April 30, 2026
4 mins read
NAV in SIP refers to the Net Asset Value at which mutual fund units are allotted on each investment date. Since every SIP instalment is processed at the prevailing unit price, understanding how NAV works helps investors track accumulated units and portfolio value more accurately. This guide explains the concept in simple terms, shows practical examples, and outlines how investors can calculate their SIP value step by step.
When investors start a SIP, most of the attention goes to the monthly amount and the long-term goal. The price at which units are actually purchased is often overlooked. That price is the Net Asset Value (NAV), and in a SIP structure, it quietly determines how many units are added to your portfolio each month. To get a better sense of how these variables interact over time, many investors use a SIP calculator to project their potential growth and understand the impact of consistent contributions.
NAV in SIP matters because your instalment does not buy a fixed number of units. It buys units based on the value declared on that specific business day. Since this value changes daily, the same SIP amount may result in different unit allotments across months. Understanding this helps investors read statements correctly and avoid confusion when markets fluctuate.
To understand what is NAV in SIP, it is useful to look at how mutual funds calculate value at the end of each day. A mutual fund invests pooled money into different securities. These securities may include shares, bonds, or short-term instruments. Their prices move every day based on market activity.
After markets close, the fund house calculates the total value of everything the scheme holds. From this total, expenses and liabilities are deducted. The remaining amount is divided by the total number of units issued. This gives the NAV.
In the context of NAV in SIP, this figure becomes relevant only on your SIP processing date. Your installment is divided by that day’s NAV to determine how many units you receive. If the NAV is lower, you receive more units. If it is higher, fewer units are credited. This does not make a higher or lower NAV inherently better. It reflects the portfolio’s value at that time.
To understand NAV in SIP properly, it helps to think of it as a price that keeps changing in the background while your instalment remains fixed.
Assume you decide to invest ₹6,000 every month in the same mutual funds. You are not choosing the purchase price each month — the market does that for you.
In one month, the NAV might be ₹30. In that case, your ₹6,000 buys about 200 units. A few weeks later, markets may rise and the NAV could be ₹50. The same ₹6,000 would then buy only 120 units.
If markets correct and NAV drops to ₹24, your instalment would purchase around 250 units.
Over three months, this is how it looks:
Month 1: 200 units
Month 2: 120 units
Month 3: 250 units
Total units accumulated: 570 units
Total investment: ₹18,000
Now, suppose the NAV later stands at ₹35.
Portfolio value = 570 × 35 = ₹19,950
This simple illustration shows how NAV in SIP directly influences the number of units accumulated over time.
What changes here is not your SIP amount, but the number of units added each time. That is how NAV in SIP quietly influences long-term accumulation. Over time, the NAV changes with market movements, which means the number of units purchased each month varies without requiring active decisions.
When people talk about how to calculate NAV in SIP, they usually mean one of two things. Either they want to understand how the fund house arrives at the daily number, or they want to check their own portfolio value. Both are connected, but the complexity differs.
At the scheme level, NAV is computed after markets close. The fund house first calculates the total market value of all investments held in the portfolio. From this amount, expenses and liabilities are deducted. The remaining figure is then divided by the total number of outstanding units. This results in the daily Net Asset Value.
The calculation broadly considers:
Market value of securities held by the scheme
Income that has accrued but is yet to be received
Available cash or cash equivalents
Deduction of management fees and other operating expenses
From an investor’s perspective, the process to calculate NAV in SIP is much simpler. You are not recalculating the scheme’s NAV. Instead, you are checking what your accumulated units are worth at the latest declared value.
To do this, you need two numbers:
The total units accumulated through your SIP
The latest NAV declared for the scheme
If, for example, your SIP has built up 1,450 units and the NAV is ₹42, the current value of your investment would be ₹60,900.
While most platforms show this value instantly, understanding how to calculate NAV in SIP helps you see how the portfolio figure is derived, especially when markets are moving sharply.
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NAV moves because the securities held by the fund change in value every trading day. Interest rate shifts, market trends, and scheme expenses can also influence the declared number.
NAV determines how many units are credited each month. Over time, overall returns are influenced by scheme performance and duration of investment.
No. A lower NAV does not automatically mean better value. Portfolio quality and long-term performance track record are commonly considered alongside NAV
The updated NAV is available on the fund house website, on AMFI’s official portal, and within most registered investment platforms.
Expenses are adjusted before the daily NAV is published. Higher expense ratios can slightly reduce the per-unit value over time.
If NAV rises, the value of your existing units increases. The number of units remains the same.
NAV shows the per-unit value of a scheme and determines how many units are allotted under a SIP.
No. NAV represents the pooled value of a mutual fund divided per unit, while a share price reflects the value of a single company.
There is no fixed preference. What matters more is the scheme’s suitability and long-term performance.
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