Retirement Calculator
Your retirement savings grow from your contributions, any employer match and compound investment returns — the earlier you start, the more compounding does the work. Enter your details to project your balance at retirement and how long it may last.
Four planning tools in one: find the nest egg you need, how much to save, how much you can spend, and how long your money will last — for your 401(k), IRA or any savings, all inflation-adjusted and in any currency.
Estimate the savings you'll need by retirement to replace your income, and see whether your current plan gets you there.
Already know your target nest egg? See how much to set aside each month, each year, or as a lump sum today.
Estimate how much you can spend each month in retirement — as a flat amount, or one that keeps pace with inflation.
See how many years a fixed pot can last at a chosen monthly withdrawal and rate of return.
How much do you really need to retire?
There is no single magic number, because it depends on the lifestyle you want, how long you live, and what your savings earn. A practical way to think about it is replacement income: most people can maintain their standard of living on roughly 70 to 80 percent of their pre-retirement income, because work-related costs and retirement contributions stop. The How much to retire tool grows your income to your retirement age, applies the replacement percentage you choose, and then calculates the lump sum needed to fund that income — rising with inflation — all the way to your life expectancy. Whether you plan to retire early at 55 or 60, or at the full retirement age of 67, just set your target age to see how much you need.
Three rules of thumb worth knowing
The 10–15% rule. Saving 10 to 15 percent of pre-tax income every working year, including any employer match, is a solid default for someone who starts in their twenties or thirties. Start later and the percentage needs to climb.
The 80% rule. Planning to replace about 80 percent of your working income is a common starting point; frugal retirees may need less, while those who want to travel widely may need more.
The 4% rule. Dividing the annual income you want by 4 percent gives a rough nest-egg target — for example, $60,000 a year implies about $1.5 million. Withdrawing around 4 percent in the first year and adjusting for inflation has historically had a good chance of lasting about 30 years. It is a guide, not a promise.
How much should you save for retirement by age?
A quick way to check your progress is to compare your savings with your income. A widely cited set of milestones suggests having roughly 1× your annual salary saved by age 30, about 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60 and around 10× by your late sixties. Treat these as rough signposts, not rules: an early start or a generous pension means you can aim lower, while a late start or an early-retirement goal calls for more. Use the How much to save tool to turn your own target into an exact amount to set aside each month, each year, or as a lump sum today.
Why inflation is the quiet risk
Inflation slowly erodes what your money can buy. At 3 percent a year, prices roughly double in 24 years, so an income that feels comfortable at 65 can feel tight at 85. That is why this calculator shows results in both future dollars and today's money, and why the withdrawal tool lets you model spending that rises each year to protect your standard of living.
Where retirement income comes from
Most people draw on a mix of sources: government benefits such as Social Security or a state pension; workplace plans like a 401(k), 403(b) or a company or private pension; personal savings and investments held in tax-advantaged and ordinary accounts; and sometimes home equity, annuities or part-time work. Entering expected benefits in the Other income field reduces the amount your own savings must provide. For an official, personalised estimate of your future benefit, the U.S. Social Security Administration offers a free estimator at ssa.gov. To see how your own savings could grow between now and then, try the compound interest calculator or the investment calculator.
How much can you withdraw, and how long will your money last?
Two questions matter once you stop working: how much you can safely spend, and how long your savings will last. The How much to withdraw tool turns your balance into a sustainable monthly income — either a flat amount or one that rises each year with inflation to protect your spending power. The How long will it last tool works the other way: enter a pot and a monthly withdrawal to see how many years it supports, including when a withdrawal is small enough that the balance could last indefinitely.
Which retirement calculator is the most accurate?
No calculator can predict the future, so the most accurate result is the one built on realistic assumptions and sound math. This tool compounds growth and withdrawals monthly using an effective monthly rate, adjusts every figure for inflation, and shows the exact formulas it uses so you can check the work yourself. The biggest driver of accuracy is not the tool but your inputs — a sensible return, an honest inflation rate and a realistic life expectancy matter more than any single calculator, so it is worth revisiting your numbers each year or whenever your plans change.
Estimates only — not investment advice.
How to use it & key terms
Enter your age, income, current savings, contribution and expected return, then press Calculate for your projected nest egg and retirement income.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Nest egg | The total savings you aim to have at retirement. |
| 401(k) | A US workplace retirement account with tax advantages. |
| Employer match | Money your employer contributes, often up to a percentage of your pay. |
| 4% rule | Withdrawing about 4% of your pot in year one, then rising with inflation. |
| Replacement ratio | The share of pre-retirement income you aim to replace (often 70–80%). |
| Real vs nominal | Values in today's money versus future money before inflation. |
| Life expectancy | How long the money needs to last. |
Sources & methodology
Each tool uses standard time-value-of-money formulas. Growth and withdrawals are compounded monthly using an effective monthly rate derived from your annual return, (1 + r)^(1/12) − 1, which is how mainstream retirement calculators model returns. The nest-egg tool funds an inflation-adjusted income stream from retirement to your life expectancy; the savings tool solves the future value of an annuity for the contribution you need; the withdrawal tool converts your projected balance into a sustainable monthly income; and the longevity tool solves how many withdrawals a fixed pot supports.
The formulas behind the numbers
No black boxes — here is the exact math each tool uses. Let r be the effective monthly return (1 + annual return)^(1/12) − 1, f the monthly inflation rate, and N the number of months.
- Savings needed at retirement — the value today of an income that rises with inflation:
Nest = W × [ 1 − ((1 + f) / (1 + r))^N ] / (r − f)
whereWis the first month's withdrawal andNthe months in retirement. - Amount to save each month to reach a target nest egg:
Save = (Target − Current × (1 + r)^N) × r / [ (1 + r)^N − 1 ] - Sustainable monthly withdrawal from a balance over
Nmonths:W = Balance × r / [ 1 − (1 + r)^−N ] - How long a pot lasts at a fixed monthly withdrawal:
N = −ln(1 − r × Balance / W) / ln(1 + r)
Sources: Standard annuity and future-value formulas; return and inflation are assumptions you choose. Results cross-checked against published worked examples.
Two 401(k) mistakes that quietly cost the most
The projection above assumes you do two unglamorous things well: capture everything your employer offers, and leave the money invested when you move on. Both are easy to get wrong, and both are expensive.
The first is failing to claim the full employer match. When a company matches your contributions up to some share of your pay, that match is effectively free money — an immediate, guaranteed return on your own savings before the market does anything at all. Contributing less than the amount needed to earn the full match leaves part of your compensation on the table every single pay period, and no return elsewhere reliably makes up for turning down free money. If your budget is tight, the match is the last thing to cut, not the first. It is also worth knowing that matched money often “vests” on a schedule, meaning you have to stay a certain length of time before it is fully yours, so it pays to know your plan's rules before you leave.
The second costly mistake happens at the exit. When people change jobs, the balance in an old plan can feel like a windfall, and cashing it out is tempting. But taking the money before retirement age usually triggers income tax plus an additional penalty, and — the larger loss — it removes that balance from decades of future compounding. A sum cashed out in your thirties is not just taxed and penalised today; it forfeits every doubling it would have earned between now and retirement. Rolling the balance into your new employer's plan or into an individual retirement account keeps it invested, tax-advantaged and growing, usually with no tax due at all on the move.
Neither of these choices shows up as a line on the calculator, yet together they can swing the final figure more than a percentage point of return either way. The encouraging part is that both are entirely within your control. Contribute at least enough to earn every matching dollar, understand your vesting schedule, and when you switch jobs, roll the old account over rather than spending it. Do those three simple things consistently and you give the compounding modelled above the full balance and the full number of years it needs to do its work.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to retire?
A common approach is to aim for a nest egg that can replace 70 to 80 percent of your pre-retirement income, adjusted for inflation, from your retirement age to your life expectancy. This calculator grows your income to retirement, applies your chosen replacement percentage, then works out the lump sum needed to fund that income.
What is the 4 percent rule?
The 4 percent rule suggests you can withdraw about 4 percent of your savings in the first year of retirement, then adjust that amount for inflation each year, with a reasonable chance the money lasts about 30 years. It is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee, and depends on your returns and how long you live.
How much of my income should I save for retirement?
A widely used guideline is to save 10 to 15 percent of pre-tax income each year, including any employer match. Starting earlier lets compounding do more of the work, so the required percentage is lower the sooner you begin.
Will my savings keep up with inflation?
Inflation reduces what your money can buy over time. This calculator shows results in both future dollars and today's money, and it can model a withdrawal that rises each year with inflation so your spending power stays steady.
How much can I safely withdraw each month in retirement?
It depends on your balance, your expected return, how long you need the money to last, and whether you want a flat amount or one that rises with inflation. The withdrawal tool converts your projected balance into a sustainable monthly income for both cases.
How long will my retirement savings last?
That depends on how much you withdraw and what your balance earns. If your monthly withdrawal is below what your balance earns each month, the money can last indefinitely; otherwise the longevity tool estimates how many years it will support your chosen withdrawal.
Does this include Social Security or a state pension?
You can enter expected Social Security, a state pension or any other regular income in the Other income field, and it reduces the amount your own savings need to provide. Leave it at zero to size your savings without it.
When do I have to start withdrawing from my 401k (RMDs)?
Traditional (pre-tax) 401k and IRA balances are subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs). Under the SECURE 2.0 Act the starting age is 73 (for anyone born 1951–1959), rising to 75 for those born in 1960 or later. Your first RMD is due by April 1 of the year after you reach that age, then by December 31 each year after. Roth 401k and Roth IRA accounts have no RMDs during your lifetime (Roth 401k RMDs were removed in 2024). Check RMD timing with a tax adviser.
Are these retirement results financial advice?
No. The figures are estimates to help you plan and rely on assumptions you choose for returns and inflation. Real markets vary, so confirm your plan with a qualified financial adviser before making decisions.
How much do I need to retire at 60?
There is no single number, but a common guideline is roughly 10 times your annual income by your early 60s, adjusted for the income you want and how long you expect to live. Retiring at 60 usually means a longer retirement and a gap before Social Security, so you generally need more than retiring at 67. Set the retirement age to 60 in the first tool to see your personal target.
How much should I save each month for retirement?
A common guideline is 10 to 15 percent of pre-tax income, including any employer match, but the exact amount depends on your target, your current savings and your time horizon. Enter your target nest egg in the "How much to save" tool to see the precise monthly, yearly or lump-sum amount you need.
How much should I have saved for retirement by age?
A common set of milestones is to have about 1 times your annual salary saved by age 30, 3 times by 40, 6 times by 50, 8 times by 60 and roughly 10 times by your late sixties. They are rough guidelines rather than targets, and depend on the income you want, any pension, and when you plan to retire. The How much to save tool turns your own goal into an exact monthly, yearly or lump-sum amount.
Which retirement calculator is the most accurate?
Accuracy comes from realistic assumptions and transparent math more than from the tool itself. This calculator compounds monthly using an effective monthly rate, adjusts every figure for inflation, and shows the formulas it uses so you can check them. Because no calculator can predict markets, your chosen return, inflation rate and life expectancy affect the result far more than the calculator does.
Can I use this if I do not have a 401(k) or I am self-employed?
Yes. The calculator works with any savings, whatever the account. Enter your total balance and contributions whether they are in a 401(k), an IRA or Roth IRA, a taxable brokerage account, or a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) for the self-employed. It sizes your savings and withdrawals the same way regardless of the account type.
What is the formula behind this retirement calculator?
Each tool uses standard time-value-of-money math. The savings you need is the present value of an inflation-rising income; the amount to save solves the future value of an annuity; the sustainable withdrawal converts a balance into a monthly income; and the longevity tool solves how many withdrawals a pot supports. The exact formulas are listed in the methodology section on this page.
How much will my 401(k) be worth at retirement?
It depends on your current balance, monthly contributions, any employer match, the years until you retire and your investment return. Enter those and the calculator projects your 401(k) or other retirement balance at your chosen retirement age, in both future and today's money, so you can see your likely nest egg and adjust your savings to hit your target.