Retirement / 401(k) Calculator

About This Calculator

Estimate how much your retirement account will be worth when you retire. Enter your current balance, annual contribution, employer match details, expected annual return, and years to retirement to get a projected balance with a year-by-year growth breakdown.

How It Works

Enter your current retirement balance, how much you contribute per year, your employer's match rate and annual cap, your expected annual return, and the number of years until retirement. The calculator applies compound growth each year, adds your contributions and any employer match, and shows how each element — your money, your employer's money, and investment growth — builds toward your final balance.

The Formula

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?

At minimum, contribute enough to capture your full employer match — that's an immediate 50–100% return. Beyond that, aim for 10–15% of your gross income. The IRS sets an annual employee contribution limit that is adjusted for inflation each year — for 2026 it is $24,500 ($32,500 if you are age 50 or older). Always check irs.gov for the current year's limit.

What return rate should I use?

A common assumption for a diversified stock/bond portfolio is 6–7% annually (inflation-adjusted) or 9–10% nominal. Conservative plans use 4–5%. The calculator uses a fixed annual return and does not model market volatility.

How does the employer match work?

Enter the employer match rate (e.g. 50 = 50% of what you contribute) and an optional annual cap. If your employer matches 50% up to $3,000/year and you contribute $10,000, you receive $3,000 (not $5,000) because of the cap. Set the cap to 0 for an uncapped match.