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CAGR calculator
Find the compound annual growth rate of a lumpsum — mutual funds, stocks, gold, or any two values. Type a start, an end, and a holding period in years or months. Optional rupee formatting. The chart is a smoothed path at that rate, not a forecast.
CAGR calculator
Start, end, and time
Lumpsum only. SIP, STP, and SWP need XIRR.
Result
Compound rate and rupee gain
| Point | Value | Gain vs start |
|---|
How this CAGR calculator works
Compound annual growth rate is the single yearly rate that would take your starting value to your ending value if it compounded once a year, with no extra deposits. Indian asset-management companies print 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year CAGRs on factsheets for exactly this reason: it lets you compare a lumpsum held for different lengths of time.
CagrRupee does not pull NAVs, does not know your folio, and does not talk to a broker. You bring two numbers you already have — the amount invested (or the value on date A) and the value on date B — plus how long that stretch was.
The formula
If S is the start, E the end, and n the years:
Months are converted first: n = months ÷ 12. An 18-month holding is 1.5 years. The result is still an annual rate, so you can compare it with a 3-year or 5-year fund CAGR. The monthly equivalent shown in the result is (1 + CAGR)^(1/12) − 1, useful if you think in SIP instalments, not as a substitute for XIRR.
Absolute gain versus the annual rate
Absolute gain is E − S. Absolute return is that gain divided by the start. Both ignore time. ₹1 lakh that becomes ₹1.8 lakh is an 80% absolute return whether it took fourteen months or eight years. CAGR is what makes those two stories incomparable — and why a “80% return!” screenshot without a date range is not a useful number.
Read the longer comparison inCAGR vs absolute return.
Using it for Indian mutual funds, FDs, and gold
For a lumpsum in a mutual fund: start is what you invested (or the value of those units on the buy date), end is the current value of the same units, period is the holding. Do not mix in later SIPs. For a bank FD, start is the principal, end is maturity proceeds, period is the tenor. For gold or a stock, use the rupee value of the same quantity on two dates.
Presets on the calculator — “index-like 10y”, “FD-like 5y”, “ELSS-like 5y” — are rounded illustrations, not Nifty, SBI, or any AMC’s live history.
What the growth-path chart is — and is not
The optional chart compounds the start at the computed CAGR. It answers “what would a smooth 12% a year have looked like?”, not “what did this NAV actually do in March 2020?”. Real markets gap, crash, and recover. Treat the path as a geometric illustration.
What this number cannot tell you
- Inflation. A 12% nominal CAGR with 5% inflation is a very different real rate.
- Tax. Equity LTCG, debt fund rules, and TDS on FDs sit outside the formula.
- Expense ratios already embedded in NAV — you do not add them again, but you also cannot reverse them here.
- Risk, drawdowns, or whether you could have held through them.
- Future returns. Past CAGR is not a forecast.
A worked rupee example
Suppose ₹1,25,000 invested in an equity fund on 1 April 2019 is worth ₹2,41,800 on 1 April 2025 — six full years. Absolute gain is ₹1,16,800 (93.4%). CAGR is about 11.6% a year. The same corpus in a 6.5% FD would have been near ₹1.82 lakh. Walk through the arithmetic inthe mutual-fund worked example.
Read next
What is CAGR? Compound annual growth rate, without the fog
CAGR is the constant yearly rate that takes a starting value to an ending value. Formula, worked rupee example, and how Indian fund houses use it.
CAGR vs absolute return: why 80% in five years is not 16% a year
Absolute return ignores time. CAGR annualises it. When each number is useful for Indian mutual funds, stocks, and gold.
CAGR vs XIRR: lumpsum math versus SIP cash flows
CAGR assumes one investment and one ending value. SIPs, STPs, and SWPs need XIRR. A plain-language intro for Indian investors.
Worked example: six-year CAGR on a lumpsum Indian equity fund
A step-by-step mutual fund example: ₹1.25 lakh invested in 2019, valued in 2025. CAGR, absolute gain, FD comparison, and tax notes.
FAQ
What does this CAGR calculator do?
It takes a starting value, an ending value, and a holding period in years or months, then reports the compound annual growth rate, the rupee (or unit) gain, the simple absolute return, and — if you want it — a smoothed growth path at that constant rate.
What is the CAGR formula?
CAGR = (End ÷ Start)^(1 ÷ Years) − 1. If you enter months, the calculator converts them to years (months ÷ 12) before applying the same formula, so the result is still an annual rate.
Can I use this for Indian mutual funds?
Yes, for a lumpsum: the amount you invested and the current value of those units, over the years you held them. It will not correctly annualise a SIP, STP, or SWP — those need XIRR because money went in (or out) on many dates.
Why is CAGR different from the percentage gain I see on the statement?
The statement often shows absolute return — (end − start) ÷ start — which ignores how long you waited. A 50% gain in one year and a 50% gain in five years look identical as absolute return and very different as CAGR.
Does the chart show actual NAV history?
No. The chart is a geometric path: it compounds your start value at the computed CAGR. Real NAVs bounce. Use the chart to visualise the implied smooth rate, not the journey the market actually took.
Is the result inflation-adjusted or after tax?
Neither. This is a nominal, pre-tax CAGR on the two values you type. Indian equity LTCG, indexation history on debt, and inflation all sit outside the formula. Subtract tax or inflate the start value yourself if you want a rougher real or post-tax read.
What if the ending value is lower than the start?
You get a negative CAGR. That is still a valid compound rate — the constant yearly decline that takes you from start to end.
Do I have to use rupees?
No. Switch the currency toggle off and the same maths runs on plain numbers. INR mode only changes formatting (₹ and the Indian grouping 12,34,567).
Is this financial advice?
No. CagrRupee is an educational calculator. It does not recommend funds, stocks, or any action. Read the disclaimer before you treat any number as a decision.
More legal wording lives on the disclaimer and privacy pages. This CAGR calculator is an educational tool. It is not SEBI-registered advice and not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or mutual fund.