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.
The 4% rule: how much you really need
The 4% rule is the working hypothesis for retirement planning: you can safely withdraw 4% of your starting portfolio value annually (adjusted for inflation each year) for 30 years without running out of money. So a $1M portfolio supports $40,000/year of pre-tax retirement income. To get $80,000/year: you need $2M.
Reverse engineering: take your desired annual retirement income and multiply by 25 to estimate the portfolio needed. Need $60,000/year? Aim for $1.5M. Need $120,000/year (typical middle-class US retirement)? Aim for $3M.
Refinements: the 4% rule was derived from US historical data covering 1926-1995 — heavily favorable equity returns. Recent research (Wade Pfau, Michael Kitces) suggests 3.0-3.5% is more conservative for current low-yield environments. For 40-year retirements (early retirement, FIRE), 3.0-3.3% is the prudent floor. The flip side: variable withdrawal strategies (drawing less in bad years, more in good) often beat fixed 4% materially.
401(k) employer match: the most valuable benefit you can take
Employer 401(k) match is typically 50-100% of the employee contribution up to 3-6% of salary. Concrete example: employer matches 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary. Employee earning $80,000 contributing 6% ($4,800) gets employer match of $2,400 — a 50% IMMEDIATE return on the contribution before any market performance.
Many employees miss the match by not contributing enough. About 1 in 5 employees with 401(k) access leave $1,000+ of match unclaimed each year — collectively $24+ billion annually in unclaimed employer money. The fix: contribute at least the match percentage. If you can't afford the full match, contribute partially — even half-match is better than nothing.
Vesting: employer contributions often vest gradually (e.g. 20% per year for 5 years). If you leave before fully vested, you forfeit the unvested portion. Match it against your career plan: if you're likely to leave within 2-3 years, the match's effective value drops. Still take what you can — vested portions are yours forever.
Roth vs Traditional: the tax bracket bet
Traditional 401(k)/IRA: contributions are tax-deductible NOW, withdrawals are taxed at retirement marginal rate. Roth 401(k)/IRA: contributions use after-tax dollars NOW, withdrawals are completely tax-free at retirement. Same dollar contribution, different timing of tax payment.
Decision rule: traditional wins if your CURRENT marginal rate is HIGHER than your expected retirement rate. Roth wins if current rate is LOWER. For most workers in peak earning years (35-55), traditional usually wins; for young workers in lower brackets (20s) or those expecting income to rise dramatically, Roth wins.
Diversification angle: tax rates in 30+ years are unknown. Holding both Roth and Traditional creates 'tax diversification' — flexibility to draw from either bucket based on each year's tax situation. Many planners recommend ~70% traditional / ~30% Roth as a default for mid-career savers. Backdoor Roth IRA strategies extend Roth access for high earners locked out of direct contributions.
Retirement portfolio needed for various income targets (4% rule)
Portfolio size needed to support various annual retirement income levels using the 4% safe withdrawal rate. Add Social Security and other guaranteed income separately.
| Desired annual income | Portfolio needed (4% rule) | Portfolio needed (3.5% conservative) | Portfolio needed (3% very conservative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,143,000 | $1,333,000 |
| $60,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,714,000 | $2,000,000 |
| $80,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,286,000 | $2,667,000 |
| $100,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,857,000 | $3,333,000 |
| $150,000 | $3,750,000 | $4,286,000 | $5,000,000 |
Pre-tax. Reduce by ~20-25% if mostly traditional 401(k)/IRA (subject to ordinary income tax). Add Social Security (~$25-35k/year for typical earner), other pensions. The 3.5% conservative withdrawal is more appropriate for 30+ year retirements (early retirement).
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.
References & Authoritative Sources
- IRS Publication 590-A — Contributions to IRAs — Retirement account contribution limits and rules · consulted May 31, 2026 · Tax authority — current contribution limits, Traditional vs Roth rules
- Social Security Administration — Retirement benefits estimator · consulted May 31, 2026 · Federal agency — official Social Security benefit projections
- Department of Labor — Employee Benefits Security Administration — Retirement plan rules and consumer guides · consulted May 31, 2026 · Federal regulator — 401(k) protections, employer match obligations, vesting
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.
Updated