Free Retirement Calculator
Plan for a secure future. Estimate if you are saving enough to retire comfortably by projecting your investment growth and monthly income.
Last Updated: 15 Jan 2026
Plan Details
Plan your retirement
See if you are on track
What is a Retirement Calculator?
A retirement calculator is a financial planning tool that projects your future retirement savings and estimates how much monthly income you can safely withdraw during retirement. It helps you determine if you're saving enough to retire comfortably and when you might be able to retire based on your current savings rate and investment returns.
Retirement calculators use compound interest calculations to project how your 401(k), IRA, and other retirement accounts will grow over time. They also apply withdrawal rules (like the 4% rule) to estimate safe monthly income during retirement, helping you plan for financial security in your golden years.
Why Use Our Free Retirement Calculator?
Retirement Planning
Project your retirement savings growth over decades. See how your current contributions will grow with compound interest to plan for retirement.
Safe Withdrawal Estimates
Calculate safe monthly income using the 4% rule, helping you understand how much you can withdraw without depleting your savings.
Goal Setting
Determine if you're on track for retirement. Adjust contribution amounts or retirement age to see how changes affect your future income.
Common Use Cases for Retirement Calculator
Retirement Planning
401(k) Projections
Calculate future value of 401(k) accounts with employer matching. See how your contributions grow over 20-30 years with compound interest.
IRA Growth
Project Traditional or Roth IRA growth. Compare different contribution levels and understand tax advantages of each account type.
Retirement Age Planning
Determine when you can afford to retire by adjusting retirement age and seeing how it affects your monthly income and total savings.
Financial Security
Income Replacement
Calculate how much retirement income you'll need to replace your current salary. Plan for 70-80% of pre-retirement income as a general guideline.
Contribution Optimization
Determine optimal monthly contributions to reach retirement goals. See how increasing contributions accelerates wealth building.
Catch-Up Planning
If you're behind on retirement savings, calculate how much more you need to contribute monthly to catch up and reach your goals.
The Power of Compound Interest in Retirement
Time is Your Greatest Asset
The biggest factor in retirement planning is time. Starting 10 years earlier can often double your final result, even with smaller contributions, thanks to the exponential growth of compound interest.
Example: Starting at age 25 vs 35 can mean the difference between $1 million and $2 million at retirement, even with the same monthly contributions, because compound interest has more time to work.
Start Early
The earlier you start saving, the more time compound interest has to work. Even small contributions in your 20s can grow into substantial retirement savings.
Consistent Contributions
Regular monthly contributions combined with compound interest create exponential growth. Consistency matters more than timing the market.
Maximize Employer Match
Contribute enough to get full employer 401(k) matching—it's free money that doubles your contribution and accelerates retirement savings.
Understanding the 4% Rule
What is the 4% Rule?
The 4% rule is a rule of thumb used to determine how much a retiree should withdraw from a retirement account each year. It suggests you can safely withdraw 4% of your total retirement savings in the first year, then adjust that amount for inflation each subsequent year, without running out of money for at least 30 years.
This rule is based on historical market data showing that a 4% withdrawal rate, combined with a balanced portfolio (60% stocks, 40% bonds), has a high probability of lasting 30+ years in retirement.
Retirement Savings Goals
Conservative Estimate
Aim for 10-12× your annual salary saved by retirement age. This provides a comfortable retirement with 70-80% income replacement.
Example: $60,000 salary → $600,000-$720,000 retirement savings goal
Income Replacement
Plan to replace 70-80% of your pre-retirement income. You'll need less because you won't be saving for retirement or paying work-related expenses.
Example: $60,000 salary → $42,000-$48,000 annual retirement income needed
The 25× Rule
Save 25× your desired annual retirement income. This aligns with the 4% rule—25× income allows 4% annual withdrawals.
Example: $50,000/year needed → $1,250,000 retirement savings goal
Social Security
Remember that Social Security benefits provide additional income. Our calculator focuses on personal savings; add Social Security estimates separately.
Tip: Check your Social Security statement for estimated benefits at different retirement ages
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the 'Safe Monthly Income' calculated?
We use the popular 4% Rule. This rule suggests you can safely withdraw 4% of your total retirement savings each year (adjusted for inflation) without running out of money for at least 30 years, based on historical market data.
What is a good rate of return for retirement planning?
Historically, the stock market (S&P 500) has returned about 10% annually before inflation. When planning for retirement, using a conservative 6-8% is safer to account for market volatility and inflation.
Does this include Social Security?
No, this calculator focuses strictly on your personal savings and investments. Social Security benefits would be additional income on top of what is shown here. Add your estimated Social Security benefits separately.
How much should I save for retirement?
A common guideline is to save 10-15% of your income for retirement, or aim for 10-12× your annual salary by retirement age. However, this varies based on when you start saving, desired retirement lifestyle, and other income sources.
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