Retirement Savings Calculator — Free 2026
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Retirement Savings Calculator
Project your nest egg, monthly retirement income, and whether you are on track
↻ Updated 2026 — IRS limits included
Enter your retirement details
Current age
Retirement age
Current savings ($)
Monthly contribution ($)
2026 401(k) limit: $23,500/yr ($1,958/mo). IRA: $7,000/yr ($583/mo).
Annual return (%)
Inflation (%)
S&P 500 avg ~10% nominal, ~7% real. US avg inflation ~2.5%.
WHERE YOUR MONEY COMES FROM
Contributions
Growth
Projected nest egg at retirement
Inflation-adjusted value
Monthly income (4% rule)
Adj. monthly income
Your contributions
Investment growth
Years to retirement
Assessment
Total at retirement
Monthly income (4% rule)
Growth on investments
Inflation-adjusted value
How the Retirement Calculator Works
This calculator uses compound interest to project the future value of your current savings plus ongoing monthly contributions, then applies the 4% rule to estimate sustainable monthly retirement income.
Future Value = CurrentSavings × (1+r)^n + MonthlyContrib × [(1+r)^n − 1] ÷ r
where r = monthly return rate, n = months to retirement
where r = monthly return rate, n = months to retirement
The inflation-adjusted figure shows what your nest egg is worth in today's dollars — more meaningful for planning real purchasing power. We use 2.5% as the default inflation rate, consistent with the Federal Reserve's long-run target.
The 4% Rule — Your Retirement Paycheck
Research by William Bengen (1994), confirmed by the Trinity Study, found that withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in year one — then adjusting for inflation annually — has a high historical probability of lasting 30+ years. So $1,000,000 → $40,000/year ($3,333/month) with a very high success rate across historical market cycles.
4 Ways to Supercharge Your Retirement Savings
🏦 Maximize tax-advantaged accounts first
401(k) to the match, then Roth IRA ($7,000 limit in 2026), then back to max the 401(k) ($23,500). Tax-free or tax-deferred growth compounds dramatically over 30+ years.
📈 Start earlier, not bigger
$200/month starting at 25 grows to more than $400/month starting at 35 — at the same retirement age. Time in market beats contribution size. Starting 10 years earlier roughly doubles the outcome.
🔄 Increase contributions with every raise
Each time you get a salary increase, direct at least half of the raise to retirement. Since you never had the extra money, you won't miss it. Even a 1% increase in savings rate makes a massive long-run difference.
💰 Don't underestimate employer match
A 50% match on up to 6% of salary is a 50% instant return — better than any investment. Always contribute at least enough to capture the full match. Leaving it on the table is a pay cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
A common rule of thumb: multiply your expected annual retirement spending by 25. If you plan to spend $60,000/year, you need $1.5M (the 4% rule). Social Security offsets some of this — the average benefit in 2026 is about $1,907/month. Run the calculator with your expected spending to find your personal number.
The S&P 500 has averaged ~10% annually before inflation over the past 50 years. A diversified portfolio including bonds typically averages 6-8%. We default to 7%, which is a commonly used conservative real-return assumption after inflation. For planning purposes, being conservative (5-7%) is safer than optimistic projections.
The original 4% rule was based on 30-year retirements. For longer retirements (35-40+ years), many financial planners now suggest 3.5% to be safe. Conversely, with a flexible spending strategy, some research supports 4.5-5%. The 4% rule remains a solid starting benchmark — adjust based on your timeline and flexibility.
For 2026, the 401(k) employee contribution limit is $23,500/year ($1,958/month). If you are 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution, for a total of $31,000. The IRA limit is $7,000/year ($583/month), with a $1,000 catch-up for those 50+. Roth IRA income limits apply — consult IRS Publication 590-A for phase-out ranges.