How to Know Your Demat Account Number

Investing in India's dynamic stock market, which includes major exchanges like the NSE and the BSE, requires specific tools. At the centre of all necessities is the Demat account, a digital gateway mandated by SEBI for holding securities electronically.

Your Demat account acts as a digital vault for your shares, bonds, mutual funds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), and other financial instruments.

Understanding the demat account number is fundamental to participating correctly in India's regulated and secure digital securities market. The ease of opening Demat accounts in this digital age sometimes leads to details being misplaced, especially if accounts aren't used frequently. That’s why you need something to identify your Demat account: enter the Demat account number.

This article provides a comprehensive answer to the common question: "How to know my Demat account number?" It outlines simple, actionable steps to locate this vital piece of information, ensuring you can manage your investments effectively. All of this makes this a reliable guide on "How to find Demat account number, "which is essential overall.

Table of Contents

1. What Is a Demat Account Number?
2. Why It's Important to Know Your Demat Account Number?
3. How to Know Your Demat Account Number: All Methods Explained
4. How to Know Your Demat Account Number Using Your Broker
5. How to Find Your Demat Account Number in Contract Notes
6. How to Find Your Demat Account Number Using CAS
7. How to Know Your Demat Account Number Using PAN Card
8. How to Check If You Have Multiple Demat Accounts
9. CDSL vs NSDL
10. Conclusion
11. FAQs

What is a Demat Account?

Demat is short for "Dematerialised" account. Think of it as an electronic vault or a digital bank account, but specifically designed to hold your shares, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and government securities. It eliminates the need for physical paper certificates, making investing safer and more convenient.

Opening a Demat account is mandatory for anyone wanting to trade on Indian stock exchanges like the NSE and the BSE, as stipulated by SEBI regulations. 

It's important to distinguish a Demat account from a trading account. 

• A Demat account holds your purchased securities.
• A trading account is used to place buy and sell orders in the market.

The Demat system operates through a regulated ecosystem involving two key players. Central depositories (such as NSDL and CDSL) are the primary institutions that hold securities electronically, while Depository Participants (DPs), typically brokers, act as intermediaries providing Demat services to investors. 

Why It's Important to Know Your Demat Account Number

Knowing your unique 16-digit Demat account number is not just a formality; it's crucial for navigating the investment landscape. Forgetting or misplacing it can hinder your ability to manage your portfolio effectively and lead to transaction delays. 

Here's why this number is so important:

• Executing trades: It's essential for linking your trading activities to your holdings. When you buy shares, they are credited to this account number; when you sell, they are debited from it.
   
• Applying for IPOs: You need to provide your Demat account number when applying for an IPO. Allotted shares are directly credited to this account.
   
• Transferring shares: The number is required for transferring securities, whether it's an off-market transfer to another person or moving shares between your own Demat accounts with different stock brokers.
   
• Tracking investments: Your Demat number is the key to accessing detailed account statements, like the Consolidated Account Statement (CAS), which helps you monitor your holdings, transactions, and overall portfolio performance. So, understanding how to know my demat account details starts with knowing the number.
   
• Receiving corporate benefits: It ensures that benefits like dividends, bonus shares, stock splits, and rights issues are correctly and automatically credited to your account.
   
• Pledging securities: If you wish to use your securities as collateral to obtain a loan, your Demat account number is necessary for the pledging process.
   
• Customer support and verification: You'll need to provide this number when contacting your DP or broker for support or identity verification.
   
• Compliance and reporting: This number is often required for regulatory compliance and accurate reporting of your investments and capital gains for tax purposes.
   
• Monitoring for security: Knowing your Demat account number allows you to regularly check your statements and monitor for any unauthorised transactions, enhancing the security of your investments.

Essentially, your Demat account number acts as the central "address" for all values associated with your securities holdings. All inflows and outflows are directed to or from this unique identifier. 

What are DP ID and Client ID?

• Depository Participant ID (DP ID): This forms the first 8 digits of your Demat account number. It identifies the specific DP with whom you've opened the account. This ID is assigned to the DP by NSDL or CDSL and is typically the same for all customers of that particular DP.
• Client ID / Beneficiary Owner ID (BO ID): This constitutes the last 8 digits of the Demat account number. This part is unique to you, i.e. the investor, and is assigned by your DP. The terms Client ID and BO ID are often used interchangeably in this context.

The combination of the 8-digit DP ID and the 8-digit Client ID makes up your complete 16-digit Demat account number, sometimes referred to as Demat ID. 

This two-part structure directly reflects the intermediated nature of the Indian depository system, where investors access the central depository's services through their chosen DP.

How to Know Your Demat Account Number: All Methods Explained

There are several reliable ways to find your Demat account number, depending on whether your account is active or has not been used for some time. Your Demat account number is a 16-digit identification number, commonly referred to as a BO ID or Demat ID, and is issued by your Depository Participant (DP).
Below are the most practical and commonly used methods to locate it.

Method 1: Check your welcome kit or account opening email

When you opened your Demat account, your broker or DP would have sent a welcome kit or account opening confirmation. Today, this is usually shared via email as a PDF document.
This document clearly mentions your 16-digit Demat account number, often labelled as BO ID or Demat ID.
To find it quickly, search your email inbox using keywords such as Welcome Kit, Demat Account, NSDL, CDSL, BO ID, or your broker’s name.

Method 2: Log in to your broker’s app or website

For most investors, this is the fastest and most convenient method. Nearly all modern brokers display Demat account details directly within their trading platforms.
After logging in, navigate to sections such as Profile, Account Details, Settings, or Demat. Your Demat account number is typically listed there in full.

Method 3: Check your Consolidated Account Statement (CAS)

Your monthly Consolidated Account Statement, issued by the depository, contains complete details of all Demat accounts linked to your PAN.
The CAS is sent to your registered email address and clearly displays your Demat account number, DP ID, and holdings.
This method is especially useful if you want a permanent record or have multiple Demat accounts.

Method 4: Contact your DP or broker

If you are unable to access your email, app, or CAS—particularly in the case of an old or inactive account—contacting your DP or broker’s customer support is a dependable option.
You will be asked to verify your identity using details such as your PAN, registered mobile number, email address, or date of birth. Once verified, the support team can retrieve and share your Demat account number.

Method 5: Check linked bank account or net banking (where applicable)

If your Demat account is linked to a bank account, especially under a 3-in-1 account structure, your Demat details may be visible in your bank’s net banking portal or account statements.
Look under sections related to Investments, Demat Services, or Linked Accounts. While this method does not apply to all brokers, it is worth checking if your Demat account is bank-integrated.

How to Know Your Demat Account Number Using Your Broker

For most investors, the broker platform is the first and simplest place to check the Demat account number details. Modern brokers display Demat information clearly inside their apps and web dashboards. However, the exact location varies by broker, which often causes confusion.

In general, you need to log in using your trading credentials and navigate to the profile, account details, or reports section. The Demat account number may be shown as “Demat ID”, “BO ID”, or as a combination of DP ID and Client ID. Below are step-by-step explanations for commonly used brokers.

How to Find Demat Account Number in Zerodha

Zerodha uses CDSL for Demat services, so the Demat account number is a 16-digit numeric BO ID. Many users confuse this with the trading client ID, which is different.

To find it, log in to the Zerodha Console or Kite app. Go to the Profile section and select “Demat” or “Account Details”. Your BO ID will be displayed along with the nominee and bank information. This same number appears on all Zerodha contract notes and monthly statements.

A key point to remember is that Zerodha’s client ID, which you use for trading, is not your Demat account number. The Demat number is used only for holding securities and is maintained separately at the depository level.

If your demat account is with Zerodha, this guide explains where your demat number appears across the app, contract notes, and account emails.

How to Check Demat Account Number in Groww

Groww also provides Demat accounts through CDSL. On the Groww app or website, the Demat account number is not immediately visible on the home screen, which is why many users miss it.

Log in to your Groww account and go to the Profile or Settings section. Under account details or reports, you will find the Demat information listed as BO ID. Alternatively, you can download a contract note or holding statement, where the Demat account number is clearly mentioned at the top.

Groww users often confuse their registered mobile number or user ID with Demat details. Only the BO ID is the valid Demat account number for official purposes like IPOs.

Groww users can refer to this breakdown to understand how demat account details are displayed within the Groww app and statements.

How to Know Demat Account Number in Angel One

Angel One provides Demat services through both CDSL and NSDL, depending on the account type and onboarding period. This makes it important to check the format carefully.

After logging into the Angel One app or web platform, go to the Profile section and open account details. The Demat account number may be shown directly or split as DP ID and Client ID. If your account is NSDL-based, the Demat number will start with “IN”.

Angel One contract notes are another reliable source. They clearly mention whether the account is CDSL or NSDL and display the correct Demat number. This helps avoid confusion between trading client codes and Demat identifiers.

For Angel One account holders, this page outlines where to locate your demat number across the Angel One dashboard and official documents.

How to Find Your Demat Account Number in Contract Notes

Contract notes are legally mandated documents issued by brokers after every trade. They are sent by email and are also available for download from the broker platform. Because they are regulatory documents, the information on them is accurate and standardised.

Your Demat account number is usually printed near the client information section of the contract note. It may appear as BO ID, Demat ID, or DP ID and Client ID, depending on the depository. Since contract notes are generated for every transaction, even one past trade is enough to retrieve your Demat number.

This method is especially useful if you no longer remember your broker login credentials but still have access to your email. Searching your inbox for terms like “contract note”, “trade confirmation”, or your broker’s name often leads directly to the document containing your Demat account number.

How to Find Your Demat Account Number Using CAS

The Consolidated Account Statement, commonly called CAS, is one of the most powerful and underused tools for investors. It is issued by the depositories and provides a complete view of your investments linked to your PAN.

A CAS is generated monthly if there has been any transaction or holding during the month. It is sent by email and can also be requested manually. The statement lists all Demat accounts held under your PAN across brokers, along with mutual fund holdings.

Each Demat account in the CAS is shown with its full Demat account number, depository name, and DP details. This makes it the most reliable way to find demat account number details, especially if you are unsure how many accounts you have or which broker they belong to.

Another advantage of CAS is that it helps identify inactive or forgotten Demat accounts. If you opened an account years ago and never closed it, it will still appear in the CAS as long as it is linked to your PAN.

How to Know Your Demat Account Number Using PAN Card

A common query is how to find the demat account number using PAN. It is important to set the right expectation here. Your PAN card does not directly display your Demat account number, and there is no public database where you can enter your PAN and see Demat details instantly.

However, PAN plays a crucial role in verification. Every Demat account in India is linked to a PAN as part of the KYC norms. This means brokers and depositories use PAN to identify and retrieve your account details securely.

In practical terms, PAN helps in three ways. First, broker customer support uses PAN to verify your identity before sharing Demat information. Second, CAS statements are generated using PAN as the primary identifier. Third, any official email communication from the depository is linked to the PAN-registered email ID.

So while PAN alone cannot show the Demat number on its own, it is the key that enables authorised retrieval through proper channels.

How to Check If You Have Multiple Demat Accounts

Many investors are unaware that they have more than one Demat account. This often happens when accounts are opened with different brokers over time or when old accounts are not formally closed.

The simplest way to check this is through the CAS. Since CAS consolidates all Demat accounts linked to a single PAN, it shows every active and inactive account across CDSL and NSDL. This includes accounts with zero holdings as well.

Tracking multiple Demat accounts matters for practical reasons. Annual maintenance charges may apply, corporate actions may be missed, and compliance issues can arise if old accounts remain unmanaged. Identifying all accounts helps you decide whether to consolidate, close unused accounts, or keep them active deliberately.

If you hold demat accounts with more than one broker, understanding how multiple demat accounts work can help you correctly identify each account number.

CDSL vs NSDL: Does It Affect How You Find Your Demat Number?

CDSL and NSDL are the two central depositories in India, and while their roles are similar, the format of Demat account numbers differs. This difference is a common source of confusion for investors.

CDSL Demat account numbers are 16-digit numeric codes, often called BO IDs. NSDL Demat accounts use an alphanumeric format starting with “IN”, followed by 14 digits. Apart from the format, the process of finding the number remains broadly the same.

Knowing what a BO ID means helps you read your account details correctly.

Whether your account is with CDSL or NSDL, you can retrieve the Demat number through broker platforms, contract notes, CAS, or customer support. The key is recognising the format so you do not mistake it for a trading client ID or internal reference number.

Need clarity on how NSDL Demat accounts operate in pledging scenarios? This NSDL Demat Account offers a complete technical overview for investors.

If your shares are held with CDSL, here's an in-depth resource on CDSL demat accounts to help you understand pledging operations.

Conclusion

Knowing how to know my demat account number is less about memorisation and more about knowing where to look. For most investors, the broker app or contract notes provide quick access. For a complete and reliable overview, the Consolidated Account Statement remains the safest option.

If details are missing or accounts are old, PAN-based verification through official channels resolves the issue in a structured way. Once you retrieve your Demat number, keeping a secure record of it simplifies future transactions and account management.

A little clarity today prevents delays and confusion later, especially as your investments grow across platforms and years.

FAQs

How can I know my demat account number online?
You can check it online by logging into your broker’s app or website and visiting the profile or account details section. Contract notes and CAS emails are also reliable online sources.

Is the demat account number the same as the client ID?
No. The client ID is used for trading with your broker, while the Demat account number is used for holding securities at the depository. They serve different purposes and are not interchangeable.

Can I find the demat account number without logging in?
Yes, if you have access to contract notes or CAS emails. These documents contain the Demat account number and do not require broker login access.

How long does it take to retrieve demat account details from a broker?
In most cases, brokers can confirm your Demat account number within the same working day after identity verification. Some automated systems provide it instantly once PAN details are validated.

Can I have the same demat account number across brokers?
No. Each Demat account number is unique to a specific DP and depository combination. Opening accounts with different brokers results in different Demat numbers.

Can I close a demat account if I don’t remember the number?
Yes. Brokers can retrieve your Demat account details using PAN verification and initiate the closure process even if you do not remember the number initially.