Retirement Savings Calculator: Project Your Nest Egg
Project how your retirement account could grow between today and your planned retirement date, given a current balance and ongoing monthly contributions.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Year-by-year growth schedule
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Future value | Total contributions | Total interest earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50k · $600/mo · 7% · 30yr | $1,137,807.47 | $266,000.00 | $871,807.47 |
| $10k · $400/mo · 8% · 35yr | $1,080,478.49 | $178,000.00 | $902,478.49 |
| $150k · $1k/mo · 6% · 15yr | $658,932.75 | $330,000.00 | $328,932.75 |
| $0 · $800/mo · 7.5% · 25yr | $701,808.70 | $240,000.00 | $461,808.70 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter your current retirement balance, the average annual return you expect, the number of years until you retire, and your total monthly contribution. The calculator compounds the account month by month and adds each contribution, producing an estimated balance at retirement and the portion built by investment growth.
The Formula
Future Value with Regular Contributions
P = starting amount, PMT = monthly contribution, r = monthly rate (annual ÷ 12), n = number of months
Worked Example
Suppose you hold $50,000 today, contribute $600 a month, and expect a 7% average return over the 30 years until retirement. Contributions add up to $266,000, yet the projected nest egg is roughly $1.14 million — investment growth supplies the other $872,000.
Key Insight
Employer matching contributions, where available, are an immediate return on your money before any market growth occurs. Counting the match within your monthly contribution figure is the single most reliable way to enlarge a retirement projection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I include my employer match?
Yes. If your employer matches part of what you put in, add that amount to the monthly contribution field — matched dollars grow in the account exactly like money you contribute yourself.
What return should I expect before retirement?
A long horizon allows a stock-leaning mix, which has historically averaged close to the cited benchmark. Many savers shift toward bonds near retirement, which lowers the expected return.
How large a nest egg do I need?
A common rule of thumb is a balance around 25 times your expected annual spending, though the right figure depends on other income such as a pension or Social Security.
What if I start saving late?
A shorter horizon gives compounding less time to work, so a larger monthly contribution is needed to reach the same balance. The calculator shows precisely how much the gap costs.
Are these figures before or after tax?
They are pre-tax balances. Withdrawals from a traditional retirement account are taxed as income, so the amount you can actually spend in retirement is lower than the projected balance.
Related Calculators
Data Sources & Benchmarks
This calculator draws on 3 independent, dated sources. The starting values for expected annual return are taken from the benchmarks below and refresh whenever the snapshots are updated.
Methodology & Review
The projection compounds the account monthly at a constant expected return and a fixed monthly contribution that may include an employer match. It excludes taxes, plan fees, and future contribution-limit changes.
Written by Ugo Candido · Last updated May 17, 2026.