SampattiTrackWhat this calculator does
This calculator finds the XIRR (extended internal rate of return) of any set of dated cash flows. XIRR is the single annual rate that makes every payment and receipt, discounted to the first date, add up to zero. It is the usual way to measure the return on a SIP or on money added and withdrawn at different times. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
The formula
XIRR solves for the rate r in this equation, where each cash flow CF happens on a date d and d0 is the earliest date:
There is no closed-form answer. The calculator starts with Newton-Raphson iteration and falls back to bisection if that does not settle, so it reaches a rate whenever one exists. Days are counted exactly and divided by 365, the same convention spreadsheets use for their XIRR function.
A worked example
The form is pre-filled with this case. You invest ₹10,000 on 1 January 2025 and every quarter after that, five instalments in all, ending on 1 January 2026. On 1 April 2026 the holding is worth ₹55,000. You put in ₹50,000 and got back ₹55,000, so the absolute return is 10%. The XIRR is about 13.4% a year, because the later instalments were invested for a shorter time, so the same gain came from fewer rupee-days. The step-by-step working is in What Is XIRR?
How to use it
- Enter one row for each investment, as a negative amount, with its date.
- Enter the current value (or any amount you received) as a positive amount, with its date.
- Use Add row for more instalments and the remove button to delete one.
- Read the XIRR and the absolute return in the results panel.
Limitations
- Results are estimates based only on the numbers you enter. Missing a dividend, a switch or a withdrawal changes the answer.
- XIRR is annualised, so periods under a year can give very large or very small rates that you should not read as a forecast.
- If all amounts have the same sign, or the dates are identical, no rate exists and you will see a message.
- Taxes, exit loads and charges are not modelled unless you include them as cash flows.
Frequently asked questions
What does a negative XIRR mean?
Your cash flows lost money on an annualised basis. The final value is lower than what you put in, after allowing for timing.
Why do I need a negative and a positive amount?
XIRR finds the rate at which money invested and money received balance out. If every amount has the same sign, no rate can balance them, so the calculator shows a message instead of a number.
Is XIRR the same as CAGR?
Only for a single investment with no other cash flows. With several dated flows, such as a SIP, XIRR weighs each instalment by how long it was invested.
Should I trust XIRR over a few months?
Be careful. XIRR annualises, so a small gain over a short period can look like a very large yearly rate. It describes the past and does not predict the future.
Related reading
Want the real numbers instead of estimates? Track real SIPs and loans in SampattiTrack, a private personal finance app for iPhone that keeps everything on your device. Get it on the App Store.
These calculators give estimates for learning and planning. They are not investment, tax, legal or financial advice, and they do not promise any result.