RD Goal Planner

Find out how much you need to deposit each month to reach your savings target.

Currency
Target Amount
$
$1K$10M
Annual Interest Rate
%
1%20%
Tenure
months
1 mo120 mo

Adjust the inputs and click Calculate.

Frequently Asked Questions

An RD Goal Planner is a reverse Recurring Deposit calculator. Instead of calculating the maturity amount from a given monthly deposit, it works backwards — you enter your target amount, interest rate, and tenure, and it tells you exactly how much you need to deposit each month to reach that goal.
The formula is derived from the RD maturity formula. Standard RD maturity: M = R × (1+i) × [(1+i)^n − 1] / i. Rearranging for R: R = M × i / [(1+i) × ((1+i)^n − 1)], where i = monthly rate (annual ÷ 12) and n = tenure in months.
Yes. Whether you're saving for a car, vacation, education, emergency fund, or any other goal, simply enter the target amount, the interest rate you expect to earn, and the time you have. The planner will tell you the exact monthly deposit needed.
If the required deposit exceeds your capacity, try: (1) Extending the tenure — more months means a smaller required monthly deposit. (2) Reducing the target amount slightly. (3) Finding an RD with a higher interest rate. (4) Combining RD savings with another investment vehicle.
Interest rates vary by bank and change over time. Small Finance Banks typically offer higher RD rates (7–9%) than large public sector banks. Post Office RD is a safe government-backed option. Always compare current rates on the bank's official website before opening an RD.
Most banks require a minimum RD tenure of 6 months. Post Office RD has a fixed tenure of 5 years. Some banks offer flexible tenures from 1 month to 10 years. For this planner, tenures as short as 1 month and up to 120 months (10 years) are supported.
Yes. RDs are one of the safest savings instruments. Bank RDs are insured by deposit protection schemes. Post Office RDs are backed by the government. They are ideal for risk-free, goal-based savings over 6 months to 5 years.
RD provides guaranteed, fixed returns — ideal for short-to-medium-term goals where capital safety matters. SIP (in mutual funds) offers potentially higher returns but with market risk — better suited for long-term (5+ year) goals. For a 1–3 year goal, RD is generally safer. For 5+ years, equity SIP often outperforms.
To reach your goal faster: (1) Increase the deposit amount whenever your income grows. (2) Shorten the tenure — a smaller timeframe forces a higher monthly saving, building the habit. (3) Look for better rates by comparing banks. (4) Automate savings via standing instructions so the deposit happens before you can spend the money. (5) Increase your deposit by 10% every year to keep pace with salary growth.
Yes — especially for goals that are 2+ years away. If inflation is 6% per year, a purchase that costs ₹5 lakh today will cost approximately ₹5.96 lakh in 3 years. Enter an inflation-adjusted target to ensure your savings actually cover the future cost. Formula: Future Cost = Current Cost × (1 + inflation rate)^years.

About This RD Goal Planner

This free RD Goal Planner helps you reverse-calculate the required monthly deposit for any savings goal. Enter your target amount, the bank's annual interest rate, and the tenure in months — and instantly see how much you need to save every month to hit your target.

Unlike a regular RD calculator, this planner starts from your end goal and works backwards, making it perfect for financial planning around specific milestones like buying a vehicle, funding education, building an emergency fund, or planning a vacation.

When to use this planner

  • Planning a specific purchase and wanting to know monthly savings required
  • Comparing required deposits at different banks' interest rates
  • Building a disciplined monthly savings habit with a clear target
  • Checking if your savings goal is achievable within your timeline

Standards & References

Related Calculators

RD Calculator FD Calculator SIP Calculator Compound Interest

Related Articles

In-depth guides and technical articles.

View all →
Your Savings Goal Has Four Variables and You Pick Two
Calculators Oct 11, 2026
Your Savings Goal Has Four Variables and You Pick Two
A savings goal has four variables and you choose two. When the required deposit is too high, there are exactly four levers — and timeline is usually the most effective.
Why Your 10-Year Goal Shouldn't Be in an RD — Matching Savings Goals to the Right Vehicle by Timeline
Calculators Jul 4, 2026
Why Your 10-Year Goal Shouldn't Be in an RD — Matching Savings Goals to the Right Vehicle by Timeline
Savings vehicle selection depends on goal timeline — under 12 months belongs in liquid funds, 1-5 years in RDs and FDs, 5+ years in equity. Here's why the RD's natural home is the medium-term goal range, how to build emergency fund savings with an RD (then transfer maturity to a liquid account), the sinking fund approach for predictable annual expenses, and the multiple simultaneous goal commitment check that reveals when total deposits exceed sustainable surplus.
Your Savings Goal Is in Today's Prices — Here's Why That Leads to a Shortfall and How to Fix It
Calculators Jun 24, 2026
Your Savings Goal Is in Today's Prices — Here's Why That Leads to a Shortfall and How to Fix It
Saving ₹5,00,000 for a car in 3 years at 6% inflation means arriving short by about ₹95,000 — because the car will cost ₹5,95,508 when you get there. Here's how to adjust a savings goal for inflation before entering it into the calculator, why the real interest rate (nominal minus inflation) determines whether your RD barely keeps up or meaningfully grows purchasing power, and how education and property inflation running faster than CPI makes long-horizon goals particularly sensitive to this adjustment.
Sinking Funds: How to Stop Being "Surprised" by the Same Annual Bill Every Year
Calculators Jun 14, 2026
Sinking Funds: How to Stop Being "Surprised" by the Same Annual Bill Every Year
The annual insurance premium that "suddenly" arrives every year isn't sudden at all — it's entirely predictable, and a sinking fund turns it into a small monthly amount that's already there when the bill comes. Here's how to identify your full calendar of irregular annual expenses, why the math is the same as RD goal calculations but simplified for short horizons, and why tracking multiple sinking funds separately (not commingled) matters.
FIRE and Reverse Budgeting: How to Calculate the Monthly Savings Rate You Need
Calculators Jun 12, 2026
FIRE and Reverse Budgeting: How to Calculate the Monthly Savings Rate You Need
The FIRE movement works backwards from retirement: annual income needed ÷ 4% = the portfolio target. Here's the reverse budgeting process, the savings rate vs timeline table (50% savings rate = FIRE in 17 years), CoastFIRE calculations, and why savings rate matters more than income level.