties. All investments carry inherent risk, and you may lose some or all of your invested capital.
- Professional consultation required. These calculations do not constitute financial, investment, or tax advice. We strongly recommend consulting a qualified financial advisor, tax professional, or legal expert before making financial decisions.
- Accuracy limitations. While we strive for accuracy, actual results may vary due to market conditions, regulatory changes, fees, taxes, and other factors not accounted for here. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- Regulatory compliance. Please ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction when making financial decisions based on these calculations. Tax laws and financial regulations vary by region.
- Data privacy & security. All calculations run locally in your browser. We do not store, transmit, or collect any personal financial information you enter here.