How much you'll have in retirement depends on what you've saved, what you add each year, investment returns and time. This calculator projects your nest egg, adjusts it for inflation, and checks it against the income you want.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your age, the age you want to retire, and what you've saved so far.
- Enter how much you save each month, including any employer match.
- Set an expected return (7% is a common long-run assumption for a stock-heavy portfolio) and inflation.
- Enter the yearly income you'd like in retirement, in today's dollars.
How it's calculated
Savings grow monthly at your expected return, and your contributions rise each year by the raise you set. The final balance is converted to today's dollars by dividing by (1 + inflation)years.
The 4% rule estimates a safe yearly withdrawal as 4% of your savings, so to fund $60,000 a year you'd want about $1.5 million (in today's dollars), before counting Social Security or a pension.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I save for retirement?
A common guideline is 15% of gross income, including any employer match, starting in your 20s or 30s. Starting later means saving a higher share.
How much can I put in a 401(k) in 2026?
The employee contribution limit for 2026 is $24,500, with higher catch-up limits from age 50. IRAs allow $7,500. Check IRS guidance for your situation.
Is the 4% rule safe?
It's a rule of thumb based on historical US returns over 30-year retirements. Retiring early, market conditions and fees can make a lower withdrawal rate safer.
Related calculators
Estimates for general information only, not financial advice. See how we calculate.