Retirement Calculator 2026
Use this free retirement calculator to see if you are on track to retire. Enter your age, savings, monthly contributions, Social Security and the income you want, and find out how much you will have, how much you need to retire, how long your money could last and how much to save each month to close any gap. Updated with 2026 contribution limits and Social Security figures.
Estimate only. Assumes steady returns, monthly saving and withdrawals, and withdrawals that rise with inflation. Social Security is assumed to start at your retirement age. Taxes and fees are not included.
Your savings over time
Your projected balance each year, growing while you save and shrinking as you withdraw in retirement.
Year by year
What you put in or take out each year, and your balance at the end of the year in future and today’s dollars.
| Age | Saved | Withdrawn | Balance | Today’s $ |
|---|
How much do you need to retire?
There is no single number, but three rules of thumb give a useful starting point:
- Replace 70% to 80% of your pay. Many retirees spend less than they did while working, because they no longer save for retirement, pay payroll taxes or commute.
- Save 25 times what you need from savings. This is the 4% rule turned around. If Social Security covers $22,000 of a $60,000 goal, you need $38,000 a year from savings, or about $950,000 in today’s dollars.
- Aim for about 10 times your salary by 67. Fidelity’s savings guideline suggests 1 times your salary by 30, 3 times by 40, 6 times by 50, 8 times by 60 and 10 times by 67.
This calculator goes a step further. It works out the exact amount needed to fund inflation-adjusted withdrawals from your retirement age to the age you plan until, at the return you expect in retirement. Planning to an older age, such as 95, is a sensible way to allow for a long life.
How long will my money last?
It depends mostly on how much you withdraw each year compared with your savings. Here is how long $1,000,000 lasts at different starting withdrawal rates, with withdrawals rising 2.5% a year for inflation and savings earning a steady 5% a year:
| Withdrawal rate | First-year withdrawal | Money lasts about |
|---|---|---|
| 3% | $30,000 | 60+ years |
| 3.5% | $35,000 | 50 years |
| 4% | $40,000 | 39 years |
| 5% | $50,000 | 28 years |
| 6% | $60,000 | 22 years |
Real returns are not steady, and a market drop early in retirement can shorten these timelines. Use the calculator above to see the age your own savings could last until, and read how much you need to retire for the 4% rule in more detail.
How the calculator works
Before retirement, your savings grow each month at the equivalent monthly rate of your pre-retirement return, and your monthly saving rises once a year by the increase you entered. In retirement, the calculator withdraws what you need each month, grows the rest at your retirement return, and raises withdrawals with inflation.
The “save each month to be on track” figure is the starting monthly amount, rising each year by your savings increase, that would grow to exactly what you need by your retirement age.
Worked example: 35 years old with $40,000 saved
A 35-year-old has $40,000 saved and puts away $500 a month, increasing it 2% a year. They want $60,000 a year in today’s dollars from age 67 to 90 and expect $22,000 a year from Social Security. Savings earn 7% a year before retirement and 5% during it, with 2.5% inflation.
- Needed from savings each year (today’s $)$38,000
- Savings at 67$1,194,276
- You will need at 67$1,463,593
- Shortfall$269,317
- Money lasts untilAge 84
- Monthly saving to be on track$659
Saving $159 more a month, or about $659 in total, closes the gap. Working until 70 instead of 67 would also do it, because the savings get three more years to grow and have three fewer years to cover. The 401(k) calculator shows how an employer match can supply part of that extra saving.
How much should you have saved for retirement by age?
A common benchmark from Fidelity is to save a multiple of your salary by each age. Here is what that means in dollars:
| Age | Target | $50,000 salary | $75,000 salary | $100,000 salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1× salary | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
| 40 | 3× salary | $150,000 | $225,000 | $300,000 |
| 50 | 6× salary | $300,000 | $450,000 | $600,000 |
| 60 | 8× salary | $400,000 | $600,000 | $800,000 |
| 67 | 10× salary | $500,000 | $750,000 | $1,000,000 |
These targets assume you save about 15% of pay each year, including any employer match, and retire at 67. If you are behind, the calculator above shows exactly how much more to save each month. Our guide to how much you need to retire walks through the numbers in more detail.
How much do you need to retire? Savings by income goal
Using the 4% rule (save 25 times what you need from savings each year) and assuming Social Security pays about $24,800 a year, close to the 2026 average for a retired worker:
| Yearly income you want | Needed from savings | Savings target (25×) |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $15,200 | $380,000 |
| $60,000 | $35,200 | $880,000 |
| $80,000 | $55,200 | $1,380,000 |
| $100,000 | $75,200 | $1,880,000 |
Amounts are in today’s dollars and before taxes. Withdrawals from a traditional 401(k) or IRA are taxed as income, and from age 73 or 75 you must take required minimum distributions.
Is $1 million enough to retire?
For many people, yes. Under the 4% rule, $1,000,000 supports about $40,000 a year of withdrawals that rise with inflation. Add an average Social Security benefit of about $24,800 and that is roughly $64,800 a year before taxes. Whether it is enough depends on your spending, where you live, health costs and when you retire.
How much you need to save each month to reach $1 million by 67, starting from zero, at a 7% average yearly return:
| Start at age | Years to save | Monthly savings |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 42 years | $329 |
| 30 | 37 years | $477 |
| 35 | 32 years | $700 |
| 40 | 27 years | $1,045 |
| 45 | 22 years | $1,601 |
| 50 | 17 years | $2,563 |
| 55 | 12 years | $4,450 |
Starting at 25 takes about $329 a month; waiting until 45 takes nearly five times as much. That is compound growth at work, which you can explore with our compound interest calculator.
Social Security: how claiming age changes your benefit
For anyone born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67. You can claim as early as 62 for a permanently smaller check, or wait until 70 for a bigger one. If your full benefit at 67 is $2,000 a month:
| Claim at | Share of full benefit | Monthly benefit | Yearly benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 70% | $1,400 | $16,800 |
| 67 (full retirement age) | 100% | $2,000 | $24,000 |
| 70 | 124% | $2,480 | $29,760 |
Benefits also rise each year with a cost-of-living adjustment. See what the 2027 increase means for your check with the Social Security COLA calculator. Get your own estimate from your my Social Security account at ssa.gov, then enter it in the calculator’s Social Security field.
2026 retirement contribution limits
| Account | 2026 limit | Catch-up |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), most 457(b) | $24,500 | +$8,000 at 50+; +$11,250 at ages 60 to 63 |
| Traditional or Roth IRA | $7,500 | +$1,100 at 50+ |
| SIMPLE IRA | $17,000 | +$4,000 at 50+; +$5,250 at ages 60 to 63 |
Roth IRA contributions phase out between $153,000 and $168,000 of modified AGI for single filers and $242,000 to $252,000 for married couples filing jointly. Check your own limit and tax-free growth with the Roth IRA calculator, and see how monthly investing grows with the investment calculator. See how much your 401(k) could grow with the match in our 401(k) calculator.
Ways to close a retirement gap
- Get your full employer match. It is the fastest way to add to your savings without spending more of your own pay.
- Increase your savings with every raise. Putting half of each raise toward retirement grows your savings while your take-home pay still rises.
- Work a little longer. Each extra year adds savings and growth while shortening the years your money must cover.
- Consider delaying Social Security. Benefits grow for each year you wait past your full retirement age, up to age 70.
- Clear high-interest debt. Money spent on credit card interest cannot compound for you. The debt payoff calculator can help you plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I have saved for retirement by age?
A common guideline is 1 times your salary by 30, 3 times by 40, 6 times by 50, 8 times by 60 and 10 times by 67. On a $75,000 salary, that is $75,000 by 30, $225,000 by 40, $450,000 by 50, $600,000 by 60 and $750,000 by 67.
Is $1 million enough to retire?
For many people it is. Using the 4% rule, $1 million supports about $40,000 a year of inflation-adjusted withdrawals. With an average Social Security benefit of about $24,800 a year, that is roughly $64,800 a year before taxes.
What are the 2026 401(k) and IRA contribution limits?
For 2026 you can put up to $24,500 into a 401(k), plus $8,000 if you are 50 or older or $11,250 if you are 60 to 63. The IRA limit is $7,500, plus $1,100 if you are 50 or older.
How long will my money last in retirement?
It depends on your savings, how much you withdraw and your investment returns. At a 5% return with withdrawals rising 2.5% a year for inflation, $1,000,000 lasts about 39 years with a 4% starting withdrawal ($40,000), 28 years at 5% and 22 years at 6%. Enter your own numbers above to see the age your money could last until.
How much do I need to retire?
It depends on how much you plan to spend and how much Social Security or pension income you expect. A common rule of thumb is 25 times the yearly amount you need from savings, which comes from the 4% rule. If you need $38,000 a year from savings, that is about $950,000 in today's dollars. This calculator gives a more tailored number based on your retirement age, how long the money must last and your expected returns.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule suggests you can withdraw about 4% of your savings in the first year of retirement, then raise the amount with inflation each year, with a good chance the money lasts about 30 years. It is a planning rule of thumb, not a guarantee, and it may be too high or too low depending on markets, fees and how long you live.
How much Social Security will I get?
It depends on your earnings history and the age you claim. After the 2.8% cost-of-living increase for 2026, the average retired worker receives about $2,064 a month, or roughly $24,800 a year. You can see your own estimate by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov.
What rate of return should I use for retirement planning?
Many people use a conservative long-term rate, such as 5% to 7% a year before retirement for a stock-heavy portfolio and a lower rate, such as 4% to 5%, after retirement when the mix usually becomes safer. Try a lower rate as well to see how much room for error your plan has. Returns are never guaranteed.
What if I am behind on retirement savings?
You have several levers: save more each month, get your full 401(k) match, work a few years longer, delay Social Security to get a bigger benefit, or plan to spend less in retirement. Even a few extra years of work helps twice, because you save longer and have fewer years to fund.
This calculator is for educational purposes only and is not investment, tax or retirement advice. Investment returns are not guaranteed and can be negative, and actual Social Security benefits, taxes, fees and expenses will affect your results. Consider speaking with a qualified financial professional about your situation. Sources: Social Security Administration (2026 COLA), Fidelity (savings guidelines).