RetirementPlanCalc · US planning tools

Retirement Plan Calculator

Estimate your future retirement savings, compare them with an illustrative spending goal, and see the effect of inflation. Choose assumptions that fit your situation, then compare a few scenarios.

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Explore retirement calculators

Retirement Savings Calculator

Project how a starting balance and monthly contributions might grow. Compare returns and inflation without treating a projection as a promise.

Retirement Income Calculator

Estimate a level monthly portfolio withdrawal over a chosen retirement period, expressed in purchasing power at the start of retirement.

FIRE Calculator

Estimate a financial-independence target and the time to reach it under a simplified constant-return savings scenario.

401(k) Employer Match Calculator

Estimate a simple employer match using your plan’s match percentage and eligible-pay limit. This tool supports one matching tier.

Start with a plan you can explain

Build a spending budget, check income sources, and compare realistic scenarios before changing your savings strategy.

Read the beginner’s guide Browse retirement articles

How to use the retirement plan calculator

  1. Enter your own balances, time period, and spending or contribution amounts. Keep today’s dollars and future dollars separate.
  2. Choose return and inflation assumptions. Returns should reflect fees. The default numbers are examples, not recommendations or forecasts.
  3. Select Calculate. Results appear below your inputs. Read the assumptions alongside the estimate.
  4. Try lower returns, higher inflation, and a longer retirement horizon where the tool allows it. Save your assumptions so you can compare scenarios.

How the calculation works

Savings use monthly compounding with deposits at each month’s end. The annual spending gap equals spending less other income, floored at zero. Inflate that gap to retirement, then divide it by your withdrawal-rate assumption. Compare this illustrative target with projected savings.

A simple example

Suppose you save $100,000 now and contribute $750 monthly for 25 years. At zero return, you have $325,000 before inflation. Changing the return or inflation assumption changes the projection; it does not change what markets will actually do.

Read the result with care

A calculator can make a planning tradeoff easier to see. It cannot predict future investment returns, personal spending, tax rules, or how long you will need your money.

These projections use simplified assumptions. Account limits, tax treatment, investment risk, healthcare costs, and the timing of Social Security can change a real retirement plan. Check account and benefit details with their official providers.

If a result looks too optimistic, compare several scenarios and review the inputs. A model that works with constant returns can still fail when actual returns vary during withdrawals.

Frequently asked questions

Are the default return and inflation rates forecasts?

No. They are editable assumptions for examples. No live market, inflation, or account data is loaded.

Does this calculator include taxes or account limits?

No. Review taxes, eligibility, account-access rules, and contribution limits separately. The employer-match tool is also a simplified one-tier formula.

Why do today’s dollars and future dollars differ?

Inflation changes purchasing power. Future-dollar results describe the modeled account or expense amount at a later date. Today-dollar results discount that amount using your inflation assumption.

Are my entries sent to an account service?

This calculator runs in your browser and does not connect to your bank, employer, or investment accounts. Avoid entering account numbers or other sensitive details.

Educational estimates only. Results are not personalized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice and do not guarantee retirement income. Read the methodology and disclaimer.

Planning tools maintained by RetirementPlanCalc. Report a calculation issue.