401k Calculator
See what your 401k could be worth when you retire, what it could pay you each month, and which small changes help most. Nothing you type leaves your device.
How your balance builds up
Hover or tap the chart to see any year.
Where the money comes from
Share of your final balance.
Will it be enough?
Compared with the pay you would be used to.
Many planners aim for about 70% to 80% of your final pay in retirement. Social Security often covers around 40% of that for an average earner, so savings are commonly asked to cover roughly 40% to 45%. Social Security is not included in this calculator.
What could change the result?
Each card changes one thing and keeps everything else the same. Amounts are in today's money.
What we noticed
Is your balance on track today?
A widely quoted guideline from Fidelity for how much to have saved by each age, as a multiple of your yearly pay. It assumes saving 15% of pay from age 25 and retiring at 67.
Guidelines, not rules. Your own goals matter more.
Year by year
| Age | You add | Employer adds | Balance |
|---|
How this 401k calculator works
Each year, your pay goes up a little, you put in your chosen percent, and your employer adds its match. The whole balance then grows by the yearly growth rate you choose. We repeat that until the age you want to retire, then show the total in future dollars and in today's money, so the number is easier to judge.
The monthly income figure uses the "4% rule", a common guide that says you can take about 4% of your savings in the first year of retirement and adjust it for prices after that. It is a rule of thumb, not a promise.
2026 401k limits
| What you can put in (under 50) | $24,500 |
|---|---|
| Extra if you are 50 or older | + $8,000 |
| Extra if you are 60 to 63 (instead of the 50+ amount) | + $11,250 |
| Most that you plus your employer can add | $72,000 |
We cap your own contribution at these limits each year and keep them at 2026 levels. They usually rise a little every year.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I put into a 401k in 2026?
In 2026 you can put in up to $24,500 of your own pay. If you are 50 or older you can add $8,000 more, and if you are 60 to 63 you can add $11,250 more instead. The most that you and your employer can add together is $72,000, not counting catch-up amounts.
How does an employer 401k match work?
Many employers add money when you save. A common match is 50% of what you put in, up to 6% of your pay. If you earn $60,000 and save 6%, you put in $3,600 and your employer adds $1,800. Saving less than the matching limit means leaving that free money behind.
How much should I have saved in my 401k by my age?
A common guide is about 1 times your yearly pay by age 30, 3 times by 40, 6 times by 50, 8 times by 60 and 10 times by 67. These are rough guides, and your own goals, other savings and Social Security all matter.
How much monthly income could my 401k give me?
This calculator uses the 4% rule: you take about 4% of your savings in your first year of retirement and then adjust that amount for rising prices. It is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee, and your real income will depend on markets, taxes and how long you live.
What growth rate should I use?
Stocks have grown faster than bonds over long periods, but returns change a lot from year to year. We start with 6.5% a year before inflation, which is a moderate figure for a mix of stocks and bonds. You can change it under "Change the assumptions" to see a cautious or a hopeful case.
Does this 401k calculator store my information?
No. The calculation runs in your browser on your own device. Nothing you type is sent to us or saved.