Retirement Savings Calculator

Visual insights

Retirement balance growth

Projected account balance at each age until retirement.

View chart data

Age	Projected balance
35	$50,000
36	$59,252
37	$69,074
38	$79,502
39	$90,573
40	$102,328
41	$114,807
42	$128,055
43	$142,121
44	$157,055
45	$172,910
46	$189,742
47	$207,613
48	$226,586
49	$246,729
50	$268,114
51	$290,819
52	$314,923
53	$340,515
54	$367,685
55	$396,531
56	$427,156
57	$459,669
58	$494,189
59	$530,837
60	$569,745
61	$611,054
62	$654,910
63	$701,471
64	$750,904
65	$803,386

Contributions vs investment growth

How much of your projected balance comes from money you put in versus growth.

View chart data

Age	Total contributions	Investment growth
35	$50,000	$0
36	$56,000	$3,252
37	$62,000	$7,074
38	$68,000	$11,502
39	$74,000	$16,573
40	$80,000	$22,328
41	$86,000	$28,807
42	$92,000	$36,055
43	$98,000	$44,121
44	$104,000	$53,055
45	$110,000	$62,910
46	$116,000	$73,742
47	$122,000	$85,613
48	$128,000	$98,586
49	$134,000	$112,729
50	$140,000	$128,114
51	$146,000	$144,819
52	$152,000	$162,923
53	$158,000	$182,515
54	$164,000	$203,685
55	$170,000	$226,531
56	$176,000	$251,156
57	$182,000	$277,669
58	$188,000	$306,189
59	$194,000	$336,837
60	$200,000	$369,745
61	$206,000	$405,054
62	$212,000	$442,910
63	$218,000	$483,471
64	$224,000	$526,904
65	$230,000	$573,386

Year-by-year retirement projection
Age	Balance ($)	Contributions ($)	Growth ($)
35	$50,000	$50,000	$0
36	$59,252	$56,000	$3,252
37	$69,074	$62,000	$7,074
38	$79,502	$68,000	$11,502
39	$90,573	$74,000	$16,573
40	$102,328	$80,000	$22,328
41	$114,807	$86,000	$28,807
42	$128,055	$92,000	$36,055
43	$142,121	$98,000	$44,121
44	$157,055	$104,000	$53,055
45	$172,910	$110,000	$62,910
46	$189,742	$116,000	$73,742
47	$207,613	$122,000	$85,613
48	$226,586	$128,000	$98,586
49	$246,729	$134,000	$112,729
50	$268,114	$140,000	$128,114
51	$290,819	$146,000	$144,819
52	$314,923	$152,000	$162,923
53	$340,515	$158,000	$182,515
54	$367,685	$164,000	$203,685
55	$396,531	$170,000	$226,531
56	$427,156	$176,000	$251,156
57	$459,669	$182,000	$277,669
58	$494,189	$188,000	$306,189
59	$530,837	$194,000	$336,837
60	$569,745	$200,000	$369,745
61	$611,054	$206,000	$405,054
62	$654,910	$212,000	$442,910
63	$701,471	$218,000	$483,471
64	$750,904	$224,000	$526,904
65	$803,386	$230,000	$573,386

Age

Balance ($)

Contributions ($)

Growth ($)

$50,000

$59,252

$56,000

$3,252

$69,074

$62,000

$7,074

$79,502

$68,000

$11,502

$90,573

$74,000

$16,573

$102,328

$80,000

$22,328

$114,807

$86,000

$28,807

$128,055

$92,000

$36,055

$142,121

$98,000

$44,121

$157,055

$104,000

$53,055

$172,910

$110,000

$62,910

$189,742

$116,000

$73,742

$207,613

$122,000

$85,613

$226,586

$128,000

$98,586

$246,729

$134,000

$112,729

$268,114

$140,000

$128,114

$290,819

$146,000

$144,819

$314,923

$152,000

$162,923

$340,515

$158,000

$182,515

$367,685

$164,000

$203,685

$396,531

$170,000

$226,531

$427,156

$176,000

$251,156

$459,669

$182,000

$277,669

$494,189

$188,000

$306,189

$530,837

$194,000

$336,837

$569,745

$200,000

$369,745

$611,054

$206,000

$405,054

$654,910

$212,000

$442,910

$701,471

$218,000

$483,471

$750,904

$224,000

$526,904

$803,386

$230,000

$573,386

Example scenarios

Scenario 1: A 35-year-old with existing savings contributes monthly until a planned retirement at 65

A 35-year-old with existing savings contributes monthly until a planned retirement at 65.

Sample inputs

Current age: 35
Retirement age: 65
Current savings: $50,000
Monthly contribution: $500
Expected annual return: 6%

Sample results

Years until retirement: 30
Projected savings at retirement: ~$650,000
Total contributions: ~$230,000

Scenario 2: Late starter at 45 with $80,000 saved, contributing aggressively until 67

Late starter at 45 with $80,000 saved, contributing aggressively until 67.

Sample inputs

Current age: 45
Retirement age: 67
Current savings: $80,000
Monthly contribution: $1,200
Expected return: 5.5%

Sample results

Years to retirement: 22
Projected balance: ~$720,000
Total contributions: ~$397,000

Common mistakes

Forgetting to include employer 401(k) matching in monthly contributions.
Using an aggressive return rate without adjusting for inflation.
Assuming Social Security or a pension will cover most expenses without checking estimates.
Stopping contributions after a market downturn and missing recovery years.

Decision guide

Retirement projections are planning tools. Use them to test contribution changes, not as a guarantee of future balances.

Increase contributions when

Your projected balance falls short of expected retirement spending.
You receive a raise, bonus, or employer match you are not fully using.
You have paid off high-interest debt and have cash flow to redirect.

Revisit assumptions when

You plan to retire earlier or later than your original target age.
Market returns or inflation expectations shift materially.
Major life changes affect income, expenses, or risk tolerance.

Formula, sources & assumptions

Formula: Future value with periodic contributions and compound growth on existing balance.

Sources

Standard retirement projection formulas; Social Security estimates require separate tools.

Key assumptions

Steady return rate
Continuous contributions until retirement age
No early withdrawals

For educational and planning purposes only. Not legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice.

Retirement planning starts with understanding how today's savings and contributions can grow over time. This calculator projects your nest egg at retirement age.

How to use this calculator

Enter your current age and planned retirement age.
Enter your current retirement savings balance.
Enter how much you contribute each month.
Enter your expected average annual return.
Review projected savings at retirement.

Formula

The projection combines growth on current savings with monthly contributions until retirement, using compound monthly returns.

Example

A 35-year-old with $50,000 saved who contributes $500 per month at 6% average return could have about $650,000 by age 65.

Frequently asked questions

What return rate should I use?

Many planners use 5–7% for long-term stock-heavy portfolios, but conservative estimates may use lower rates. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Does this include employer matching?

Include employer contributions in your monthly contribution field if you want them reflected in the projection.

How much should I save for retirement?

A common guideline is 15% of income including employer match, but your target depends on expected expenses, Social Security, pensions, and retirement age.

What is the 4% rule?

The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement, adjusted for inflation thereafter. It is a planning shortcut, not a guarantee.

How does starting early affect retirement savings?

Starting earlier gives contributions more time to compound. Even small increases in monthly savings can significantly raise your balance over decades.

Should I count my 401(k) and IRA together?

Yes. Enter your combined retirement balance in current savings, or run separate projections and add the results for a full picture.

Does this calculator adjust for inflation?

No. The projected balance is in today's dollars unless you reduce your return assumption to an after-inflation (real) rate.

What if I retire before age 65?

Set your retirement age accordingly. Early retirement requires a larger nest egg because you have fewer earning years and more years of withdrawals.

How do catch-up contributions work?

Workers 50 and older can often contribute extra to 401(k) and IRA accounts. Add catch-up amounts to your monthly contribution if applicable.

Is my projected balance enough to retire?

Compare projected savings to expected annual retirement spending multiplied by 25–30 as a rough check. Use a dedicated FIRE or withdrawal calculator for deeper analysis.