Stocks, PPF, Mutual Funds, KVP, Bank FDs: How quickly can your money double?

By Upstox News Desk

3 min read | Updated on October 24, 2025, 13:37 IST

SUMMARY

From stocks and mutual funds to PPF, KVP, and bank FDs, different investments double at very different speeds.

Time to double your money across different investment options. | Image: Shutterstock

Everyone dreams of seeing their money grow fast. But how long does it really take to double your investment? From stocks and mutual funds to PPF, KVP, and bank FDs, different investments double at very different speeds. This article tells you which options can help your ₹1 lakh become ₹2 lakh sooner, and which ones grow steadily for long-term security. The Rule of 72 offers a quick and easy way to figure it out.

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Rule of 72

Want to know how fast your money can double? The Rule of 72 makes it simple: just divide 72 by your investment’s annual return, and you’ll get the approximate number of years it takes to double your funds.

Time to double your money across different investment options

Bank fixed deposits (FDs)

Banks offer fixed deposits ranging from 7 days to 10 years, with interest rates varying by bank and tenure. For instance, SBI, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank FDs currently offer rates between 2.75% and 6.7% per annum for the general public.

Suppose you invest ₹1 lakh in a bank FD with an interest rate of 6.7% p.a. Using the Rule of 72, you can estimate how long it will take to double your money:

72/6.7

= 10.74 years

So, an investment of ₹1 lakh in a bank FD will get doubled ( ₹2 lakh) in nearly eleven years assuming a 6.7% interest rate.

Public Provident Fund (PPF)

PPF currently offers an interest rate of 7.1% per annum. Using the Rule of 72, PPF will take around 10 years to double your money with 7.1%. The formula is applied as below:

72/7.1

= 10.14 years

Also Read: Why are Tata Motors Commercial Vehicle shares not visible in my trading app after allotment?

Equities (Nifty 50 & BSE Sensex)

If we look at the Indian stock markets, Nifty 50 delivered an absolute return of 6.1% over 1 year and a CAGR of 16.7% over 5 years. Similarly, BSE Sensex gave a 5.6% absolute return in 1 year and a 16.1% CAGR over 5 years.

Using the Rule of 72, we can estimate how long it would take for an investment to double. For example, an investment of ₹1 lakh in equities can potentially grow to ₹2 lakh in four years if we assume an annual growth rate of 16.7% (approximate CAGR of Nifty 50).

72/16.7

= 4.3 years

Mutual Funds

Financial experts suggest that a disciplined long-term investment in mutual funds can yield 12–14% returns per annum. So, an investment of ₹1 lakh in MFs will double ( ₹2 lakh) in five years, assuming a 14% interest rate.

The formula is applied as below:

72/14

= 5.1 years

Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)

KVP is a government small savings scheme where your investment grows steadily with interest added periodically. Assuming a 7.5% interest rate, ₹1 lakh invested in KVP will double in nearly ten years.

72/7.5

=9.6

Using the Rule of 72, investors can quickly estimate how long it will take for any investment to double. This simple formula shows how compounding can significantly boost wealth over time, especially in equities and mutual funds, while fixed-income instruments like FDs, PPF, and KVP take longer but offer more stability.

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Disclaimer: This article is written purely for informational purposes and should not be considered investment advice from Upstox. Investors should do their own research or consult a registered financial advisor before making investment decisions.