NPV Calculator
Net present value tells you what a stream of future cash flows is worth in today's money, after accounting for the fact that a rupee earned years from now is worth less than a rupee today. By discounting each expected inflow at your required rate of return and subtracting the initial outlay, NPV reveals whether a project, property or investment genuinely adds value. This calculator does the discounting for you and returns a single, decision-ready figure.
Your required rate of return / cost of capital.
Year 0 is today — enter the initial outlay as a negative amount.
Net Present Value
-₹2,104
Negative NPV — the project destroys value.
Undiscounted Total
₹20,000
About the NPV Calculator
An NPV calculator discounts a series of future cash flows back to the present using a chosen discount rate, then subtracts the upfront investment to show the net value created. A positive NPV means the opportunity earns more than your required return; a negative NPV means it falls short.
Why it is useful
Comparing investments by their raw total cash is misleading because money arrives at different times. NPV puts every option on a common footing — today's rupees — so you can rank projects, decide whether to proceed, and see how sensitive the answer is to the discount rate you choose.
How the calculation works
NPV is calculated as NPV = Σ CFt ÷ (1 + r)^t − initial outlay, where CFt is the cash flow in year t, r is the discount rate and t is the year number. Each future flow is divided by (1 + r) raised to its year, so distant cash flows shrink more; the discounted flows are summed and the initial investment subtracted.
Key inputs explained
- Initial outlay: The upfront amount invested at the start, before any returns arrive.
- Future cash flows: The net inflow expected in each year of the project.
- Discount rate: Your cost of capital or the return available elsewhere at similar risk.
- Time period: The number of years over which the cash flows occur.
Example calculation
Inputs
- Initial outlay
- ₹10,00,000
- Cash flow (years 1-3)
- ₹4,50,000 each
- Discount rate (r)
- 10%
Calculation breakdown
- Year 1 PV
- 4,50,000 ÷ 1.10 ≈ ₹4,09,091
- Year 2 PV
- 4,50,000 ÷ 1.21 ≈ ₹3,71,901
- Year 3 PV
- 4,50,000 ÷ 1.331 ≈ ₹3,38,092
The discounted inflows total about ₹11.19 lakh against a ₹10 lakh outlay, giving a positive NPV of roughly ₹1.19 lakh. Since NPV is above zero, the project earns more than the 10% required return and is worth pursuing; raising the discount rate would eventually push NPV negative.
Benefits
- Accounts for the time value of money, unlike a simple total of cash flows.
- Gives a clear accept-or-reject signal from the sign of the result.
- Lets you compare projects of different sizes and timelines on one scale.
Limitations
- The result is only as good as your cash flow forecasts and discount rate.
- A small change in the discount rate can flip the decision on marginal projects.
- Ignores non-financial factors and the flexibility to delay or expand later.
Tips
- Use a discount rate that reflects the risk of the specific investment, not a generic figure.
- Test a range of discount rates to see how robust a positive NPV really is.
- Compare NPV alongside the payback period and IRR for a fuller picture.
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About this calculator
The NPV Calculator is built and maintained by the PaisaBot team. All calculations run instantly in your browser using established financial formulas, and we use high-precision arithmetic to keep the results reliable.
Data accuracy: Interest rates, tax slabs, and scheme rules are updated periodically, but figures can change with RBI, government, and lender revisions. Always confirm the latest rates with your bank or an official source before acting.
Educational purpose: This tool is provided for general information and financial education only. It does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. For decisions specific to your situation, please consult a qualified financial advisor.