Free Retirement Calculator

Project your 401(k) or IRA balance to your chosen retirement age, adjust for inflation, find the monthly savings to hit your goal, and see how long your money will last — formula shown for every result.

How to Calculate Your Retirement Savings

Use the calculator below or follow these four steps.

1
Set your agesEnter your current age and target retirement age — the years to save are worked out for you.
2
Savings & contributionTotal current balances, plus your monthly contribution including any employer 401(k) match.
3
Return & inflation7% = S&P 500 historical real average. Add an inflation rate to see results in today's dollars.
4
Project & planSee your balance, then use How Long Will It Last to test a withdrawal rate against the 4% rule.
Years to save: 35
$
$
Include employer 401(k) match
%
7% = S&P 500 historical average (after inflation)
%
Used to show results in today's dollars
%
Raise your monthly saving each year (e.g. with pay rises)
$
Today's dollars — see ssa.gov for your estimate

Enter your target nest egg — or use the 4% rule helper to turn a desired monthly retirement income into a target.

4% Rule Helper — turn income into a nest egg target
$
/mo × 300 = —
At a 4% withdrawal rate, $5,000/mo of income needs a $1.5M nest egg.
$
Target is in today's dollars (gross up for inflation)
$
Years to save: 35
%
%
Only used if target is in today's dollars

See how many years a retirement balance lasts at a chosen withdrawal — with withdrawals rising each year for inflation, the way real spending does.

$
$
%
5% suits a more conservative retirement mix
%
Increase withdrawals each year with inflation (recommended)
$
Reduces what your savings must cover
Optional — shows the age your funds run out
Retirement Savings Formula
Future Value (FV)
FV = P(1+r)^n + C × (1+r)^n − 1
———————————
r
P = current savings  |  C = monthly contribution
r = monthly rate (annual ÷ 12)  |  n = months

Example: $25,000 today, $500/mo, 7%, 30 yrs
r = 0.07 ÷ 12 = 0.005833  |  n = 360
Growth of savings = $25,000 × (1.005833)^360 = $202,912
Growth of contributions = $500 × [(1.005833)^360−1] / 0.005833 = $609,985
FV = $812,898

How Retirement Savings Are Calculated

Retirement growth uses the future value formula for a growing annuity. There are two parts: the growth of your existing savings, and the accumulated growth of your monthly contributions — both compounding at the same rate.

What makes the math powerful is time. In the example above you contribute $180,000 over 30 years ($500 × 360 months), but the ending balance is $812,898 — because compound interest produces about $632,898 in investment growth. The market does roughly 3.5× as much work as your deposits.

The Rule of 72: at 7% annual return, money doubles every ~10.3 years. $100,000 at age 30 becomes about $200,000 at 40, $400,000 at 50, and $800,000 at 60 — with no further contributions.

How Long Will Your Retirement Savings Last?

Years until the money runs out, by starting balance and annual spending. Assumes a 5% return and withdrawals that rise 3% a year for inflation. "30+" means the balance outlasts a normal retirement.

Balance ↓ / Spend → $20k/yr $30k/yr $40k/yr $50k/yr $60k/yr $80k/yr
$250,000 15 yrs 9 yrs 7 yrs 6 yrs 5 yrs 4 yrs
$500,000 30+ yrs 20 yrs 15 yrs 11 yrs 9 yrs 7 yrs
$750,000 30+ yrs 30+ yrs 23 yrs 18 yrs 15 yrs 11 yrs
$1,000,000 30+ yrs 30+ yrs 34 yrs 25 yrs 20 yrs 15 yrs
$1,500,000 30+ yrs 30+ yrs 30+ yrs 30+ yrs 34 yrs 23 yrs
$2,000,000 30+ yrs 30+ yrs 30+ yrs 30+ yrs 30+ yrs 34 yrs
The surprising part: how long money lasts depends on the withdrawal rate, not the dollar amount. $40k from $1M and $80k from $2M are both 4% and both last about 34 years. Spending much above 4% is what shortens the runway — and Social Security, by covering part of your spending, stretches it back out.

2026 US Retirement Account Contribution Limits

Maximize these tax-advantaged accounts before investing in taxable accounts.

🏢
401(k) / 403(b)
Employer-sponsored plan
Under age 50$23,500 / year
Age 50–59 (catch-up)$31,000 / year
Age 60–63 (super catch-up)$34,750 / year
Tax treatmentPre-tax (Traditional) or post-tax (Roth)
Total incl. employerUp to $70,000 (2026)
💼
Traditional & Roth IRA
Individual retirement account
Under age 50$7,000 / year
Age 50+ (catch-up)$8,000 / year
Roth IRA income limit$165,000 (single) / $246,000 (married)
Roth withdrawalTax-free growth & qualified withdrawals
RMDsTraditional: yes at 73  |  Roth: none
🎯
Optimal Contribution Order
Maximize tax advantages
Step 1401(k) up to full employer match
Step 2Max out Roth IRA ($7,000)
Step 3Return to max 401(k) ($23,500)
Step 4HSA if eligible ($4,300 single)
Step 5Taxable brokerage account
📊
Self-Employed Plans
Solo 401(k) & SEP IRA
Solo 401(k) — under 50Up to $70,000 / year
Solo 401(k) — age 50+Up to $77,500 / year
SEP IRA25% of net earnings, max $70,000
SIMPLE IRA — under 50$16,500 / year
SIMPLE IRA — age 50+$20,000 / year
The 4% Rule — Examples
$40,000/year income
$1,000,000 nest egg
$3,333/mo · 30+ year sustainability
$60,000/year income
$1,500,000 nest egg
$5,000/mo · 30+ year sustainability
$80,000/year income
$2,000,000 nest egg
$6,667/mo · 30+ year sustainability
Add Social Security (~$22,000/yr avg at full retirement age) to cut the nest egg you need from savings.

The 4% Withdrawal Rule — How Much Can You Spend?

The 4% rule comes from the 1998 Trinity Study, which analyzed US stock and bond returns from 1926–1995. The finding: a retiree withdrawing 4% of their portfolio in year one, then adjusting that amount for inflation annually, had a very high probability of not running out of money over a 30-year retirement.

The simple calculation: annual income needed ÷ 0.04 = required nest egg — or equivalently, multiply the income you want by 25.

  • 4% works well for a 30-year horizon with a roughly 60/40 stock-bond portfolio.
  • Use 3% to 3.5% for a 40+ year or early (pre-60) retirement.
  • Social Security reduces what you need from savings — subtract your expected benefit from annual spending before applying the rule.
Don't forget Social Security. The average US benefit at full retirement age (67) is about $22,000/year in 2026. At a 4% rate, that's the equivalent of a $550,000 nest egg you don't have to save yourself.

Retirement Savings Benchmarks by Age

Common savings targets used by US financial planners as a rough guide.

By Age 30
Fidelity benchmark: 1× your annual salary saved. Earn $60,000? Target $60,000 saved. Focus on capturing the full employer 401(k) match and building a consistent contribution habit.
By Age 40
Fidelity benchmark: 3× salary. A $60,000 earner targets $180,000. Compound interest should be doing real work by now — prioritize maxing the 401(k) and IRA.
By Age 50
Fidelity benchmark: 6× salary. Use age-50 catch-up contributions ($31,000 in a 401k). Start modeling Social Security at ssa.gov and gradually shift toward bonds for stability.
By Age 60–67
Fidelity benchmark: 8–10× salary at retirement. Evaluate Medicare (age 65) and your Social Security claiming strategy — delaying to 70 raises benefits about 8%/year past full retirement age.

Frequently Asked Questions About Retirement Savings

Honest answers to the most common US retirement planning questions.

It depends entirely on how much you withdraw, not just the balance. Spending $40,000/year (a 4% rate) from $1 million invested at 5% and rising with 3% inflation lasts about 34 years. Spending $50,000/year lasts about 25 years, $60,000/year about 20 years, and $80,000/year only about 15 years. Add Social Security (about $22,000/year on average at full retirement age) and the savings have to cover far less, so they last much longer. Use the How Long Will It Last tab to test your own numbers.
A common starting point is the 4% rule: multiply the annual income you want from savings by 25. Want $60,000/year from your portfolio? You need about $1.5 million. Want $80,000/year? About $2 million. First subtract guaranteed income such as Social Security (around $22,000/year on average at full retirement age in 2026) from your target, because that reduces what your savings must produce. Most US households land somewhere between $1M and $2.5M depending on lifestyle, location, and other income.
The 4% rule comes from the 1998 Trinity Study: a retiree can withdraw 4% of their portfolio in year one, increase that dollar amount with inflation each year, and historically not run out of money over a 30-year retirement, assuming a roughly 60/40 stock-bond portfolio. For a 40-year or early retirement, many planners use 3% to 3.5% to be safe. The How Long Will It Last tab shows exactly how long a specific balance survives at a withdrawal rate you choose.
Yes, but earlier retirement means a longer drawdown and usually a lower safe withdrawal rate. Retiring at 55 can mean a 35-40 year retirement, so 3% to 3.5% is safer than 4%. You also can't claim Social Security until 62 (reduced) or full retirement age (67 for those born 1960 or later), and most 401(k)/IRA withdrawals are penalty-free only at 59 1/2, so you may need a bridge from taxable accounts or a 72(t)/SEPP plan. Set your retirement age in the Projection tab to see the balance you would have, then test the withdrawal rate in the How Long Will It Last tab.
Inflation erodes what your future balance can actually buy. At 3% inflation, prices roughly double every 24 years, so a $1 million balance 30 years from now buys what about $400,000 buys today. That is why this calculator can show results in today's dollars and why withdrawals in the How Long Will It Last tab rise each year with inflation. A simple rule: a 7% return with 3% inflation is roughly a 4% real (after-inflation) growth rate.
At minimum, contribute enough to get your full employer match — it is an instant 50% to 100% return before any market gains. The 2026 401(k) limit is $23,500 (under 50), $31,000 at age 50+, or $34,750 at ages 60-63. A commonly recommended target is 15% of gross income including the match; if you started late, aim for 20%+. After capturing the full match, many planners suggest maxing a Roth IRA ($7,000/year) before contributing more to the 401(k).
7% is the most widely used rate for US projections — roughly the historical real (after-inflation) return of the S&P 500. Use about 10% for a nominal (before-inflation) scenario. For a conservative 60/40 stock-bond mix, 5% to 6% is more realistic, and many retirees drop their assumed return once they stop working. Running both a pessimistic (5%) and optimistic (9%) scenario gives a useful range rather than a single false-precision number.
Yes. Social Security replaces roughly 40% of pre-retirement income for an average earner, and the average benefit at full retirement age is about $22,000/year in 2026. Every dollar of guaranteed income reduces what your savings must produce: $22,000/year of Social Security is worth about $550,000 of nest egg at a 4% rate. Enter your estimated monthly benefit (get a personalized figure at ssa.gov) so the calculator subtracts it from the income your savings need to cover.
Traditional 401(k)/IRA contributions use pre-tax dollars — you get a deduction now but pay income tax on withdrawals in retirement. Roth contributions use post-tax dollars — no deduction now, but all growth and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. General rule: choose Roth if you expect a higher tax bracket in retirement, Traditional if lower. Many planners recommend holding both to hedge against future tax-rate uncertainty.
Dramatically. At 7%, $500/month from age 25 to 65 grows to about $1.31 million ($240,000 contributed, the rest growth). The same $500/month started at 35 reaches only about $613,000 — less than half — despite just 10 fewer years of contributions. The first decade is the most valuable because those dollars compound the longest. Even $50/month started at 22 can beat $200/month started at 32.
The standard penalty-free age is 59 1/2 for both 401(k) and IRA accounts. Earlier withdrawals trigger a 10% penalty plus ordinary income tax on Traditional accounts. Exceptions include disability, a first-home purchase (IRA, up to $10,000), qualified education expenses, and substantially equal periodic payments (72(t)/SEPP). Required Minimum Distributions begin at age 73 for Traditional accounts under current law; Roth IRAs have no RMDs for the original owner.

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How we keep this accurate: projections use the standard future value formula for a growing annuity, simulated month by month; today's-dollar figures deflate the result by your inflation rate. The 4% rule references the 1998 Trinity Study. Contribution limits reflect IRS 2026 limits. Age benchmarks follow Fidelity's guidelines. This tool is for informational purposes only and is not financial or investment advice — consult a licensed advisor for your situation. Last reviewed May 2026. About CalcMeter →