ESI Calculator
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate ESI (Employees’ State Insurance) — employee 0.75% + employer 3.25% of gross wages, for employees earning up to ₹21,000/month (₹25,000 with disability), with medical, sickness, maternity and disablement benefits.
Quick answer: ESI: 0.75% employee + 3.25% employer on gross wages, where gross ≤ ₹21,000/month at the start of a contribution period. ₹18,000 gross → ₹135 + ₹585 = ₹720/month. Once in, you stay covered for the whole contribution period even if a raise crosses the ceiling.
The Scheme
| Employee share | 0.75% of gross (waived below ₹176/day average wages) |
| Employer share | 3.25% of gross |
| Eligibility ceiling | Gross ≤ ₹21,000/month (₹25,000 for persons with disability) — tested at the START of each contribution period |
| Coverage | Factories/establishments with 10+ employees (state variations) in implemented areas |
| Contribution periods | Apr-Sep and Oct-Mar — crossing ₹21,000 mid-period keeps you contributing till the period ends |
What ESI Buys (The Underrated Part)
Full medical care for you and dependants at ESIC hospitals/dispensaries (no cap), sickness benefit (70% of wages, up to 91 days/year), maternity benefit (100% of wages for 26 weeks), disablement benefits (90% for temporary; pensions for permanent), dependants’ pension on employment-injury death, and unemployment allowance (Atal Bimit — 50% for up to 90 days on retrenchment, conditions). For covered workers ESIC replaces the Maternity Benefit Act and Workmen’s Compensation obligations.
Worked Example
₹18,000 gross: you pay ₹135, employer ₹585. Against that: 26 weeks’ maternity at full wages (~₹1.08 lakh), 91 sick days at 70%, and capless family medical coverage. Rupee-for-rupee, India’s best statutory insurance — and why the ceiling debate (raising it to ₹30k has been proposed repeatedly) matters; verify current ESIC notifications.
Mechanics
"Gross wages" for ESI includes basic + DA + HRA + allowances paid monthly (excludes annual bonus, retrenchment pay); contributions due by the 15th of the following month via ESIC portal; benefits need contribution-day thresholds (78 days in the period for sickness benefit; 70 days across two periods for maternity). Stack with EPF and PT for the full deduction picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ESI contribution rates?
Employee 0.75% + employer 3.25% of gross monthly wages — for employees whose gross is ₹21,000 or less at the start of the contribution period.
What happens if my salary crosses ₹21,000?
You keep contributing until the current contribution period (Apr-Sep or Oct-Mar) ends, then exit — benefits earned persist per the benefit-period rules.
What does ESI cover?
Unlimited medical care for the family, 70% sickness benefit for 91 days, 26-week full-pay maternity, disablement pensions, dependants’ pensions, and retrenchment unemployment allowance.
Which wages count for ESI?
Gross monthly remuneration — basic, DA, HRA, and regular allowances; annual bonuses and retrenchment compensation stay out.
Is ESI better than the Maternity Benefit Act?
For covered employees ESIC pays the 26-week maternity benefit (full wage) directly — employers’ MB Act duty is displaced; the funding is the contribution itself.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026