401(k) Calculator – Retirement Savings with Employer Match
Project your 401(k) at retirement with your contributions, employer match and investment growth.
How to use: Enter your age, salary, the percent you contribute and your employer match. The balance at retirement and a year-by-year table appear instantly.
How to use the 401(k) Calculator
Enter your age, when you plan to retire, your salary and the percent of each paycheck you put into your 401(k). A common match is “50% of what you contribute, up to 6% of pay”: enter 50 and 6. Add your current balance, expected raises and an average yearly return.
How it works: contributions go in monthly and grow at the monthly equivalent of your yearly return. Your own contribution is capped at the IRS limit for your age: $24,500 for 2026, plus an $8,000 catch-up from age 50, or $11,250 instead at ages 60 to 63. Future limits usually rise with inflation, but the calculator keeps 2026 levels to stay conservative. The “today’s dollars” figure removes inflation so you can compare it with prices now.
Worked example: age 30, $75,000 salary, 10% contribution, 50% match up to 6%, $25,000 already saved, 3% raises and 7% returns. At 65 the balance is about $2,244,190, or roughly $945,637 in today’s dollars, which supports about $3,150 a month under the 4% rule.
This is an estimate, not financial advice. Returns are not guaranteed, and fees, taxes and vesting rules are not included. Check the official IRS 401(k) limits. Updated October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 401(k) limit for 2026?
$24,500 of employee deferrals. People 50 and older can add $8,000 more, and those aged 60–63 can add $11,250 instead, if the plan allows it.
Does the employer match count toward the limit?
No. The $24,500 limit is for your own deferrals. Employer contributions count toward a much higher combined limit.
What return should I assume?
Many planners use 5–7% a year for a diversified stock-heavy portfolio before inflation. Try a lower rate to see a cautious case.
What is the 4% rule?
A rule of thumb that withdrawing about 4% of your savings in the first year of retirement, then adjusting for inflation, has historically lasted around 30 years.
Traditional or Roth 401(k)?
Traditional saves tax now and is taxed on withdrawal; Roth is taxed now and withdrawals are tax-free later. This calculator shows the balance before any tax.