Finance calculator

Retirement Calculator

Estimate how much you may have, how much you may need, how much to save, and how long your money could last in retirement.

Project savings Retirement need Monthly saving Withdrawal & longevity Readiness score 6 currencies
Check my retirement readiness How to read your result

Editable assumptions · inflation-aware · downloadable spreadsheet.

Calculator

Project how large your retirement savings may grow. Educational estimate only — not financial, tax, or retirement advice. The model assumes constant returns; real markets vary.

Your timelineAge 35 → 65, to 90

When you plan to retire and how long the money may need to last. Retirement age must be greater than your current age, and life expectancy greater than your retirement age.

yrs
yrs

30 years to retirement

yrs

25 years in retirement

Savings & contributions$50,000 + $750/mo

What you have saved so far and how much you add. Your current savings compound, and your contributions are added each period and grow too.

$

Total already saved (401(k), IRA, pension, ISA, etc.).

$

How much you add to retirement savings.

Contribution frequency
%

Optional annual step-up (e.g. with pay rises).

Returns, inflation & withdrawals7.0% / 5.0% · 3.0% infl · 4.0% draw

The growth you assume before and after retirement, the inflation that erodes purchasing power, and the safe withdrawal rate that turns savings into income. Post-retirement return is usually lower because retirees de-risk.

7.0%

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

5.0%

Usually lower than pre-retirement as you shift toward bonds/cash.

3.0%

Long-run average is around 2–3%.

The share of savings withdrawn in year one. ~4% is the common reference.

Income & retirement need80.0% of $80,000

Used to estimate how much annual income you'll want in retirement. Replacement income is a share of your current income; or set a desired spending figure directly. Other income (pension, Social Security, annuity, rental) reduces what your portfolio must fund.

$

Used with the replacement % to estimate retirement spending.

Most people need 70–85% of pre-retirement income.

$

Today's money. Overrides the replacement estimate when above 0.

$

Pension, Social Security, annuity, rental — today's money.

%

If set, replacement applies to your final (grown) salary.

Tax (optional)Pre-tax estimate

Apply a simplified income tax to your retirement withdrawals to see an after-tax income estimate. Real retirement tax depends heavily on account type and country.

Income basis

Visual breakdown

Retirement balance growth

Projected balance each year until retirement, with its inflation-adjusted (today's money) value.

Retirement balance growth
AgeBalanceReal
36$62,909$61,077
37$76,751$72,345
38$91,594$83,821
39$107,510$95,521
40$124,576$107,460
41$142,876$119,656
42$162,499$132,127
43$183,540$144,889
44$206,103$157,961
45$230,297$171,362
46$256,239$185,113
47$284,057$199,232
48$313,886$213,741
49$345,872$228,662
50$380,169$244,016
51$416,946$259,827
52$456,381$276,118
53$498,668$292,915
54$544,011$310,242
55$592,632$328,126
56$644,768$346,594
57$700,673$365,676
58$760,619$385,399
59$824,898$405,795
60$893,825$426,896
61$967,734$448,733
62$1,046,986$471,342
63$1,131,967$494,756
64$1,223,091$519,014
65$1,320,803$544,153
Show data as a table
Retirement balance growth
AgeBalanceReal
36$62,909$61,077
37$76,751$72,345
38$91,594$83,821
39$107,510$95,521
40$124,576$107,460
41$142,876$119,656
42$162,499$132,127
43$183,540$144,889
44$206,103$157,961
45$230,297$171,362
46$256,239$185,113
47$284,057$199,232
48$313,886$213,741
49$345,872$228,662
50$380,169$244,016
51$416,946$259,827
52$456,381$276,118
53$498,668$292,915
54$544,011$310,242
55$592,632$328,126
56$644,768$346,594
57$700,673$365,676
58$760,619$385,399
59$824,898$405,795
60$893,825$426,896
61$967,734$448,733
62$1,046,986$471,342
63$1,131,967$494,756
64$1,223,091$519,014
65$1,320,803$544,153

Contributions vs investment growth

How much of the balance is your own money versus investment growth, by age.

Contributions vs investment growth
AgeContributionsGrowth
36$59,000$3,909
37$68,000$8,751
38$77,000$14,594
39$86,000$21,510
40$95,000$29,576
41$104,000$38,876
42$113,000$49,499
43$122,000$61,540
44$131,000$75,103
45$140,000$90,297
46$149,000$107,239
47$158,000$126,057
48$167,000$146,886
49$176,000$169,872
50$185,000$195,169
51$194,000$222,946
52$203,000$253,381
53$212,000$286,668
54$221,000$323,011
55$230,000$362,632
56$239,000$405,768
57$248,000$452,673
58$257,000$503,619
59$266,000$558,898
60$275,000$618,825
61$284,000$683,734
62$293,000$753,986
63$302,000$829,967
64$311,000$912,091
65$320,000$1,000,803
Show data as a table
Contributions vs investment growth
AgeContributionsGrowth
36$59,000$3,909
37$68,000$8,751
38$77,000$14,594
39$86,000$21,510
40$95,000$29,576
41$104,000$38,876
42$113,000$49,499
43$122,000$61,540
44$131,000$75,103
45$140,000$90,297
46$149,000$107,239
47$158,000$126,057
48$167,000$146,886
49$176,000$169,872
50$185,000$195,169
51$194,000$222,946
52$203,000$253,381
53$212,000$286,668
54$221,000$323,011
55$230,000$362,632
56$239,000$405,768
57$248,000$452,673
58$257,000$503,619
59$266,000$558,898
60$275,000$618,825
61$284,000$683,734
62$293,000$753,986
63$302,000$829,967
64$311,000$912,091
65$320,000$1,000,803

Retirement drawdown

How the portfolio is projected to decline once withdrawals begin.

Retirement drawdown
AgeBalance
65$1,229,423
66$1,128,600
67$1,017,706
68$896,079
69$763,020
70$617,785
71$459,592
72$287,611
73$100,967
74$0
Show data as a table
Retirement drawdown
AgeBalance
65$1,229,423
66$1,128,600
67$1,017,706
68$896,079
69$763,020
70$617,785
71$459,592
72$287,611
73$100,967
74$0

Scenario comparison

Projected savings versus estimated need in each scenario.

Scenario comparison
ScenarioProjectedRequired
Conservative$847,581$5,930,784
Base$1,320,803$3,883,620
Optimistic$1,872,654$3,356,108
Show data as a table
Scenario comparison
ScenarioProjectedRequired
Conservative$847,581$5,930,784
Base$1,320,803$3,883,620
Optimistic$1,872,654$3,356,108

Scenario comparison

A single set of assumptions can mislead. Conservative lowers returns and raises inflation (and caps the withdrawal rate at 3.5%); Optimistic does the reverse. Each shows real calculated values, not a fixed label.

Retirement savings scenario comparison
ScenarioAssumptionsProjected corpusRequired corpusGap / surplusMoney lasts toReadiness
Conservative5.0%/3.5% · 4.0% infl · 3.5% draw$847,581$5,930,784−$5,083,203age 6918 · At risk
Base7.0%/5.0% · 3.0% infl · 4.0% draw$1,320,803$3,883,620−$2,562,817age 7436 · At risk
Optimistic8.5%/6.0% · 2.5% infl · 4.0% draw$1,872,654$3,356,108−$1,483,454age 8459 · Major shortfall

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 starting balance, contributions, investment growth, ending balance, and its inflation-adjusted value. Download the full schedule from the results panel.

Age 36 · Yr 1$62,909
Starting balance
$50,000
Contributions
$9,000
Investment growth
$3,909
Ending balance
$62,909
Inflation-adjusted
$61,077
Age 37 · Yr 2$76,751
Starting balance
$62,909
Contributions
$9,000
Investment growth
$4,842
Ending balance
$76,751
Inflation-adjusted
$72,345
Age 38 · Yr 3$91,594
Starting balance
$76,751
Contributions
$9,000
Investment growth
$5,843
Ending balance
$91,594
Inflation-adjusted
$83,821
Age 39 · Yr 4$107,510
Starting balance
$91,594
Contributions
$9,000
Investment growth
$6,916
Ending balance
$107,510
Inflation-adjusted
$95,521
Age 40 · Yr 5$124,576
Starting balance
$107,510
Contributions
$9,000
Investment growth
$8,066
Ending balance
$124,576
Inflation-adjusted
$107,460
Age 41 · Yr 6$142,876
Starting balance
$124,576
Contributions
$9,000
Investment growth
$9,300
Ending balance
$142,876
Inflation-adjusted
$119,656
Age 42 · Yr 7$162,499
Starting balance
$142,876
Contributions
$9,000
Investment growth
$10,623
Ending balance
$162,499
Inflation-adjusted
$132,127
Age 43 · Yr 8$183,540
Starting balance
$162,499
Contributions
$9,000
Investment growth
$12,042
Ending balance
$183,540
Inflation-adjusted
$144,889
Retirement savings projection by year
AgeStarting balanceContributionsInvestment growthEnding balanceInflation-adjusted
36$50,000$9,000$3,909$62,909$61,077
37$62,909$9,000$4,842$76,751$72,345
38$76,751$9,000$5,843$91,594$83,821
39$91,594$9,000$6,916$107,510$95,521
40$107,510$9,000$8,066$124,576$107,460
41$124,576$9,000$9,300$142,876$119,656
42$142,876$9,000$10,623$162,499$132,127
43$162,499$9,000$12,042$183,540$144,889

How to read your result

The tool answers four connected questions from one set of inputs: how much you may have (projected savings), how much you may need (required corpus, based on your spending and a withdrawal rate — 25× your annual need at the common 4% reference), how much to save monthly to close any gap, and how long the money may last once you start drawing it down. Every future figure is shown twice — in nominal terms and in today's money — because a balance that looks large decades out buys less once inflation is applied. The readiness score out of 100 rolls all of this into one number: it means your assumptions line up, not that the outcome is guaranteed, since it uses a single constant return rather than modeling real market volatility.

The formulas behind the numbers

The projection runs month by month, so contribution step-ups, the two return rates, inflation, and the drawdown all apply across the schedule. The assumptions you enter are shown in full on the page and in the downloadable workbook.

Projected savings

FV = P(1+r)ⁿ + PMT × ((1+r)ⁿ − 1) / r

Current savings P compound at monthly rate r; monthly contributions PMT accumulate as an annuity, over n months to retirement.

Required corpus

Corpus = (income need − other income) ÷ withdrawal rate

The savings needed so withdrawals fund your spending. At a 4% rate this is the 25× rule.

Required monthly saving

PMT = (target − FV of savings) ÷ annuity factor

Solves the level monthly saving that reaches your target, with a zero-return-safe guard.

Drawdown step

balanceₙ₊₁ = balanceₙ × (1 + r) − withdrawal

In retirement the balance earns r and the inflation-rising withdrawal is taken until it runs out.

Worked example

A 35-year-old has $50,000 saved and adds $750/month, expecting a 7% return before retirement and 5% after, with 3% inflation. They plan to retire at 65, expect to live to 90, earn $90,000 a year, and want to replace 80% of that income, withdrawing at 4%.

Years to retirement30 years
Projected savings at 65$1,320,803
In today’s money$544,153
Estimated retirement need$4,369,072
Est. monthly income (4% withdrawal rate)$4,403
Projected gap$3,048,269

The projected $1,320,803 falls short of the estimated need of $4,369,072 by $3,048,269, giving a readiness score of 33/100 — At risk. Switching to "Find monthly saving" shows how much extra to put away to close it.

Assumptions

  • The projection runs month by month with a single, constant pre- and post-retirement return; contribution step-ups, inflation, and the drawdown all apply across the schedule.
  • The required corpus divides your annual income need by the withdrawal rate — at 4% this is the same as the 25× rule.
  • Future values are shown in both nominal terms and today’s money, discounted by the inflation rate you enter.
  • The readiness score blends corpus adequacy, longevity, saving pace, and withdrawal sustainability into one 0–100 figure — it is descriptive, never a hard-coded label.
  • Everything is currency-neutral: switching currency changes formatting only, never the math.

Limitations

This calculator does not predict markets. It does not include the following unless you enter them manually:

  • Sequence-of-returns risk and real market volatility (the model uses a constant return)
  • A market crash early in retirement, which can do lasting damage
  • The full detail of income, capital-gains, and estate taxes
  • Healthcare, long-term-care, and other lumpy late-life costs
  • Exact Social Security, State Pension, or national pension calculations

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need to retire?

It depends on how much you plan to spend, how long retirement lasts, and how much income comes from outside your portfolio. A common rule of thumb is 25 times your annual portfolio spending (the inverse of the 4% rule): if your savings need to provide $50,000 a year, that suggests roughly $1.25 million. Pensions, Social Security, annuities, and rental income all reduce that number. Use the “Find retirement need” mode to estimate it from your income, replacement target, inflation, and other income.

Is the 4% rule still safe?

The 4% rule is a historical guideline, not a guarantee. It comes from US market data over rolling 30-year periods and held up across most of them, but it assumes a particular portfolio mix and ignores fees and taxes. Some analysts argue a lower starting rate (around 3–3.5%) is safer when returns or interest rates are low, while others note that flexible spending allows a higher rate. Use it as a reference point to test, and compare the conservative and optimistic scenarios.

How does inflation affect retirement planning?

Inflation quietly erodes the purchasing power of a fixed amount of money. At 3% inflation, prices roughly double in about 24 years, so a balance that looks large in future dollars buys far less than the headline suggests. That is why the calculator shows every future figure in today’s money as well, and why a sensible plan raises retirement spending over time and uses a return assumption that comfortably clears inflation.

How do I know if I am on track?

The readiness score out of 100 is the quickest signal: it blends how your projected savings compare with your estimated need, whether the money lasts your full retirement, how your current saving compares with what is required, and how sustainable your withdrawal rate is. A score of 75 or above generally means your assumptions line up; below that, the calculator shows the size of the gap and what would close it. It is a guide, not a guarantee.

How do I close a retirement shortfall?

There are five levers: save more each month, retire a little later, spend less in retirement, earn a higher (riskier) return, or rely on more outside income such as a pension. Small changes compound — delaying retirement by even two or three years both adds contributions and shortens the drawdown. Use the “Find monthly saving” mode to see exactly how much extra saving would close your gap, then test the scenarios to see which lever moves the needle most.

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Open Retirement Withdrawal Calculator GrowthOpen 401(k) Calculator Retirement & PlanningOpen Compound Interest Calculator Interest & SavingsOpen Savings Calculator Interest & SavingsOpen Investment Calculator Growth

Read the guide

For how a withdrawal projection is actually built, and why the "years your money lasts" figure shifts so much when you nudge one input, see How to Estimate Retirement Withdrawals Without Overtrusting One Number.

Retirement planning disclaimer

This calculator is for educational planning only. It does not provide financial, tax, investment, pension, or retirement advice, and it does not guarantee any outcome. Actual results vary with market performance, inflation, taxes, fees, healthcare costs, life expectancy, withdrawal behaviour, and personal circumstances. Consider speaking with a qualified financial professional before making retirement decisions.

How we calculate · Found an error? email us

Authorship & verification

Written and maintained by

  • Formula and examples verified on 15 June 2026
  • Educational estimate only

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