How much above the offer should I counter?

Enough to leave room for a meeting in the middle, and grounded in something: a competing offer, market data for the role, or the fixed-versus-variable split. An unexplained large number reads as unserious.

Will countering cost me the offer?

Rarely, if it is done once, politely, with a reason. Offers are pulled over repeated renegotiation and over demands with nothing behind them, not over a single reasoned ask.

Should I disclose my current salary?

You are not obliged to, and anchoring on your current pay caps you at a percentage of your past rather than the value of the role. Where you can, steer the conversation to the band for the position.

Counter offer calculator

Negotiation goes better with a number and a reason. This gives you the number: what to counter with so that, after the offer is discounted to fixed pay, you land where you wanted.

It also shows what the gap is actually worth per month, which is usually smaller than the headline difference and worth knowing before you risk the relationship over it.

Counter with

₹23,05,882

Asking for fixed pay of ₹19,60,000 once the 15.0% variable is stripped out

Hike on the table: 21.4%
Hike you want: 40.0%
Gap in CTC: ₹2,60,000
Monthly take-home if you accept: ₹1,15,894
Monthly take-home at your target: ₹1,31,247
What the gap is worth each month: ₹15,353
Number to counter with: ₹23,05,882

Everything above is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or saved anywhere.

How this is worked out

Your target CTC is your current salary raised by the hike percentage you entered.
Because part of the offer is variable, the counter is grossed up so that fixed pay alone reaches the target.
Both figures are run through the CTC-to-in-hand walk so the gap is shown in monthly money, not just annual CTC.

What this does not cover

A counter is a negotiation, not a demand. Ask for the number, give a reason, and be ready to accept less.
Non-salary items are often easier to move than base pay: joining bonus, notice buyout reimbursement, an earlier review date, more leave.
If you have no other offer, your leverage is your willingness to walk. Be honest with yourself about whether you have that.

Questions people ask

How much above the offer should I counter?: Enough to leave room for a meeting in the middle, and grounded in something: a competing offer, market data for the role, or the fixed-versus-variable split. An unexplained large number reads as unserious.
Will countering cost me the offer?: Rarely, if it is done once, politely, with a reason. Offers are pulled over repeated renegotiation and over demands with nothing behind them, not over a single reasoned ask.
Should I disclose my current salary?: You are not obliged to, and anchoring on your current pay caps you at a percentage of your past rather than the value of the role. Where you can, steer the conversation to the band for the position.

Where these figures come from

Rates and rules on this page were last checked against the source on 31 August 2026. Tax law changes; check the source before you rely on a number for a decision.

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