RetirementCalculator.net

Retirement Calculator

See if you're on track for retirement. 60 seconds. No sign-up required.

Updated August 2026 · Uses 2026 tax brackets and contribution limits

35
18 85
$

Pre-tax gross annual salary

$

All accounts combined (401k, IRA, etc.)

$
67
40
85
$

80% of current income is a common guideline

Advanced Settings
90
7%
3%
$
50% up to 6%
%
up to %
0% Calculating...

Retirement Readiness Score

You'll Have

$0

You'll Need

$0

$0 gap to close

Monthly Income in Retirement

0/mo

This calculator provides estimates based on the information you enter and the assumptions described in our methodology. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

Projected Savings Over Time

$2.0M $1.5M $1.0M $0.5M $0 35 45 55 65 75 85 Age 67 $1,247,000
Accumulation
Drawdown
Peak balance at retirement

Year-by-Year Breakdown

Age Cash Flow Growth Balance

Projected values are estimates and are not guaranteed. Actual results will vary.

By Ryan England Last Updated:

Methodology

How this calculator works

Enter your current age, income, savings balance, and monthly contribution. The calculator projects your retirement savings forward using your expected rate of return (we default to 7%, the historical average for a diversified portfolio before inflation), then compares it against your desired retirement income to identify any gap.

Every assumption is transparent and adjustable. If you disagree with a default, change it. For a full explanation of our calculation methods and data sources, see our methodology page.

2026 numbers

The retirement numbers that matter in 2026

The limits, benchmarks, and rules of thumb behind this calculator's defaults. Every assumption is adjustable, and every figure is sourced.

401(k) deferral limit
$24,500
$32,500 at age 50 and up. $35,750 for ages 60 to 63 under the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up. 401(k) calculator
IRA limit (Traditional + Roth)
$7,500
$8,600 at age 50 and up. The cap applies across all IRAs combined. Roth IRA calculator
Maximum Social Security benefit
$4,152/mo
At full retirement age (67). Benefits replace 30% to 40% of pre-retirement income for most workers. Social Security calculator
Starting withdrawal rate
4%
$40,000 in year one on $1 million, adjusted for inflation after that. A starting point, not a guarantee.
Savings target by 67
10x salary
With interim checkpoints of 1x by 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, and 8x by 60. Full guide
Recommended savings rate
15%
Of pre-tax income, employer match included. The average worker saves 7.7% and receives about 4.3% from an employer.

Sources: IRS Notice 2025-67 (contribution limits), Social Security Administration (maximum benefit), SSA replacement rates, William Bengen's withdrawal-rate research, Fidelity salary multipliers, and Vanguard, How America Saves 2025.

How do you compare?

Real numbers from Vanguard's 2025 How America Saves report. The median column is the one that matters.

Age Group Average 401(k) Median 401(k) Fidelity Target
Under 25 $6,899 $1,948 N/A
25–34 $42,640 $16,255 1–2x salary
35–44 $103,552 $39,958 2–4x salary
45–54 $188,643 $67,796 4–6x salary
55–64 $271,320 $95,642 7–8x salary
65+ $299,442 $95,425 10x salary

The median is a more accurate picture of the typical worker. Averages are pulled up by a small number of very large accounts. For age-specific benchmarks and strategies, see retirement at 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 62, or 65.

Strategies that actually move the needle

Five changes, roughly in order of impact. Most people only need two or three.

Start With the Match

Contribute at least enough to capture your full employer 401(k) match. A typical match is 50% up to 6% of salary. That's 3% free.

401(k) Calculator →

Increase Your Rate Over Time

The average American contributes 7.7% of salary (Vanguard). Experts recommend 15%. Increase by 1% each year. Most people don't notice the change.

Use Catch-Up Contributions

At age 50, contribute an extra $8,000/year to your 401(k). Ages 60–63 get a "super catch-up" of $11,250 extra, for $35,750/year total. Source: IRS catch-up contribution limits.

Diversify Your Tax Exposure

Split contributions between traditional (tax-deferred) and Roth (tax-free in retirement) accounts for flexibility managing your tax bracket.

Optimize Social Security

Each year you delay claiming past 62 (up to 70), your benefit increases ~8% per year past full retirement age. It's one of the highest-return moves available.

Social Security Calculator →

Keep going

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Pension Calculator →

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Retirement Income Calculator →

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Early Retirement (FIRE) →

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Read up

Retirement guides

Plain-English explainers that pair with the calculators. Start with the number everyone asks about first.

How Much Do I Need to Retire? →

Three ways to estimate your number, with worked examples for $50K to $150K incomes.

When to Take Social Security →

62, 67, or 70? The break-even math behind the biggest claiming decision.

Roth vs Traditional 401(k) Soon

Which bucket wins for your tax bracket, explained in plain English.

IRA vs 401(k) Soon

Where your next retirement dollar should go, and the order that beats guessing.

Best States to Retire Soon

How all 50 states tax retirement income and Social Security, ranked.

What to Do With an Old 401(k) Soon

Roll it over, leave it, or cash out when you change jobs. The math on each.

Retirement savings by age

Benchmarks, strategies, and calculators tailored to where you are right now.

25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 62 65 67 70 See all ages →

Retirement by state

Tax rules, cost of living, and what retirement actually costs where you live.

Florida Texas Arizona North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Nevada Colorado Oregon California New York See all states →

Common questions

How much money do I need to retire comfortably?
Most financial experts recommend saving 10 to 15 times your annual pre-retirement income by age 67. For someone earning $75,000, that's $750,000 to $1,125,000. The exact amount depends on your desired lifestyle, location, healthcare needs, and other income sources like Social Security. Use the calculator above to estimate your personal number.
What is the average retirement savings by age?
The average 401(k) balance across all ages is $148,153, while the median is $38,176 (Vanguard, 2024 data). For the 55–64 age group, the average is $271,320 and the median is $95,642. The gap between average and median is significant, because a small number of very large accounts pull the average up.
What rate of return should I assume for retirement planning?
A commonly used assumption is 7% average annual return before inflation (approximately 4–5% after inflation), based on long-term historical returns of a diversified stock/bond portfolio. Our calculator defaults to 7%, but you can adjust this in advanced settings. Conservative planners may use 5–6%.
How does Social Security factor into retirement planning?
Social Security replaces roughly 30–40% of pre-retirement income for most workers. Your benefit depends on your 35 highest-earning years and claiming age. The maximum benefit in 2026 is $4,152/month at full retirement age (67). Use our Social Security calculator for your personalized estimate.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your savings in year one, then adjusting for inflation each year, giving a high probability of not running out of money over 30 years. On a $1 million portfolio, that's $40,000 in year one. It's a useful starting point based on William Bengen's 1994 research, not a guarantee.
When should I start saving for retirement?
As early as possible. A 25-year-old saving $200/month at 7% average return would have approximately $528,000 by age 65. Starting at 35 with the same amount yields approximately $244,000, less than half. Time and compound interest are the most powerful factors in retirement savings growth.
How much should I be saving for retirement each year?
Financial experts generally recommend saving 15% of your pre-tax income, including any employer match. The average American contributes 7.7% of salary, with employers adding roughly another 4.3%, for a total of about 12% (Vanguard). If you're behind, catch-up contributions after age 50 can help close the gap.
Is $1 million enough to retire?
It depends on your spending, not the round number. Under the 4% rule, $1 million supports about $40,000 in first-year withdrawals, adjusted for inflation after that. Social Security typically replaces another 30% to 40% of pre-retirement income, so the real question is whether those two streams together cover your actual spending. The same $1 million is comfortable in a low-cost state and tight in a high-cost one, which is why location, healthcare, and whether you carry a mortgage into retirement matter more than the balance itself.
How long will $500,000 last in retirement?
At a 4% starting withdrawal rate, $500,000 produces about $20,000 in the first year and is designed to last roughly 30 years alongside inflation adjustments. Withdraw $30,000 a year (6%) instead and the same balance historically runs dry in the low-to-mid 20-year range in poor market sequences. The variables that move this most are your withdrawal rate, the returns you happen to get in the first five years of retirement, and how much of your spending Social Security covers.
What are the 2026 retirement contribution limits?
For 2026 the 401(k) employee deferral limit is $24,500, rising to $32,500 at age 50 and $35,750 for ages 60 through 63 under the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up. The IRA limit (Traditional and Roth combined) is $7,500, or $8,600 at 50 and older. The combined employee-plus-employer 401(k) annual addition limit is $70,000. Source: IRS Notice 2025-67.
How accurate is a retirement calculator?
A retirement calculator is a projection, not a forecast. It applies the return, inflation, and contribution assumptions you enter and compounds them forward, so its accuracy is bounded by those inputs. Real markets do not deliver a steady 7% a year, and the order in which good and bad years arrive changes outcomes meaningfully near retirement. Treat the output as a direction and a gap size, re-run it annually, and test a lower return assumption to see how much of your plan depends on a favorable market.
Can I retire early?
Potentially, but it requires careful planning. Retiring before 59½ means limited access to retirement accounts (with exceptions like the Rule of 55). Before 65 means no Medicare. Before 62 means no Social Security. Our early retirement calculator helps model these scenarios.