Use this retirement calculator to see how much you’ll have saved by the time you retire, how much you’ll actually need, and how long your savings will last. If you’re falling short, it tells you how much more to save each month to get back on track.
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Your savings over time
Savings by age
| At age | Added | Withdrawn | Balance |
|---|
Estimates only. Assumes steady returns, contributions made monthly, withdrawals that rise with inflation, and no taxes or fees. Investment returns are not guaranteed. Check your Social Security estimate at ssa.gov.
How the calculator works
The calculator projects your savings in two stages:
- While you work, you and your employer add a percentage of your pay each month, your pay rises each year, and your savings grow at the return you enter.
- In retirement, you withdraw the gap between your income goal and your Social Security benefit. Withdrawals rise with inflation each year, and the remaining savings keep earning the in-retirement return.
Your nest egg target is the amount you’d need on your first day of retirement to fund those withdrawals until the age you plan for.
Example: a 35-year-old saving 6% of pay
The calculator’s default example is a 35-year-old earning $80,000 with $60,000 saved. They put 6% of their pay into a 401(k), get a 3% employer match, and expect $2,000 a month from Social Security in today’s dollars. Returns are 7% before retirement and 5% after, with 3% inflation, and the goal is 80% of pre-retirement pay.
- At 67 they’d have about $1,663,177, or about $645,873 in today’s dollars.
- They’d need about $1,882,779 to reach age 90, so they’re about $219,603 short and their savings would run out at 86.
- Saving about $161 more a month, or raising their contribution from 6% to 8% of pay, would put them on track.
How much of your pay should you save?
Small increases in your savings rate add up over a career. Here’s the same example at different contribution rates, each with the 3% match:
| You save | Savings at 67 | Savings last until |
|---|---|---|
| 6% | $1,663,177 | Age 86 |
| 10% | $2,169,959 | Past 90 |
| 12% | $2,423,350 | Past 90 |
| 15% | $2,803,437 | Past 90 |
Many financial planners suggest saving around 15% of your pay, including any employer match. At a minimum, contribute enough to get your full employer match, since that’s money you’d otherwise leave on the table.
When you retire changes everything
Retiring later gives your savings more years to grow and fewer years to cover. In the default example:
| Retire at | Savings at retirement | Savings last until |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | $1,114,272 | Age 76 |
| 65 | $1,419,612 | Age 82 |
| 67 | $1,663,177 | Age 86 |
| 70 | $2,100,737 | Past 90 |
These figures keep Social Security at $2,000 a month. In reality, your benefit is lower if you claim before your full retirement age (67 for anyone born in 1960 or later) and higher if you wait until 70, so working longer helps even more. Update the Social Security field to match your claiming age.
2026 retirement account limits
| Account | 2026 limit |
|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and TSP | $24,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and over | +$8,000 |
| Catch-up, ages 60 to 63 | +$11,250 |
| IRA (traditional and Roth) | $7,500 |
| IRA catch-up, age 50 and over | +$1,100 |
The calculator warns you if your contribution is above the 401(k) limit for your age. Any savings above the limit can go into an IRA or a regular brokerage account.
Factoring in Social Security
The average retired worker received about $2,033 a month from Social Security in 2026. Benefits will rise 3.6% in January 2027 under the latest cost-of-living adjustment, adding about $75 a month on average. Your own benefit depends on your earnings history and the age you claim, so check your estimate in your my Social Security account at ssa.gov.
Social Security makes a big difference to how much you need to save. In the default example, a $1,500 benefit raises the nest egg target to $2,165,196, while a $2,500 benefit lowers it to $1,600,362 and puts the saver on track.
How this compares with the 4% rule
The 4% rule says you can withdraw 4% of your savings in your first year of retirement, then adjust for inflation, and your money should last about 30 years. That means saving 25 times the yearly income you need from your savings. In the default example, the saver needs $40,000 a year on top of Social Security in today’s dollars, so the 4% rule suggests $1,000,000 in today’s dollars.
The calculator’s target is lower, about $731,153 in today’s dollars, because it plans for 23 years of retirement (67 to 90) at a 5% return rather than 30 years with a cautious margin. If you want more of a cushion, plan to a later age or use a lower return in retirement.
Ways to close a retirement gap
- Raise your contribution by 1% a year, ideally when you get a raise, so you don’t feel the difference.
- Capture your full employer match before anything else.
- Use catch-up contributions once you turn 50.
- Work a little longer or delay Social Security to boost your monthly benefit.
- Pay off high-interest debt so more of your income can go to savings. Our debt payoff calculator can help you plan it.
To see how a single amount or regular deposits grow on their own, try our compound interest calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to retire?
It depends on the income you want, your Social Security benefit and how long you plan for. A common goal is 70% to 80% of your pre-retirement pay. The calculator works out the nest egg you’d need at retirement to cover the gap between that goal and Social Security.
How much should I save for retirement each month?
Many planners suggest about 15% of your pay, including any employer match. The calculator tells you exactly how much more per month you’d need to save to reach your goal based on your age, savings and income.
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
You can contribute up to $24,500 to a 401(k) in 2026. Workers 50 and older can add an $8,000 catch-up, and those aged 60 to 63 can add $11,250 instead. The IRA limit is $7,500, plus $1,100 if you’re 50 or older.
What rate of return should I use?
Many people use 6% to 7% before retirement for a stock-heavy portfolio and 4% to 5% in retirement, when investments are usually more conservative. Returns are not guaranteed, so try a lower rate to see how a weaker market would affect your plan.
How much will I get from Social Security?
The average retired worker received about $2,033 a month in 2026, and benefits rise 3.6% in January 2027. Your benefit depends on your earnings history and claiming age. Check your personal estimate at ssa.gov and enter it in today’s dollars.
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Sources: IRS: 2026 401(k) and IRA limits; Social Security Administration: 2027 cost-of-living adjustment; The Motley Fool: average Social Security benefit.