401(k) Retirement Calculator
Project your 401(k) balance at retirement with your employer match, salary raises and the 2026 IRS contribution limits by age.
Your contribution rate hits the IRS limit in some years. The calculator caps your deferral at the 2026 limit for your age.
Projected balance by age
Year-by-year projection
How this 401(k) calculator works
Each year, the calculator adds your contribution and your employer's match to the balance, grows it by your expected return, and raises your salary by the growth rate you choose. Contributions are assumed to arrive evenly through the year, so they earn about half a year of return in the year they are made.
2026 IRS limits built in
- Employee deferral limit: $24,500.
- Catch-up at age 50 and over: +$8,000.
- Higher catch-up at ages 60 to 63: +$11,250 instead of $8,000.
The IRS usually raises these limits with inflation. This calculator holds them at 2026 levels for every future year, which keeps the projection conservative for high savers. Employer contributions do not count toward your $24,500.
How the employer match is calculated
A "50% match up to 6% of pay" means your employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, on the first 6% of your salary. If you earn $85,000 and contribute 8%, the match is 50% × 6% × $85,000 = $2,550 a year. Contributing less than the "up to" percentage leaves free money on the table.
The 4% rule
The 4% rule is a rough guide from historical US market data: withdrawing 4% of your starting balance in the first year of retirement, then adjusting for inflation, has historically lasted about 30 years in most periods. It is a planning shortcut, not a guarantee. Social Security, pensions and taxes are not included here.
Compare account types in 401(k) vs. IRA: 2026 Limits.
Projections are hypothetical. Actual returns vary and can be negative.