Calculator
RD Calculator
A recurring deposit (RD) lets you invest a fixed amount every month with a bank or post office and earn a guaranteed, FD-like rate on each instalment. It suits salaried savers who want the safety of a deposit but cannot park a lump sum upfront. This calculator estimates what your RD will be worth at maturity and how much of that is interest, based on your monthly amount, rate, and tenure. Because each instalment compounds for a different length of time, an RD earns less than a one-time FD of the same total — but it builds a strong savings habit.
The fixed amount you deposit every month.
RD rates are similar to FD rates at the same bank.
RDs usually run from 6 months to 10 years.
Invested vs wealth gained over time
- Invested
- Gains
This is an approximation using monthly compounding; most banks actually compound RD interest quarterly, so your real maturity may differ slightly. RD interest is fully taxable at your slab, and TDS applies once interest crosses ₹40,000 a year (₹50,000 for senior citizens). This figure is pre-tax.
What your result means
- An RD rewards monthly discipline at a fixed rate, but the interest is taxable at your slab — so the post-tax return trails the headline number.
- For goals beyond ~5 years, a flat-return RD usually loses to an equity SIP; reserve RDs for safe, short-term targets.
- Maturity here uses standard quarterly compounding; your bank may round differently, so treat it as a close estimate.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the fixed amount you can deposit every month.
- Enter the RD interest rate your bank or post office offers.
- Set the tenure in months — RDs typically run 6 months to 10 years.
- Read the maturity value, then compare it against total invested to see the interest.
- Adjust the monthly amount or tenure to hit a specific savings target.
The formula
Maturity = M × [((1 + i)ⁿ − 1) ÷ i] × (1 + i), where M = monthly deposit, i = monthly rate (annual ÷ 12 ÷ 100), and n = number of months. Total invested = M × n. Interest = Maturity − Total invested.
Worked example
Depositing ₹5,000 a month at 6.5% per year for 60 months (5 years): i ≈ 0.00542, n = 60. Maturity ≈ ₹3,55,000 against a total investment of ₹3,00,000, so roughly ₹55,000 is interest. A one-time FD of ₹3,00,000 at the same rate for 5 years would earn more, because the full amount compounds from day one — the RD trades some return for the convenience of monthly saving.
When to use it
- Building a savings habit when you cannot invest a lump sum upfront.
- Saving for a near-term goal like a vacation, gadget, or festival expense.
- Parking a portion of your salary safely each month without market risk.
- Comparing an RD against a monthly SIP to weigh safety versus growth potential.