UPI Transaction Limit 2026: The Complete Reference
Quick answer: The standard UPI transaction limit is ₹1 lakh per day for person-to-person transfers and most shop payments. For select verified categories such as insurance, capital markets, tax and loan repayments, the limit goes up to ₹5 lakh per transaction and, in some cases, ₹10 lakh per day. Your bank can set a lower limit, and new users get only ₹5,000 in the first 24 hours.
Bookmark this page. It brings every UPI limit into one place, explains why your payment failed even though you were "under the limit," and shows what business owners need to know.
UPI Transaction Limit at a Glance
| Type of limit | Current limit | Set by |
| Per transaction (P2P and regular P2M) | ₹1,00,000 | NPCI |
| Per day (P2P and regular P2M) | ₹1,00,000 | NPCI, banks can set lower |
| Number of transactions per day | Usually up to 20 (varies by bank) | Banks |
| New UPI user, first 24 hours | ₹5,000 | NPCI / banks |
| Special merchant categories | Up to ₹5 lakh per transaction | NPCI |
| UPI Lite per payment | ₹1,000 | NPCI |
| UPI 123Pay (feature phones) | ₹10,000 per transaction | NPCI |
| Biometric-authenticated UPI payments | ₹10,000 (from 7 August 2026) | NPCI |
| Receiving money | No standard UPI cap | * |
UPI Transaction Limit Per Day: What Counts
The ₹1 lakh daily limit is combined across all UPI apps linked to the same bank account. If you send ₹60,000 through PhonePe, you can send only ₹40,000 more through Google Pay that day from the same account.
Rolling Window
Some banks reset limits at midnight. Others use a rolling 24-hour window from your first transaction. Check your bank app if a payment fails early the next morning.
Count Limit
Apart from the amount, many banks cap the number of UPI transactions per day, commonly at 20. Small payments can therefore exhaust your count before your amount limit.
Per-Account Basis
Limits apply per bank account, not per person. If you link two different bank accounts, each one gets its own daily limit within its bank's rules.
Higher UPI Limits for Special Categories
From 15 September 2025, NPCI raised the limits for several verified merchant categories. These higher limits apply only when you pay a merchant registered under that category. They do not apply to transfers to friends or family.
| Category | Per transaction | Per day (24 hours) |
| Capital markets (stocks, mutual funds) | ₹5 lakh | ₹10 lakh |
| Insurance premiums | ₹5 lakh | ₹10 lakh |
| Government e-Marketplace (GeM) payments | ₹5 lakh | ₹10 lakh |
| Travel bookings | ₹5 lakh | ₹10 lakh |
| Loan and EMI repayments | ₹5 lakh | ₹10 lakh |
| Credit card bill payments | ₹5 lakh | ₹6 lakh |
| Jewellery purchases | ₹2 lakh | ₹6 lakh |
| Foreign exchange via BBPS | ₹5 lakh | ₹5 lakh |
| Tax payments | ₹5 lakh | * |
| Hospitals and educational institutions | ₹5 lakh | * |
| IPO applications and RBI Retail Direct | ₹5 lakh | * |
Your bank still decides whether to allow these higher limits on your account, so a high-value payment may need a quick check with your bank first.
Bank-wise UPI Transaction Limit
Every bank sets its own limits within NPCI's ceiling. Most large banks allow the full ₹1 lakh per day for regular payments.
| Bank | Per transaction | Per day | Note |
| State Bank of India (SBI) | ₹1,00,000 | ₹5,000 cap in first 24 hours for new users | |
| HDFC Bank | ₹1,00,000 | ₹1,00,000 | ₹5,000 cap in first 24 hours for new users |
| ICICI Bank | ₹1,00,000 | ₹1,00,000 | Higher limits for eligible categories |
| Axis Bank | ₹1,00,000 | ₹1,00,000 | Limits visible in the Axis mobile app |
| Kotak Mahindra Bank | ₹1,00,000 | ₹1,00,000 | Limits visible in the Kotak app |
Bank limits can change without much notice, and some smaller or cooperative banks set lower limits. The safest check is your bank's app under UPI settings or a call to customer care.
SBI UPI Transaction Limit
SBI allows up to ₹1 lakh per day for regular UPI payments across YONO, BHIM SBI Pay and third-party apps like PhonePe and Google Pay. New users and users who have just re-registered UPI on a new device face a lower limit for the first 24 hours.
UPI Transaction Limit Per Month
NPCI does not set a universal monthly UPI limit. In practice, your monthly ceiling depends on your bank's daily limit. Some banks also set their own weekly or monthly caps based on account type and transaction history.
If you regularly need to move more than ₹1 lakh a day, UPI is the wrong tool. Use NEFT, RTGS or IMPS through net banking instead.
Limits for UPI Lite, UPI 123Pay and Biometric Payments
UPI Lite
UPI Lite allows PIN-free payments of up to ₹1,000 each from an on-device wallet. The wallet balance can be up to ₹5,000. It suits tea, auto and grocery payments.
UPI 123Pay
UPI 123Pay lets feature-phone users pay without internet through IVR, missed calls or sound-based payments. The limit is up to ₹10,000 per transaction.
Biometric UPI
NPCI raised the limit for UPI payments authenticated by fingerprint or face from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, effective 7 August 2026. Higher amounts still need your UPI PIN.
Why Your UPI Payment Failed Even Under the Limit
| What happened | Likely reason | What to do |
| "Limit exceeded" after small payments | You hit the daily transaction count | Wait for the reset or use another bank account |
| Failed on a new phone | Cooling period after device change or new registration | Wait 24 hours or use net banking |
| Large payment to a friend failed | P2P limit is ₹1 lakh even if the merchant limit is higher | Split across days or use NEFT/IMPS |
| High-value merchant payment failed | Your bank has not enabled the higher category limit | Call your bank or pay via net banking |
| Failed despite enough balance | Bank server issue or a lower limit set by your bank | Retry later or check your bank's UPI limit |
Want to push your limit higher? Read our step-by-step guide on how to increase your UPI transaction limit.
What UPI Limits Mean for Business Owners
For shopkeepers, distributors and service businesses, customer-side limits quietly cost sales. A customer trying to pay ₹1.5 lakh for an order cannot do it in one UPI payment unless your business is registered under an eligible higher-limit category.
Practical steps for MSMEs:
- Offer more than one payment route. Keep bank transfer details and a payment link ready for large orders.
- Ask your payment provider about category limits. If your business qualifies, the higher limit can be enabled.
- Never accept a screenshot as proof of payment. Always confirm the credit in your bank app or soundbox.
- Keep UPI records for GST and income tax. UPI receipts are business income, and your bank statement is the record tax authorities will check.
Many small shops still hesitate to accept UPI because of these issues. Our article on why some kirana stores are saying no to UPI looks at the problem from the shopkeeper's side.
FAQs on UPI Transaction Limit
1. How much is the UPI transaction limit per day? The standard limit is ₹1 lakh per day for transfers and regular merchant payments. Some banks set lower limits, and special categories can go up to ₹5 lakh per transaction.
2. Is there any limit for UPI transaction? Yes. NPCI sets the maximum limits, and each bank can set lower limits on amount and number of transactions. There is no standard limit on receiving money.
3. What is the maximum UPI transaction limit in India? For regular payments, ₹1 lakh. For select verified categories such as insurance, capital markets and loan repayments, up to ₹5 lakh per transaction and ₹10 lakh per day.
4. Is the UPI limit the same for PhonePe, Google Pay and Paytm? Yes. The limit comes from NPCI and your bank, not the app. The daily limit is shared across all apps linked to the same bank account.
5. What is the UPI transaction limit per month? There is no universal monthly limit. Your monthly ceiling depends on your bank's daily and weekly limits.
6. How many UPI transactions can I make in a day? Most banks allow around 20 UPI transactions per day, but the number depends on your bank.
7. What is the SBI UPI transaction limit? SBI allows up to ₹1 lakh per day for regular UPI payments, with a ₹5,000 cap for the first 24 hours after new registration.
8. Why is my UPI limit only ₹5,000? You are probably within the first 24 hours of registering UPI, changing your phone or resetting your UPI PIN. The full limit returns after the cooling period.
9. Are there charges for UPI payments in 2026? Regular person-to-person and person-to-merchant UPI payments from a bank account remain free for customers.
Conclusion: Know Your Limit Before You Pay
The everyday rule is simple: ₹1 lakh per day, shared across all your UPI apps, with higher limits only for specific verified categories. Your bank can set lower limits, and new devices face a short cooling period.
For businesses, UPI limits are a sales issue, not just a banking detail. Plan alternative payment routes for large orders and keep clean records for tax compliance.
Running a business and want your payments, GST and accounts set up properly? The StartupFlora team helps MSMEs with GST registration, accounting and bookkeeping and business compliance. Talk to our team.
Limits are as published by NPCI and banks as of October 2026 and can change. Always confirm with your bank before a high-value payment.