Retirement Corpus Calculator: How Much You Need, and Where Those Big Multiples Come From
You may have heard that you need 70, 100 or even 116 times your yearly expenses to retire. These numbers are not magic; each one comes from a few assumptions about inflation, returns and how long retirement lasts. Change the assumptions and the number changes a lot. This calculator lets you put in your own.
- 5 years to retirement30 times
- 10 years40 times
- 15 years54 times
- 20 years72 times
- 25 years96 times
- 30 years129 times
In this guide
Quick answer
- Your retirement number = what your expenses will be at retirement × how many years they must be paid for, adjusted for the return you earn meanwhile.
- Rough multiples (6% inflation, 7% return after retirement, 25-year retirement): 40× today's yearly expenses with 10 years to go, 72× with 20 years, 96× with 25 years.
- Big quoted numbers like 116× come from stricter assumptions, for example 7% inflation, 7% return and a 30-year retirement.
- Count only assets that can pay you: not the house you live in.
- Use the calculator below with your own figures; then see the monthly SIP needed.
Retirement corpus calculator
Work out your retirement number
How the calculation works
The calculator does four simple things:
- Grows today's expenses to retirement: ₹30,000 a month today, at 6% inflation for 25 years, becomes about ₹1.29 lakh a month at 60.
- Works out the fund that can pay those expenses for the whole retirement, rising with inflation each year, while the remaining money earns the post-retirement return.
- Subtracts what your existing savings will grow to by retirement.
- Finds the monthly SIP that closes the gap, either the same amount every month or a smaller starting amount raised 10% a year.
The multiple is just the corpus divided by today's yearly expenses. It is a handy way to compare plans, but it is only as good as its assumptions.
Why experts quote such different multiples
Three assumptions drive the multiple: inflation, the return after retirement, and how long retirement lasts. For someone 20 years from retirement:
| Assumptions | Multiple of today's yearly expenses |
|---|---|
| 5% inflation, 7% return, 25-year retirement | about 53 |
| 6% inflation, 7% return, 25-year retirement | about 72 |
| 6% inflation, 7% return, 30-year retirement | about 84 |
| 7% inflation, 7% return, 30-year retirement | about 116 |
| 7% inflation, 6% return, 30-year retirement | about 134 |
None of these is wrong; they describe different futures. A stricter set (higher inflation, longer life, lower return) gives a bigger, safer target. If a number sounds impossibly large, look at the assumptions behind it before giving up.
A worked example
Our own illustration: a 35-year-old spending ₹30,000 a month, planning to retire at 60 and to plan until 85, with ₹5 lakh already saved for retirement. Assumptions: 6% inflation, 10% return before retirement, 7% after.
- Monthly expenses at 60: about ₹1.29 lakh.
- Corpus needed at 60: about ₹3.46 crore, roughly 96 times today's yearly expenses.
- The ₹5 lakh saved grows to about ₹54 lakh by 60.
- Gap: about ₹2.92 crore, which needs a SIP of about ₹21,800 a month for 25 years, or a SIP starting at about ₹8,900 and raised 10% every year.
The step-up route is how most salaried people actually manage it: start with what you can, and raise it with every increment.
What to count, and what not to
- Count: EPF, PPF, NPS, mutual funds, fixed deposits, bonds, and property that earns rent.
- Do not count: the house you live in, jewellery you will not sell, or money promised to children's education and weddings.
- Plan separately for: a child's education or marriage, and a medical fund for big health costs.
- Revisit every two or three years: update expenses, savings and assumptions.
If the number is too big
Every one of these lowers the gap:
- Start or increase the SIP now: time does the heavy lifting.
- Step up every year: even 5–10% a year changes the result sharply.
- Retire a few years later, or plan part-time income after 60.
- Reduce expected expenses: an own house, no loans at retirement and good health cover cut the number a lot.
- Keep EPF and PPF intact when changing jobs.
For smaller incomes, our guide to retirement planning on a ₹15,000–30,000 salary shows a realistic plan built on government pension schemes. Once you reach retirement, our guide to investing a retirement corpus after 60 covers how to draw income safely.
Final word
Your retirement number is not a figure to fear; it is the output of a few assumptions you can see and adjust. Use the calculator with realistic inflation and conservative returns, count only assets that can pay you, and start a SIP that rises with your income. Recheck every few years. A plan you understand and update beats a frightening number you ignore.
This calculator and guide are general information, not investment advice. Results depend entirely on the assumptions entered; actual inflation and returns will differ, and mutual fund returns are not guaranteed. Consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser for a plan specific to you.
How we made this guide
- Facts checked against 2 sources, listed at the end of the guide.
- Worked examples and calculations are our own, with the assumptions stated in the guide.
- Last updated November 4, 2026. We revise guides when rules and prices change.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to retire in India?
It depends on your current expenses, how many years are left to retirement, inflation, the return you earn after retirement and how long retirement lasts. As a rough guide, with 6% inflation, a 7% post-retirement return and a 25-year retirement, someone 25 years from retirement needs about 96 times their current yearly expenses. Use the calculator for your own figures.
Where does a retirement multiple like 116 come from?
It is the corpus needed divided by today's yearly expenses. It grows with inflation until you retire, and then depends on how long retirement lasts and how the post-retirement return compares with inflation. For example, if inflation and post-retirement return are both 7% and retirement lasts 30 years, the multiple for someone 20 years from retirement works out to about 116. With 6% inflation and a 25-year retirement it is about 72.
Should I count my house in my retirement corpus?
Not the house you live in, because you still need a place to live and it does not pay your bills. Count only assets you can turn into income: EPF, PPF, mutual funds, deposits, bonds and rent-earning property.
What return should I assume?
Be conservative. Many planners assume around 10% a year for a long-term equity-heavy portfolio before retirement and 6–8% after retirement, when the portfolio is shifted towards debt. Lower assumptions give a bigger, safer target.
What inflation should I assume?
Household inflation in India has often been 5–7% a year, and medical costs usually rise faster. RBI projects consumer inflation at about 5.2% for 2026-27. Using 6% for planning is a reasonable middle path.
What if the required SIP is too high for my income?
Start with what you can, raise it every year with your salary, keep your EPF intact, delay retirement by a few years if possible, and plan for some part-time income after 60. Each of these lowers the gap a lot. Our guide to retirement planning on a ₹15,000–30,000 salary covers the low-income case.