Finance calculator

401(k) Calculator

Estimate your 401(k) balance at retirement — with employer match, 2026 IRS limits, fees, and inflation — then see the match you may be leaving behind, what an early withdrawal would cost, and the income your balance could provide.

Project balance Maximise match 2026 IRS limits Early-withdrawal cost Retirement income Scenarios
Project my 401(k) How to read your result

Editable assumptions · 2026 IRS limits · inflation-aware · downloadable spreadsheet.

Calculator

401(k) planning suite · US · USD · IRS 2026 limits

Estimate your 401(k) balance, employer match, IRS-limit headroom, early-withdrawal cost, and retirement income. Educational estimate only — not financial, tax, or retirement advice. The model assumes a constant return; real markets vary.

Your timelineAge 30 → 65, to 90

Your target retirement age and how far the balance needs to stretch afterward. Retirement age must exceed your current age, and life expectancy must exceed retirement age.

yrs
yrs

35 years to retirement

yrs

25 years in retirement

Salary & contributions$70,000 · 6.0%

Your pay, what you have saved, and how much you defer. Your deferral is capped automatically at the IRS 2026 limit for your age.

$

Your gross pay today.

%

Average yearly raise.

$

What you have saved so far.

% of salary

≈ $4,200/yr

$

Overrides the % above when greater than 0.

Contribution type
Employer match100% on first 3%, 50% on next 2%

Most plans match part of your contribution — for example 100% on the first 3% and 50% on the next 2%. Set both tiers (leave tier 2 at 0 for a single-tier match).

%

e.g. 100% = dollar-for-dollar.

% of salary

Match applies up to this % of pay.

%

On the next slice of pay (0 = none).

% of salary

Match applies on the next this % of pay.

For per-paycheck figures and true-up risk.

A true-up restores match missed by front-loading.

Growth, fees & inflation7.0% − 0.5% fee · 2.5% infl

The return you assume, the annual fee or expense ratio that eats into it, the inflation that erodes purchasing power, and how often growth compounds.

7.0%

Historical diversified-portfolio average is ~6–8%. An assumption, not a guarantee.

0.50%

Fund + plan costs. Net return is shown in the results.

2.5%

Long-run average is around 2–3%.

How often growth compounds within a year.

Net return after fees: 6.50% · Real return after fees & inflation: 3.90%

Early withdrawal cost estimator$20,000 · net $12,600

Estimate what cashing out early could cost in income tax, the 10% penalty, and lost future growth. This is an estimate, not tax advice.

$

Gross amount taken before retirement.

%

Your marginal federal rate.

%
%
Under age 59½?
Left job at 55+ (rule of 55)?
Qualifying disability?
Other penalty exemption?
Retirement distribution estimator4.0% draw · $5,263/mo

What the balance could provide as income. By default it draws down your projected balance; enter a different balance to override.

$

0 = use the projected balance ($1,578,867).

5.0%

Usually lower than before retirement as you de-risk.

~4% is a common starting reference.

Inflation-adjust withdrawals?

Visual breakdown

Where your balance comes from

Your starting balance, your contributions, the employer match, and investment growth, stacked by age.

Show data as a table
Where your balance comes from
AgeYouMatchGrowth
30$4,200$2,800$1,887
31$8,526$5,684$4,375
32$12,982$8,655$7,519
33$17,571$11,714$11,378
34$22,298$14,866$16,015
35$27,167$18,112$21,497
36$32,182$21,455$27,896
37$37,348$24,899$35,292
38$42,668$28,446$43,768
39$48,148$32,099$53,413
40$53,793$35,862$64,324
41$59,607$39,738$76,605
42$65,595$43,730$90,366
43$71,763$47,842$105,725
44$78,115$52,077$122,812
45$84,659$56,439$141,761
46$91,399$60,932$162,720
47$98,341$65,560$185,844
48$105,491$70,327$211,303
49$112,856$75,237$239,276
50$120,441$80,294$269,956
51$128,254$85,503$303,548
52$136,302$90,868$340,274
53$144,591$96,394$380,370
54$153,129$102,086$424,090
55$161,923$107,949$471,703
56$170,980$113,987$523,500
57$180,310$120,207$579,790
58$189,919$126,613$640,906
59$199,817$133,211$707,202
60$210,011$140,007$779,058
61$220,512$147,008$856,880
62$231,327$154,218$941,101
63$242,467$161,644$1,032,187
64$253,941$169,294$1,130,633

Balance growth (nominal vs today’s money)

Projected balance each year, and what it’s worth in today’s purchasing power.

Show data as a table
Balance growth (nominal vs today’s money)
AgeBalanceReal
30$33,887$33,060
31$43,585$41,485
32$54,155$50,289
33$65,663$59,488
34$78,179$69,098
35$91,775$79,138
36$106,534$89,623
37$122,539$100,573
38$139,882$112,007
39$158,660$123,945
40$178,979$136,408
41$200,949$149,417
42$224,690$162,995
43$250,330$177,165
44$278,004$191,952
45$307,859$207,382
46$340,051$223,480
47$374,745$240,274
48$412,121$257,793
49$452,369$276,068
50$495,691$295,128
51$542,306$315,006
52$592,444$335,737
53$646,356$357,354
54$704,305$379,895
55$766,574$403,398
56$833,467$427,902
57$905,307$453,448
58$982,438$480,079
59$1,065,230$507,841
60$1,154,077$536,778
61$1,249,399$566,941
62$1,351,646$598,378
63$1,461,298$631,142
64$1,578,867$665,289

Employer match: captured vs left on table

This year’s employer match you capture, versus what you forgo by contributing below the full-match threshold.

Show data as a table
Employer match: captured vs left on table
Amount
Captured$2,800
Left on table$0

Scenario comparison

Projected balance under conservative, base, and optimistic assumptions.

Show data as a table
Scenario comparison
ScenarioBalanceReal
Conservative$896,374$377,706
Base$1,578,867$665,289
Optimistic$2,909,639$1,226,038

Maximise your employer match

The employer match is the highest-return part of a 401(k). Contributing below the full-match threshold leaves free money behind.

Full-match contribution

5.0%

= $3,500/yr of your salary

You currently defer

6.0%

$4,200/yr · $162/paycheck

Annual match captured

$2,800

$108/paycheck

Max possible match

$2,800

at the full contribution

Match left on table

$0

none — well done

Recommended minimum

5.0%

to capture every match dollar

Capturing the full match. On these assumptions you are deferring enough to capture the full employer match each year.

Early withdrawal cost

Gross withdrawal

$20,000

Estimated income tax

$5,400

27.0% combined

Early-withdrawal penalty

$2,000

10% — applies

Net amount received

$12,600

you lose 37.0% up front

Lost future value

$181,245

if left invested to age 65

Under 59½ with no exception entered, so the extra 10% early-withdrawal penalty applies on top of income tax. This is an estimate, not tax advice. Because it applies a single flat tax rate, a large withdrawal that pushes you into a higher marginal tax bracket may owe more tax than shown. Early withdrawals can be costly and plan-specific — verify with a tax professional or plan administrator.

What this balance could provide in retirement

First-year withdrawal

$63,155

4.0% of $1,578,867

Estimated monthly income

$5,263

year-one estimate

Money may last until age

90+

beyond life expectancy

Remaining at life expectancy

$1,281,890

left over

Scenario comparison

A single set of assumptions can mislead. Conservative lowers the return and salary growth; Optimistic raises them and the contribution. The labels describe the assumptions — they do not judge you.

401(k) contribution scenario comparison
ScenarioAssumptionsRetirement balanceToday’s moneyEmployer matchInvestment growthvs baseMonthly income
Conservative5.0% return · 2.0% raise · 6.0% deferral$896,374$377,706$139,985$521,412−$682,493$2,988
Base7.0% return · 3.0% raise · 6.0% deferral$1,578,867$665,289$169,294$1,130,633—$5,263
Optimistic8.5% return · 4.0% raise · 8.0% deferral$2,909,639$1,226,038$206,226$2,265,961+$1,330,772$9,699

None of these scenarios is a forecast. They are illustrations to test how sensitive your plan is to the assumptions.

Year-by-year projection

Each year’s salary, your deferral (capped at the IRS limit), the employer match, investment growth, and the ending balance with its inflation-adjusted value. Download the full 17-column schedule from the results panel.

Age 30 · Yr 1$33,887
Salary
$70,000
Your contribution
$4,200 (6.0%)
Employer match
$2,800
Total contribution
$7,000
IRS deferral limit
$24,500
Investment growth
$1,887
Ending balance
$33,887
Inflation-adjusted
$33,060
Age 31 · Yr 2$43,585
Salary
$72,100
Your contribution
$4,326 (6.0%)
Employer match
$2,884
Total contribution
$7,210
IRS deferral limit
$24,500
Investment growth
$2,488
Ending balance
$43,585
Inflation-adjusted
$41,485
Age 32 · Yr 3$54,155
Salary
$74,263
Your contribution
$4,456 (6.0%)
Employer match
$2,971
Total contribution
$7,426
IRS deferral limit
$24,500
Investment growth
$3,144
Ending balance
$54,155
Inflation-adjusted
$50,289
Age 33 · Yr 4$65,663
Salary
$76,491
Your contribution
$4,589 (6.0%)
Employer match
$3,060
Total contribution
$7,649
IRS deferral limit
$24,500
Investment growth
$3,859
Ending balance
$65,663
Inflation-adjusted
$59,488
Age 34 · Yr 5$78,179
Salary
$78,786
Your contribution
$4,727 (6.0%)
Employer match
$3,151
Total contribution
$7,879
IRS deferral limit
$24,500
Investment growth
$4,637
Ending balance
$78,179
Inflation-adjusted
$69,098
Age 35 · Yr 6$91,775
Salary
$81,149
Your contribution
$4,869 (6.0%)
Employer match
$3,246
Total contribution
$8,115
IRS deferral limit
$24,500
Investment growth
$5,482
Ending balance
$91,775
Inflation-adjusted
$79,138
Age 36 · Yr 7$106,534
Salary
$83,584
Your contribution
$5,015 (6.0%)
Employer match
$3,343
Total contribution
$8,358
IRS deferral limit
$24,500
Investment growth
$6,400
Ending balance
$106,534
Inflation-adjusted
$89,623
Age 37 · Yr 8$122,539
Salary
$86,091
Your contribution
$5,165 (6.0%)
Employer match
$3,444
Total contribution
$8,609
IRS deferral limit
$24,500
Investment growth
$7,396
Ending balance
$122,539
Inflation-adjusted
$100,573
401(k) balance projection by year
AgeSalaryYour contributionEmployer matchTotalCapped?Investment growthEnding balanceInflation-adjusted
30$70,000$4,200 (6.0%)$2,800$7,000No$1,887$33,887$33,060
31$72,100$4,326 (6.0%)$2,884$7,210No$2,488$43,585$41,485
32$74,263$4,456 (6.0%)$2,971$7,426No$3,144$54,155$50,289
33$76,491$4,589 (6.0%)$3,060$7,649No$3,859$65,663$59,488
34$78,786$4,727 (6.0%)$3,151$7,879No$4,637$78,179$69,098
35$81,149$4,869 (6.0%)$3,246$8,115No$5,482$91,775$79,138
36$83,584$5,015 (6.0%)$3,343$8,358No$6,400$106,534$89,623
37$86,091$5,165 (6.0%)$3,444$8,609No$7,396$122,539$100,573

How to read your result

The projected balance is only the headline — what makes this calculator worth checking is what sits underneath it. The match-maximiser shows exactly what percentage captures every dollar of employer match and flags anything you're leaving on the table, since a dollar-for-dollar match is an immediate return nothing else in investing reliably matches. The 2026 IRS limit logic caps your deferral by age automatically and warns if you'd exceed it, including the catch-up and super catch-up tiers for older savers. If you're weighing an early withdrawal, the estimator breaks out the tax, the 10% penalty, and the future growth you'd give up — three separate costs that are easy to underestimate as one number. Every future balance is also shown in today's money, since a large nominal figure decades out buys less than it looks like it does.

The formulas behind the numbers

The projection runs period by period, so salary growth, the two-tier match, the IRS limits, fees, and inflation all apply across the schedule. The assumptions you enter are shown in full on the page and in the downloadable workbook.

Employee contribution

employee = salary × contribution %

Your deferral, or a fixed dollar amount — then capped at the IRS age-based limit.

Employer match (two tiers)

min(%, cap₁)·rate₁·salary + min(max(%−cap₁,0), cap₂)·rate₂·salary

Each tier matches a rate on a slice of pay; the total never exceeds the annual-additions limit.

Future value with contributions

FV = P·(1+r)ⁿ + PMT·((1+r)ⁿ − 1) / r

Balance P compounds at the net return r (expected return minus fees) while contributions PMT accumulate as an annuity.

Early-withdrawal net

net = withdrawal − tax − penalty

Penalty = withdrawal × 10% unless an exception (59½+, rule of 55, disability) applies.

Worked example

A 35-year-old earns $100,000 and contributes 6% of salary to a 401(k) with a 50% match up to 6% of pay. They have $25,000 saved, expect a 7% return with 2.5% inflation, and plan to retire at 65 — 30 years away.

Annual employee contribution (6% of $100,000)$6,000
Annual employer match (50% of 6%)$3,000
Total annual contribution$9,000
Total employer match over 30 years$90,000
Projected balance at 65$1,117,891
In today’s money$532,946

Deferring 6% captures the full match here, so the employer adds $3,000 a year — about $90,000 of free money over the 30 years. The projected $1,117,891 is a future figure; in today’s money it is closer to $532,946, and from a traditional 401(k) the spendable amount would be lower still after tax. Change any input above to see your own numbers.

Assumptions

  • The projection runs period by period, so salary growth, the two-tier match, IRS limits, fees, and inflation all apply across the schedule.
  • The IRS 2026 limits are held flat across the whole projection — the conservative choice, since real limits tend to rise over time with inflation indexing.
  • The employer match is assumed to be fully vested; your own contributions are always 100% yours regardless of vesting.
  • Net return = expected return − annual fee; future values are shown in both nominal terms and today’s money.
  • The early-withdrawal estimate applies a flat 10% penalty plus ordinary income tax unless you indicate an exception applies.

Limitations

This calculator does not predict markets and does not guarantee any outcome. In particular it does not model:

  • Sequence-of-returns risk and real market volatility (the model uses a constant return)
  • Vesting schedules and forfeited employer contributions if you leave early
  • The exact tax treatment of traditional vs Roth withdrawals
  • Your full income, capital-gains, and state tax picture
  • 401(k) loans, hardship rules, required minimum distribution specifics, and future changes to IRS limits or law

Frequently asked questions

How much should I put in my 401(k)?

Start by contributing at least enough to get the full employer match — it is the highest-return part of a 401(k). From there, many planners suggest working toward a total savings rate of about 15% of income (your deferral plus the match), increasing it gradually with pay rises. The exact figure depends on your age, goals, other savings, and budget. Use the maximiser above to find the precise percentage that captures every dollar of match in your plan.

What are the 2026 401(k) contribution limits?

For 2026, employees under 50 can defer up to $24,500. At 50 and older you can add an $8,000 catch-up for $32,500 total, and at ages 60–63 a higher super catch-up of $11,250 raises the total to $35,750. The combined employee-and-employer annual-additions limit is $72,000 before catch-up. The match does not count against your personal deferral limit but does count toward the combined limit. These figures are indexed and usually change each year — confirm with the IRS and your plan.

Should I choose a traditional or Roth 401(k)?

Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax: they lower your taxable income now, grow tax-deferred, and are taxed as ordinary income when you withdraw. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax: no deduction now, but qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. If you expect a higher tax rate in retirement, Roth can be attractive; if you expect a lower rate, traditional may win. Many people split the difference. Note this calculator projects the balance the same way for both — the difference is in how withdrawals are taxed.

How much does an early 401(k) withdrawal cost?

For a traditional 401(k) before age 59½, you generally pay ordinary income tax on the amount plus a 10% early-withdrawal penalty, unless an exception applies (rule of 55, disability, certain hardships, and others). On top of the tax and penalty, you lose the future growth that money could have earned. The estimator above adds up the income tax, the penalty, the net you would receive, and the projected lost future value — treat it as an estimate and confirm specifics with a tax professional.

What is vesting?

Vesting is how much of the employer’s contributions you actually own if you leave. Your own contributions are always 100% yours. Employer match may vest immediately, or “cliff” vest (you own none until a set date, then all at once), or vest gradually over several years. If you leave before you are fully vested, you forfeit the unvested portion. This calculator assumes the match is fully vested; check your plan’s vesting schedule, because it can materially change what you keep.

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Read the guide

For how a retirement withdrawal projection is actually built, and why it moves so much when you nudge one input, see How to Estimate Retirement Withdrawals Without Overtrusting One Number.

401(k) planning disclaimer

This calculator is for educational planning only. It does not provide financial, tax, investment, or retirement advice, and it does not guarantee any outcome. Results depend on your assumptions and on market performance, inflation, fees, taxes, vesting, plan rules, and future IRS limit and law changes. Verify contribution limits, tax treatment, withdrawals, and employer-match rules with the IRS, your plan documents, your plan administrator, or a qualified professional before making decisions.

How we calculate · Found an error? email us

Authorship & verification

Written and maintained by

  • Formula and examples verified on 14 June 2026
  • Educational estimate only

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