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Account Types

Roth 401(k) Calculator

Project your Roth 401(k) growth with after-tax contributions, employer match, and a clear tax-free vs. taxable breakdown.

Updated March 2026 · Uses 2026 contribution limits

30
1875
67
5085
$

Pre-tax gross annual salary

$
10% of salary
0%100%

After-tax dollars (no upfront tax deduction)

50%

Match goes to the Traditional (pre-tax) side of your account

6% of salary
Advanced Settings
7%
3%
0.5%

Annual expense ratio + admin fees

22%

Used for paycheck impact comparison

At 67, your Roth 401(k) could be worth

$0

Tax-Free (Roth Side)

$0

Taxable (Match Side)

$0

Your Contributions

$0

Employer Match

$0

Investment Growth

$0

Fee Impact

-$0

Paycheck impact

Contributing costs $0/paycheck (biweekly). With a Traditional 401(k), the tax deduction would save you $0/year upfront. Roth costs more now but grows tax-free.

No required minimum distributions. SECURE 2.0 eliminated RMDs for Roth 401(k) accounts starting in 2024. Your money can grow tax-free indefinitely.

Projected Roth 401(k) Growth

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

By Ryan England Last Updated:

How it works

How this Roth 401(k) calculator works

Two-bucket modeling

Your Roth contributions and employer match are tracked separately. The Roth side (your contributions + their growth) is tax-free in retirement. The Traditional side (employer match + its growth) is taxed as ordinary income when withdrawn.

After-tax paycheck impact

Unlike Traditional 401(k) contributions, Roth contributions do not lower your taxable income. The calculator shows exactly how much more each paycheck costs compared to the Traditional option, so you can budget accordingly.

2026 IRS limits built in

Contributions are automatically capped at the 2026 IRS deferral limit ($24,500 under 50, $31,000 at 50+, $34,750 for ages 60-63). The $70,000 combined annual addition limit is enforced as well.

Monthly compounding with fees

Contributions are spread across 12 monthly deposits with returns compounding each month. Plan fees are deducted from the return rate to show real net growth, and the fee impact card shows the total cost over the projection.

Comparison

Roth 401(k) vs. Traditional 401(k)

Feature Roth 401(k) Traditional 401(k)
Tax on contributions After-tax (no deduction) Pre-tax (reduces taxable income)
Tax on withdrawals Tax-free (qualified) Taxed as ordinary income
2026 contribution limit $24,500 (shared) $24,500 (shared)
Income limit None None
Required minimum distributions None (SECURE 2.0) Required at age 73
Employer match Goes to Traditional side Stays in Traditional
Best if you expect Higher taxes in retirement Lower taxes in retirement

The Roth 401(k) and Traditional 401(k) share the same annual contribution limit. You can split contributions between both types, but the total cannot exceed the IRS limit.

Strategies

Ways to maximize your Roth 401(k)

Start Roth early

The earlier you start making Roth contributions, the more years your money compounds tax-free. A 25-year-old contributing to Roth gets 40+ years of tax-free growth. That compounding advantage is hard to replicate later.

Split for tax diversification

Consider splitting contributions between Roth and Traditional. Having both taxable and tax-free income sources in retirement gives you flexibility to manage your tax bracket year by year.

Capture the full match

Your employer match is free money regardless of whether you choose Roth or Traditional. Always contribute at least enough to capture the full match before directing savings elsewhere.

No income limit advantage

Unlike Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s have no income limit. High earners who cannot contribute to a Roth IRA due to income phase-outs can still get tax-free growth through their Roth 401(k). This makes it one of the most powerful tools for high-income earners.

Roll to Roth IRA at separation

When you leave your job, roll your Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA. You will get more investment choices, lower fees, and since SECURE 2.0 removed Roth 401(k) RMDs, there is no urgency. But a Roth IRA still offers more flexibility.

Use catch-up contributions

At 50, you can contribute an extra $6,500/year. At 60 through 63, the super catch-up lets you add $10,250 extra. These final years of tax-free contributions can significantly boost your Roth balance before retirement.

Reference

2026 Roth 401(k) contribution limits

Under 50

$24,500

Employee deferral

Age 50-59, 64+

$31,000

+$6,500 catch-up

Age 60-63

$34,750

Super catch-up

Annual Addition

$70,000

Employee + employer

Source: IRS Notice 2025-XX (projected). These limits are shared between Traditional and Roth 401(k) contributions. The 403(b) and governmental 457(b) plans use the same deferral limits.

Keep going

Related calculators

401(k) Calculator →

Traditional 401(k) growth projection with employer match, catch-up contributions, and fee impact analysis.

Roth IRA Calculator →

Roth IRA growth with income phase-out eligibility, contribution limits, and tax-free growth projection.

Retirement Calculator →

Full retirement projection with readiness score, income breakdown, and trajectory chart.

Common questions

What is a Roth 401(k)?
A Roth 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement account that accepts after-tax contributions. You pay income tax on contributions now, but qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free. The same IRS contribution limits apply as the Traditional 401(k): $24,500 for 2026 (under 50), $31,000 (50+), and $34,750 (ages 60-63).
Does my employer match go into the Roth 401(k)?
No. By law, employer matching contributions always go into the Traditional (pre-tax) side of your account, even if your employee contributions go to the Roth side. This means your account has two buckets: Roth (your contributions + their growth, tax-free) and Traditional (employer match + its growth, taxable when withdrawn). Our calculator models both sides separately so you can see the full picture.
Do Roth 401(k) accounts have required minimum distributions?
No, not anymore. The SECURE 2.0 Act eliminated required minimum distributions (RMDs) for Roth 401(k) accounts starting in 2024. Previously, Roth 401(k)s required RMDs at age 73 (unlike Roth IRAs, which never had them). Now both Roth account types let your money grow tax-free indefinitely.
Should I choose Roth 401(k) or Traditional 401(k)?
The core question is whether your tax rate will be higher now or in retirement. If you expect higher taxes later (early career, rising income, or you believe tax rates will increase), Roth is typically better because you lock in today's lower rate. If you are in peak earning years and expect a lower rate in retirement, Traditional may save more in taxes today. Many financial planners suggest splitting contributions between both for tax diversification.
What is the Roth 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
The employee deferral limit for 2026 is $24,500 for workers under 50. Workers 50 and older can contribute up to $31,000 ($6,500 catch-up). Ages 60 through 63 qualify for the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up of up to $34,750. These limits are shared with Traditional 401(k) contributions. The combined employee + employer annual addition limit is $70,000.
How does the Roth 401(k) affect my paycheck?
Roth 401(k) contributions come from after-tax dollars, so they do not reduce your taxable income like Traditional contributions do. A $500 Roth contribution costs you the full $500 from your paycheck. A $500 Traditional contribution might only reduce your take-home pay by $390 (at a 22% tax rate) because of the tax deduction. Our calculator shows this paycheck impact so you can plan your budget accordingly.
Can I have both a Roth 401(k) and a Roth IRA?
Yes. Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA have separate contribution limits. You can contribute up to $24,500 to your Roth 401(k) and up to $7,500 to your Roth IRA (2026 limits, under 50). However, Roth IRA contributions are subject to income phase-outs while Roth 401(k) contributions have no income limit.
What happens to my Roth 401(k) when I leave my job?
You can roll your Roth 401(k) into a Roth IRA with no tax consequences. This is often recommended because Roth IRAs offer more investment choices, have no RMDs, and are not subject to plan fees. You can also leave the money in your former employer's plan (if allowed) or roll it into your new employer's Roth 401(k).