SIP Delay Cost Calculator
Delaying a ₹10,000 monthly SIP by 3 years, with the same end date 20 years away, costs about ₹33.12 lakh at an assumed 12% a year.
Last reviewed
Compounding rewards time in the market. This calculator compares starting a SIP today with starting the same SIP a few years later.
Example
A ₹10,000 monthly SIP for 20 years at 12% grows to about ₹99,91,479. Starting 3 years later gives about ₹66,79,208 — ₹33,12,271 less.
SIP Delay Cost Calculator scenarios
| Start delayed by | Amount invested | Value at the end | Cost of delay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start now | ₹24.00 lakh | ₹99.91 lakh | — |
| 1 year | ₹22.80 lakh | ₹87.53 lakh | ₹12.38 lakh |
| 2 years | ₹21.60 lakh | ₹76.54 lakh | ₹23.37 lakh |
| 3 years | ₹20.40 lakh | ₹66.79 lakh | ₹33.12 lakh |
| 5 years | ₹18.00 lakh | ₹50.46 lakh | ₹49.46 lakh |
| 10 years | ₹12.00 lakh | ₹23.23 lakh | ₹76.68 lakh |
What changes the result
- Length of the delay — each year lost removes the instalments that would have compounded the longest.
- The total horizon: a delay matters more when the end date is fixed (for example, retirement at 60).
- The assumed return: the higher it is, the costlier each year of delay.
- Whether you invest more later to catch up, which the SIP needed for a goal shows.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your monthly SIP and expected return.
- Enter the total investment horizon in years.
- Enter how many years you might delay starting.
- Compare the value if you start now with the value if you start later.
SIP Delay Cost Calculator FAQs
Should I wait for the market to fall before starting?
Timing the market is hard. A SIP invests regularly through ups and downs, and delaying usually costs more than it saves.
Why does a short delay cost so much?
With a fixed end date, the instalments you skip are the earliest ones — the money that would have compounded for the longest time.
How much more do I need to invest to catch up?
Use the Goal Planner or SIP calculator with the shorter period to find the higher monthly amount needed to reach the same final value.
Results are estimates for planning only and are not financial, tax or investment advice. Check figures with your bank, fund house or tax adviser before acting on them.