Enter the upper price band, lot size and the lots you want. This IPO lot size calculator shows the money to block, your investor category and the most lots you can apply for as a retail investor.
IPO Lot Size Calculator
For mainboard IPOs. Application amount is worked out at the upper end of the price band.
Retail means a total application of up to ₹2 lakh. Limits last checked on 3 October 2026 and can be revised by SEBI.
Your application in detail
| Item | Value |
|---|
Application ladder for this issue (your lot count is in bold)
| Lots | Amount (₹) | Category | UPI limit (₹5 lakh) |
|---|
Illustrative calculation. Always confirm the price band, lot size and category rules in the issue’s offer document.
An IPO has a price band of ₹300 and a lot size of 50 shares. One lot costs ₹15,000, and a retail investor can apply for at most 13 lots, not 14, because 14 lots cost ₹2,10,000. An IPO lot size calculator does this sum for any issue in seconds, before you open your broker app.
How do you use this IPO lot size calculator in 3 steps?
- Enter the upper end of the price band and the lot size, both listed in the issue's offer document.
- Enter how many lots you want to apply for.
- Read the application amount, your category, the maximum retail lots and the application ladder.
Stock Charcha built the ladder table so you can see where the retail category ends and the next one begins, instead of finding out when an application is rejected.
How does the IPO lot size calculator work out the application amount?
You can only apply in whole lots, and the amount is worked out at the upper end of the price band. That is the figure your bank blocks, even if the final issue price turns out lower.
Application amount = Lots × Lot size × Upper price band
Maximum retail lots = Round down of (₹2,00,000 ÷ Cost of one lot)
If the final price is lower than the upper band, the extra blocked money is released after allotment.
What does a worked example look like?
Take an upper price band of ₹300, a lot size of 50 and an application for 5 lots. These figures are illustrative.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost of one lot | ₹15,000 |
| Application amount for 5 lots | ₹75,000 |
| Shares applied for | 250 |
| Category | Retail |
| Maximum retail lots | 13 (₹1,95,000) |
| First lot count above retail | 14 lots (₹2,10,000) |
Applying for 14 lots would push you out of the retail category, which changes how your application is treated.
Why can you never use the full ₹2 lakh?
The retail limit is a round ₹2 lakh, but lots are not. Because you must buy whole lots, some of the limit always goes unused. Here is how much, for different lot costs.
| Cost of one lot | Maximum lots | Amount at maximum | Unused limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹14,000 | 14 | ₹1,96,000 | ₹4,000 |
| ₹14,800 | 13 | ₹1,92,400 | ₹7,600 |
| ₹15,000 | 13 | ₹1,95,000 | ₹5,000 |
| ₹12,000 | 16 | ₹1,92,000 | ₹8,000 |
The unused part can be almost a whole lot's worth. A lot costing ₹12,000 leaves ₹8,000 on the table, and the IPO lot size calculator shows it for your issue before you apply.
Which category does your application fall into?
The category depends only on the application amount, not on how rich you are.
| Category | Application amount | Cut-off price allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Retail individual investor | Up to ₹2 lakh | Yes |
| Small NII | Above ₹2 lakh, up to ₹10 lakh | No, name a price |
| Big NII | Above ₹10 lakh | No, name a price |
UPI applications are limited to ₹5 lakh, so very large bids need net banking. These limits were checked on 3 October 2026 against several broker and market sources. Confirm them in the offer document and on the SEBI website.
Does applying for more lots improve your chance of allotment?
Not usually in a heavily subscribed retail category. When applications far exceed shares, allotment is typically a lottery in minimum lots, so a bigger bid often has the same odds as a one-lot bid. When an issue is barely subscribed, more lots can be allotted.
More lots also means more money blocked and more exposure if shares are allotted and the listing disappoints. Only one application per PAN is allowed, and the IPO lot size calculator cannot predict allotment.
What does this IPO lot size calculator leave out?
It is built for mainboard issues. SME IPOs follow different minimum application rules, and employee, shareholder and anchor quotas have their own limits. It also does not know the final issue price or the subscription level, both of which decide what you end up with.
Price bands and lot sizes can change before an issue opens, so use the latest offer document. This is an estimate, not advice to apply. Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Read the offer documents carefully before applying. At Stock Charcha we show the limits and the date we checked them so you can verify them yourself.
Where should you go after using the IPO lot size calculator?
Once shares are allotted, estimate your return with the IPO profit calculator. To total the tax across several sales, use the share capital gains tax calculator.
You need a demat account to apply, so read how to open one and how to choose a broker in India. The IPO section of the Charcha Knowledge Hub has more. Check your lots in the Stock Charcha IPO lot size calculator on the day an issue opens.
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Last updated: 3 October 2026. Application limits checked on 3 October 2026 (SEBI ICDR framework, as summarised by several broker and market sources). Review whenever SEBI revises IPO application rules.
Founder of Stock Charcha. Stock market enthusiast, actively investing since November 2022. About the author
Educational content only. This page is not personalised financial advice, and nothing here is a recommendation to apply for any IPO. Please do your own research or speak to a SEBI-registered adviser before applying, and read our disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the lot size the same as the minimum I can invest?
Yes. One lot is the smallest application you can make, and you can only apply in whole lots. The minimum investment is therefore the lot size times the issue price, which usually falls near ₹15,000 for a mainboard IPO.
Why is the application amount calculated at the upper price band?
Because bids at the cut-off price are valued at the top of the band. Your bank blocks that full amount. If the final issue price is lower, the difference is released after allotment, so you never pay more than the final price.
Does the ₹2 lakh retail limit apply to a family or to each person?
It applies to each application, and only one application per PAN is allowed. Each family member with their own PAN and demat account is treated as a separate applicant, each with their own ₹2 lakh retail limit.
What happens if my application goes above ₹2 lakh?
It moves out of the retail category into small NII, or big NII above ₹10 lakh. In those categories you cannot bid at the cut-off price and must name a price, and allotment follows different rules.
Can I use the IPO lot size calculator for SME issues?
Not reliably. It is built around mainboard rules. SME IPOs have much larger lots and different minimum application sizes, so check the offer document and use the lot size and price from that issue directly.