401(k) Retirement Calculator
Project your 401(k) to retirement. Enter your age, salary, contribution and employer match to see your balance at retirement — including its value in today’s dollars after inflation — with a growth chart and the 2026 IRS contribution limits built in.
$1,724,599 at age 65
In today’s dollars: $612,894 — what it can actually buy after 3% inflation.
Your contributions: $279,969 · Employer match: $139,985 · Investment growth: $1,279,645
Balance by age
| Age | Your contributions | Employer | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | $0 | $0 | $25,000 |
| 35 | $29,143 | $14,571 | $85,207 |
| 40 | $61,318 | $30,659 | $174,869 |
| 45 | $96,843 | $48,422 | $306,387 |
| 50 | $136,065 | $68,033 | $497,210 |
| 55 | $179,370 | $89,685 | $771,873 |
| 60 | $227,181 | $113,591 | $1,164,856 |
| 65 | $279,969 | $139,985 | $1,724,599 |
2026 IRS 401(k) limits: $24,500 employee deferral (+$8,000 catch-up at 50+). Estimates assume constant return — markets vary. How we calculate →
How the retirement projection works
The calculator grows your 401(k) year by year to your retirement age. Each year it adds your contribution, your employer's match and your investment return, compounding the balance forward. Because the early years compound the longest, contributions you make in your 20s and 30s do far more than the same dollars added later — which is why starting early beats catching up. The chart above shows how much of your final balance is money you put in versus growth the market added.
Capture your full employer match
An employer match is free money: a common plan adds 50% or 100% of your contributions up to a limit like 4–6% of salary. If you contribute less than that limit, you're leaving part of your compensation behind. The calculator flags when you're not contributing enough to get the full match — fixing that is usually the highest-return move in personal finance, an instant 50–100% return on those dollars.
2026 contribution limits
For 2026 the IRS lets you contribute up to $24,500 of your own salary to a 401(k), with an extra $8,000 catch-up if you're 50 or older (and a larger $11,250 catch-up at ages 60–63 under SECURE 2.0). Employer match is on top of that. The calculator warns you if your contribution rate would exceed the limit for your age, so you can spread it across the year correctly.
Why today's dollars matter
A seven-figure balance in 30 years sounds huge, but inflation erodes what it buys. The calculator shows your projected balance in today's dollars alongside the headline number, so you can judge whether it's really enough. A $2 million balance in 2056 might buy what about $800,000 buys now — a very different picture for planning your retirement income.
The levers that move your number
Three inputs dominate your result: how much you contribute, your rate of return, and how many years you stay invested. Time is the most powerful — a few extra years of compounding can outweigh a higher contribution. Return matters but isn't fully in your control, so most of the leverage is in saving a little more and starting a little sooner. Try changing each input above to see which moves your balance the most.
Roth vs traditional, briefly
A traditional 401(k) lowers your taxable income now and is taxed in retirement; a Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax dollars and grows tax-free. Which wins depends on whether your tax rate is higher now or later. This calculator projects the pre-tax balance; remember a traditional account's withdrawals will be taxed, while a Roth's generally won't — worth factoring into how much you'll actually have to spend.
Frequently asked questions
How much will my 401(k) be worth at retirement?
It depends on your contributions, employer match, return and years invested. The calculator projects your balance year by year and shows the total at your retirement age, both as a headline figure and in today's dollars after inflation. Enter your details above for your number.
How does employer matching work?
Your employer adds money based on what you contribute — for example 100% of your contributions up to 4% of salary, or 50% up to 6%. It's free money on top of your own savings. The calculator models the match and warns you if you're contributing too little to get all of it.
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
For 2026 you can contribute up to $24,500 of your own pay, plus an $8,000 catch-up if you're 50 or older (and $11,250 at ages 60–63). Employer match doesn't count toward that employee limit. The calculator flags if your rate would exceed it.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At a minimum, enough to get your full employer match. Many planners suggest 10–15% of salary including the match. Use the calculator to see how different contribution rates change your projected balance and whether you're capturing all the match.
How much do I need to retire?
A common rule of thumb is 25 times your annual retirement spending (the basis of the 4% withdrawal guideline). Use the today's-dollars figure from the calculator to compare your projected balance against that target in money you can actually judge.
Is the projected balance in today's dollars?
The calculator shows both: the future headline balance and its value in today's dollars after inflation. The inflation-adjusted figure is the honest one for judging whether your savings will be enough to live on.
What return should I assume?
A diversified stock-heavy portfolio has historically returned around 7% a year after inflation over the long run, though any single year varies widely. The default is a reasonable planning estimate; lower it as you near retirement and shift to safer assets.
Should I choose a Roth or traditional 401(k)?
Traditional lowers your taxes now and is taxed in retirement; Roth is funded after tax and withdrawn tax-free. Roth tends to win if you expect a higher tax rate later. This calculator projects the pre-tax balance, so remember traditional withdrawals will be taxed.
Researched & verified by the Calcuris Data & Research Team. How we build and check our tools →