Retirement Savings Calculator
Project your retirement balance, total contributions, and total growth from current savings, monthly contributions, expected return, and time horizon.
- Formula checked
- Editorially reviewed
- Free · no signup
- Updated June 27, 2026
Your details
Your retirement projection
Future retirement balance
$812,897.93
30 years at 7%
Key takeaway
$500.00/mo + $25,000.00 → $812,897.93 in 30 years.
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Balance over time
The same numbers as above, shown visually so the trade-offs are easy to see.
- Total growth
- $607,897.93
- Total contributions
- $205,000.00
Year-by-year projection
| Period | Opening balance | Added | Growth | Closing balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $25,000 | $6,000 | $2,004 | $33,004 |
| Year 2 | $33,004 | $6,000 | $2,582 | $41,586 |
| Year 3 | $41,586 | $6,000 | $3,203 | $50,788 |
| Year 4 | $50,788 | $6,000 | $3,868 | $60,656 |
| Year 5 | $60,656 | $6,000 | $4,581 | $71,237 |
| Year 6 | $71,237 | $6,000 | $5,346 | $82,583 |
| Year 7 | $82,583 | $6,000 | $6,166 | $94,749 |
| Year 8 | $94,749 | $6,000 | $7,046 | $107,795 |
| Year 9 | $107,795 | $6,000 | $7,989 | $121,784 |
| Year 10 | $121,784 | $6,000 | $9,000 | $136,784 |
Assumes a constant annual return, contributions made at the end of each month, and no taxes or fees.
What to do next
What this means
Future Retirement Balance is $812,897.93. This projects how your contributions and assumed return compound over the horizon you entered.
Is this good or bad?
The result is healthy when contributions — not the assumed return — do most of the work.
What's the risk?
Projections assume a steady return. Real markets deliver the average through very uneven years.
What should you do next?
Re-run the projection with a lower return assumption and confirm the plan still works.
Your action plan
- 1
Capture the full employer match
It is the only guaranteed return available to most savers.
- 2
Automate contributions on payday
It removes behaviour risk from the plan.
- 3
Re-run at a lower return
If 5% breaks the plan, the plan is too fragile.
- 4
Check fund expense ratios
A 1% fee compounds into a large lifetime cost.
- 5
Run the Compound Interest Calculator
How money grows with compounding over time.
Open Compound Interest Calculator
Your timeline
Today
- Confirm your current contribution percentage.
- Note today's balance so you can measure progress.
This month
- Increase contributions by 1%.
- Verify your asset allocation matches your horizon.
Next 12 months
- Top up to the annual IRS contribution limit.
- Rebalance back to target allocation once.
Long term
- Escalate contributions with every raise.
- Shift toward lower volatility as the goal date approaches.
Your next steps on this site
- Compound Interest CalculatorThe next calculation people run after this one.
- Retirement guidesPlan the finish line.
- 401(k) vs IRAEmployer plan vs individual retirement account.
- Retirement PlanningTurn a paycheck into a lifetime.
- Investment authority centerEvery calculator, guide and decision path for this topic in one place.
Compare scenarios
Same inputs, three outlooks — we vary Expected return rate up and down so you can see the range before you commit.
Optimistic
$1,116,567.85
Future Retirement Balance
Expected return rate: 8.4%
Expected
$812,897.93
Future Retirement Balance
Expected return rate: 7%
Conservative
$599,111.70
Future Retirement Balance
Expected return rate: 5.6%
Result Intelligence
Understand your result
- Your future retirement balance is $812,897.93. Long-horizon results are dominated by contributions early and returns later.
- Assumed returns are historical averages — actual returns vary year to year.
What should you do next?
- Compound Interest Calculator
Model long-term growth of contributions.
- Retirement Calculator
Check if you're on track for retirement.
- Inflation Calculator
See real purchasing power over time.
- Roth Conversion Calculator
Weigh converting Traditional → Roth this year.
Ways to improve your result
- Max the employer 401(k) match first — it's a 100% return.
- Automate contributions on payday to remove behavior risk.
- Rebalance annually; sell winners back to target, not on emotion.
Common U.S. scenarios
Chicago mid-career
$25k IRA balance at 35 → ~$220k at 65 at a 7% real return with $500/month added.
Seattle high earner
Backdoor Roth is the go-to for filers above the $161k (single) direct Roth income cap in 2025.
Florida retiree
RMDs start at age 73. A partial Roth conversion in early 60s can shrink future RMDs.
Your result
- Future Retirement Balance
- $812,897.93
- Total Contributions
- $205,000.00
- Total Growth
- $607,897.93
$500.00/mo + $25,000.00 → $812,897.93 in 30 years.
You may also want to check
- Compound Interest CalculatorModel long-term growth of contributions.
- Retirement CalculatorCheck if you're on track for retirement.
- Inflation CalculatorSee real purchasing power over time.
- Roth Conversion CalculatorWeigh converting Traditional → Roth this year.
What this result assumes
Confidence in a number depends on the assumptions behind it. Here are ours, in full.
Assumptions
- The rate you entered stays fixed for the whole period.
- Every period is a whole calendar period of equal length.
- Payments and contributions are made on schedule, with none missed.
- Returns are shown before taxes, fees and inflation unless an input covers them.
- Results are rounded for display; internal math uses full precision.
Limitations
Markets are not linear — a constant return is a planning device, not a forecast.
Estimates are for education and planning. They are not financial, tax or legal advice.
Formula source
SEC investor.gov compound-growth conventions
- Version
- v1.3
- Last reviewed
Future retirement balance
$812,897.93
Related Calculators
Where to go next
Read before you decide
Guides and comparisons that put this number in context.
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Quick answer
- What it does
- Retirement Savings Calculator project your retirement balance, total contributions, and total growth from current savings, monthly contributions, expected return, and time horizon. It runs entirely in your browser, needs no signup, and uses standard published U.S. formulas.
- When to use
- Use it while you plan contributions, withdrawals, or claiming decisions around retirement savings.
- Inputs
- Current savings
- Monthly contribution
- Expected return rate
- Years until retirement
- Outputs
- Future Retirement Balance
- Total Contributions
- Total Growth
- Takeaway
- In one line: enter your current savings and monthly contribution and the Retirement Savings Calculator returns future retirement balance and total contributions you can compare before deciding.
Last updated · Last reviewed · 1 min read
Retirement Savings Calculator: Your result appears above. It's a fast estimate based on the inputs you entered — use it to compare options, then confirm with a professional before making a decision.
What your result means
- The number is only as accurate as your inputs — small errors compound.
- Compare 2–3 scenarios rather than acting on a single result.
- Talk to a licensed professional before making a large financial or medical decision.
How does the formula work?
i = r ÷ 12, n = years × 12 FV = S × (1+i)^n + M × [((1+i)^n − 1) ÷ i] Total Contributions = S + M × n Total Growth = FV − Total Contributions
How it works
A retirement savings calculator projects the future value of current savings plus monthly contributions, with monthly compounding.
Step-by-step guide
- 1Enter each input value into the calculator above.
- 2Review the result and any auto-generated breakdowns.
- 3Adjust inputs to compare scenarios.
- 4Copy, share, or print the results.
Example calculation
Example: $25,000 + $500/month at 7% for 30 years: FV ≈ $810,000. Contributions $205,000, growth $605,000.
Who should use this calculator?
- Anyone who needs a fast, transparent estimate before making a decision.
- Professionals validating a client-facing number.
- Students learning the underlying formula.
When should you use it?
- Any time you need a quick sanity check.
- When comparing several scenarios side-by-side.
- Before making a decision that depends on this number.
What affects the result?
- Every input value you enter
- The formula and assumptions displayed on this page
- Rounding — small differences in inputs compound in the result
Comparison tables
Traditional vs Roth: Pre-Tax Now or Tax-Free Later?
The IRS lets you deduct Traditional contributions today and tax withdrawals in retirement, or pay tax today on Roth contributions and withdraw tax-free after age 59½ (with the 5-year rule satisfied).
| Factor | Traditional 401(k) / IRA | Roth 401(k) / Roth IRA |
|---|---|---|
| Tax treatment of contribution | Deductible now — lowers this year's taxable income | After-tax now — no current deduction |
| Tax on qualified withdrawal | Taxed as ordinary income | $0 federal tax on qualified distributions |
| Required minimum distributions | RMDs begin at age 73 (SECURE 2.0) | No RMDs on Roth IRA; Roth 401(k) RMDs eliminated from 2024 |
| Income limits | No income cap to contribute; deduction phases out with a workplace plan | Roth IRA phases out by MAGI; Roth 401(k) has no income cap |
| Best when | Your current marginal bracket is higher than your expected retirement bracket | You are early-career, in the 12%/22% bracket, or expect higher future rates |
Bottom line: If your current and future brackets look similar, split contributions. Tax diversification lets you control your taxable income in retirement — which also controls Medicare IRMAA surcharges and Social Security taxation.
APR vs APY: Why the Two Numbers Differ
APR is the cost of borrowing under Regulation Z. APY is the return on savings under Regulation DD (Truth in Savings). Only APY includes compounding.
| Factor | APR (Annual Percentage Rate) | APY (Annual Percentage Yield) |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | Loans, mortgages, credit cards | Savings, CDs, money market accounts |
| Includes fees | Yes — points and most finance charges | No — fees are disclosed separately |
| Includes compounding | No | Yes |
| Governing rule | Regulation Z / Truth in Lending Act | Regulation DD / Truth in Savings Act |
| Relationship | Nominal rate + fees, annualized | APY = (1 + r/n)^n − 1 |
Bottom line: Compare loans on APR and deposits on APY. Comparing an APR to an APY always understates the real gap.
Decision guide
Should I Contribute to a Roth?
The Roth answer is almost entirely a marginal-tax-bracket question.
1Are you currently in the 10%, 12% or 22% federal bracket?
Yes: Roth is strongly favored — you are paying tax at a historically low rate.
No: Continue.
2Do you expect a higher taxable income in retirement (pensions, rentals, large pre-tax balances)?
Yes: Roth still helps — it controls future RMDs and Medicare IRMAA surcharges.
No: Continue.
3Is your MAGI above the Roth IRA phase-out?
Yes: Use a Roth 401(k) (no income limit) or a backdoor Roth conversion.
No: Continue.
4Are you in the 32%+ bracket and near retirement?
Yes: Favor Traditional now, then convert during low-income years.
No: Contribute to the Roth.
Bottom line: Roth wins in low brackets and for tax diversification; Traditional wins at peak earnings. Most people should hold some of each.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering values in the wrong units.
- Assuming the result includes taxes or fees when it may not.
- Using rounded inputs and expecting exact figures.
Pro tips
- Double-check your inputs before acting on the result.
- Run 2–3 scenarios and compare — don't rely on a single number.
- Save or print the results so you can review them later.
Why use this calculator
- Instant results with no signup, no tracking and no ads inside the calculator.
- Transparent formulas — you can see exactly how the number is produced.
- Save, share, print or embed your results anywhere.
- Reviewed and updated regularly by our editorial team.
Limitations to keep in mind
- Estimates only — real-world results depend on many factors we cannot see.
- Not professional advice — consult a qualified expert before acting.
- Assumptions are shown; changing them will change the result.
Key terms explained
- Input
- A value you enter into the calculator. Small differences in inputs can compound into large differences in the result.
- Assumption
- A fixed value the calculator uses when it isn't asked from you. Assumptions are documented in the formula section.
- Estimate
- A directional figure produced from your inputs and standard formulas. Always sanity-check before acting.
Before you decide
- Double-check every input for units and typos.
- Compare 2–3 scenarios rather than trusting one result.
- Confirm the assumptions in the formula match your situation.
- Consult a qualified professional before acting on any large decision.
Official Sources & References
The formulas, rates and definitions used by this calculator are aligned with the following official sources:
- IRS — Retirement Plan Contribution Limits — 401(k), IRA and catch-up contribution limits.
- Social Security Administration — Retirement Benefits — Full Retirement Age, early-claim reduction and delayed credits.
- U.S. Department of Labor — Employee Benefits Security Administration — Fiduciary, vesting and plan-fee disclosure rules.
- FINRA — Retirement Planning — Withdrawal, RMD and rollover guidance.
We use only primary sources — regulators, standards bodies and scheme operators. See our full sourcing policy for details. Sources & References Policy · Calculator Methodology · How We Verify Formulas
Trust & Accuracy
Accuracy tested
Verified against standard mathematical and financial conventions. Edge cases, formula validation and manual verification completed (last reviewed June 27, 2026).
Government source
Inputs and thresholds follow Social Security Administration (SSA) and IRS retirement contribution limits.
Educational use
This tool is provided for education and planning only. It is not financial, tax, legal or medical advice.
Available for
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, India, European Union.
Currency support
USD · INR · CAD · AUD · GBP · EUR
Privacy
No information entered into this calculator is stored on our servers unless you explicitly choose to save or share your calculation.
Print, share & save
Use the Save, Share, Copy, PDF, CSV and Print actions under the result panel.
Accessibility
Keyboard navigable, screen-reader friendly labels, responsive on mobile and desktop.
Learn more: How we verify formulas · How we test accuracy · Methodology · Editorial policy
Recent Updates
We continuously review and improve our calculators to keep formulas, assumptions and references accurate.
View change log (4)Show
- v1.3
Added Trust & Accuracy panel and machine-readable change log.
- v1.2
Added Save, Share, PDF, CSV and Print actions to results.
- v1.1
Added global currency selector (USD, INR, CAD, AUD, GBP, EUR).
- v1.0
Initial calculator release with verified formulas and Official Sources.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Your next step
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- 2Roth IRA CalculatorTax-free retirement growth from Roth IRA contributions.
- 3401(k) Calculator401(k) balance at retirement with employer match.
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