Retirement Savings Calculator — Plan Your Future
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Free Retirement Calculator — Savings Goal, Shortfall & Monthly Income Estimate
Find out how much you'll have at retirement — or how much you need to save every month to hit your goal. See inflation-adjusted values, shortfall or surplus, and estimated monthly income in retirement. Formula shown.
📈 Project Your Retirement Savings
How to Use This Retirement Calculator
Mode 1 — Project Your Savings
- Enter your current age and planned retirement age — the calculator works out how many years you have left to save.
- Enter your current retirement savings — include all accounts (401k, IRA, pension fund, etc.).
- Enter your monthly contribution — how much you currently add each month across all accounts.
- Set your expected annual return and inflation rate — defaults are 7% return and 3% inflation, which are commonly used long-term estimates.
- Results show your projected total, inflation-adjusted value, estimated monthly income using the 4% rule, and an on-track/off-track indicator.
Mode 2 — Find Required Monthly Savings
Enter your retirement goal amount (use the quick buttons for common targets), current age, retirement age, and any savings you already have. The calculator works backwards to find the exact monthly contribution needed to hit your goal.
📖 The 4% Rule — Explained
The 4% rule is a widely cited retirement guideline from the 1994 "Trinity Study." It states that if you withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio in Year 1, then adjust for inflation each year after, your money has historically lasted 30 years or more.
Example: If you retire with $1,000,000 — you can withdraw $40,000 per year ($3,333/month) and historically expect your money to last 30 years.
⚠️ The 4% rule is a guideline, not a guarantee. Market conditions, sequence-of-returns risk, healthcare costs, and longevity can all affect how long your money lasts. Consult a financial advisor for personalised planning.
How Much Should You Save for Retirement?
| Rule of Thumb | What It Means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Save 10–15% of income | Minimum recommended savings rate from your gross income | Fidelity, Vanguard |
| 25x annual expenses | Save 25 times your expected yearly retirement spending | Trinity Study (4% rule) |
| 1x salary by 30 | Have your annual salary saved by age 30 | Fidelity milestones |
| 3x salary by 40 | Three times your annual salary saved by 40 | Fidelity milestones |
| 6x salary by 50 | Six times your salary saved by 50 | Fidelity milestones |
| 10x salary by 67 | Ten times your salary saved by typical full retirement age | Fidelity milestones |
Real-World Examples
Current savings: $5,000
Monthly contrib: $400/mo
Return: 7% | Retire at 65
Projected: $1.07M ✅
Current savings: $50,000
Monthly contrib: $800/mo
Return: 7% | Retire at 65
Projected: $1.19M ✅
Age: 40 | Current: $30,000
20 years | Return: 7%
Monthly income (4%): $3,333/mo
Need to save: ~$1,680/mo
Current savings: $20,000
Goal: $500K by age 65
Return: 6%
Need to save: ~$1,050/mo
⚠️ Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational and planning purposes only. Results assume constant annual returns and inflation, which do not reflect real-world market volatility. This is not financial advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalised retirement planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to retire comfortably?
A common rule of thumb is to save 25 times your expected annual expenses in retirement. If you plan to spend $50,000 per year in retirement, you need approximately $1.25 million. This is based on the 4% withdrawal rule — withdrawing 4% of your portfolio per year has historically lasted 30 years or more.
What annual return should I use in the calculator?
The US stock market has historically returned about 7% per year after inflation, or roughly 10% before inflation. A conservative estimate is 5–6% for a mixed stock/bond portfolio. This calculator uses nominal (before inflation) returns; the inflation-adjusted result shows your purchasing power in today's dollars.
What is inflation-adjusted value and why does it matter?
Inflation reduces your money's purchasing power over time. $1,000,000 in 30 years buys far less than $1,000,000 today at 3% inflation. The inflation-adjusted value tells you what your projected savings are worth in today's dollars — which is a more honest picture of your real retirement buying power.
I started saving late — is it too late to retire comfortably?
It's never too late to start — but later starters need to save more aggressively. Key strategies: maximize employer 401(k) matching (free money), increase contributions with every raise, consider delaying retirement by 2–5 years (dramatically improves outcomes), and reduce planned retirement spending. Use Mode 2 above to see exactly how much you need to save monthly based on your current situation.
Does this calculator store my financial data?
No. All calculations happen entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your age, savings, income, and goals are never sent to any server, logged, or stored anywhere. Everything disappears when you close or refresh the tab. 100% private.
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