NAVs as of: 22 October 2026
- 3 years: ₹10,000 a month (₹3,60,000 in all) became ₹3,68,631 at the median, 1.56% a year
- 3 years: ₹3,60,000 invested at once became ₹4,78,884 at the median, 9.98% a year
- 3 years: every fund ended with more as a lumpsum than as a SIP
- 5 years: ₹10,000 a month (₹6,00,000 in all) became ₹7,56,297 at the median, 9.21% a year
- 5 years: ₹6,00,000 invested at once became ₹9,63,680 at the median, 9.93% a year
- 5 years: every fund ended with more as a lumpsum than as a SIP
SIP vs lumpsum in ELSS Tax Saver funds over five years resulted in a median SIP value of ₹7,56,297 from an investment of ₹6,00,000. Over the same period, the median lumpsum value reached ₹9,63,680. For the three-year window, the median SIP value was ₹3,68,631 from a total investment of ₹3,60,000. The median lumpsum value for this three-year period stood at ₹4,78,884.
How the comparison was made
Both ways of investing use the same funds: the Direct Growth plans of ELSS Tax Saver funds that have the whole period’s NAV history. The SIP puts in ₹10,000 on the first trading day of each month. The lumpsum puts in the same total, ₹6,00,000 for the 5-year window, on the first day. Both are valued at the NAV on 22 October 2026. The figures are the median across funds; the table also gives the lowest and highest fund. They describe what happened in these periods and say nothing about the next one.
SIP vs lumpsum in ELSS Tax Saver funds: the results
| Way of investing | Invested | Median value | Median annualised return | Lowest to highest fund |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years: SIP (36 × ₹10,000) | ₹3,60,000 | ₹3,68,631 | 1.56% | −4.07% to 8.83% |
| 3 years: lumpsum (₹3,60,000 on day one) | ₹3,60,000 | ₹4,78,884 | 9.98% | 2.19% to 19.20% |
| 5 years: SIP (60 × ₹10,000) | ₹6,00,000 | ₹7,56,297 | 9.21% | 4.26% to 15.91% |
| 5 years: lumpsum (₹6,00,000 on day one) | ₹6,00,000 | ₹9,63,680 | 9.93% | 4.46% to 15.49% |
Every fund ended with more as a lumpsum than as a SIP. Over three years, the median SIP value of ₹3,68,631 and the median lumpsum value of ₹4,78,884 show the median SIP value is lower than the median lumpsum value. Over five years, the median SIP value of ₹7,56,297 and the median lumpsum value of ₹9,63,680 show the median SIP value is lower than the median lumpsum value.
| Window | Funds with the full history | Lumpsum ended with more | SIP ended with more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years to 22 October 2026 | 50 | 50 | 0 |
| 5 years to 22 October 2026 | 45 | 45 | 0 |
FAQs
What is the difference between a SIP and a lumpsum?
A SIP invests a fixed amount at regular intervals, here on the first trading day of every month. A lumpsum invests the whole amount at once, here on the first day of the period.
How much did a ₹10,000 monthly SIP in ELSS Tax Saver funds become over 5 years?
Across 45 Direct Growth plans with the full history, ₹6,00,000 invested over 60 months became ₹7,56,297 at the median, a return of 9.21% a year. The funds ranged from ₹6,68,119 to ₹8,92,532.
Did a SIP or a lumpsum end with more in ELSS Tax Saver funds?
Over the 5 years to 22 October 2026, the median value of the SIP was lower than the median value of the lumpsum, and every fund ended with more as a lumpsum than as a SIP. The result belongs to this period; another period can differ.
Why is the SIP return not compared directly with the lumpsum return?
SIP money goes in over time, so each instalment is invested for a different length of time. The SIP return is the annualised rate that matches those dated cash flows; the lumpsum return is the annual rate over the whole period.
NAV data: Accord Fintech. Calculations: ThePip. For information only; not investment advice.