Retirement Calculator
Project your retirement savings, estimate how long they will last, and plan your contributions.
By Evan Carter · Updated August 15, 2026
Savings at Retirement
$2,376,362
Projected balance when you retire
Planning for Retirement
Retirement planning is the art of balancing how much you save during your working years against how much you will need to withdraw once you stop working. The key variables are your current savings, your monthly contribution, the return your investments earn, the age you plan to retire, the income you want in retirement, and the rate of inflation. This retirement calculator brings those pieces together to project how large your nest egg could grow by your target retirement age and to estimate how long that balance might last given the lifestyle you have in mind.
How the Projection Works
During your working years, the calculator grows your current savings and your ongoing contributions using compound growth, conceptually following A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt) for the lump sum plus the future value of each contribution. Once you reach your retirement age, the model switches to a withdrawal phase: it draws your desired income from the balance each year, lets the remaining balance keep earning a return, and increases the income you take to keep pace with inflation. The output shows your projected savings at retirement and how many years of income that pool can support before it is exhausted.
The Two Phases of Retirement Finance
Your financial life has two main phases. In the accumulation phase, while you are still working, the goal is to grow savings through steady contributions and investment returns, taking advantage of the long runway for compounding. In the distribution phase, in retirement, you draw down those savings while trying to make them last. A balance that looked ample on the day you retired must now cover decades of spending, which is why both your withdrawal rate and your continued investment return matter so much during this stage.
Example: Saving from Age 30 to 65
Imagine a hypothetical saver who is 30 today, plans to retire at 65, and starts with $50,000 while adding $1,000 a month. Assuming a steady 7% return during the 35 working years, the balance has a long time to compound, and the bulk of the growth tends to arrive in the final stretch when the account is largest. If that saver wants the equivalent of $5,000 a month in retirement, the calculator inflates that income over time and tests how long the accumulated balance can sustain it. These numbers are illustrative only and are meant to show how the inputs interact, not to predict your result.
The Inputs That Matter Most
- Current age and retirement age: A longer gap between them means more years to contribute and compound, which usually has the single largest effect on your ending balance.
- Current savings: Money already invested has the longest time to grow, so a higher starting balance lifts the entire projection.
- Monthly contribution: Consistent saving is the lever you control most directly, and small increases compound into large gains over decades.
- Expected return: Because growth is exponential, even a modest change in this assumption can swing the result substantially.
- Inflation: A higher assumed inflation rate raises the future income you need and shortens how long savings last.
- Desired monthly income: The more you plan to withdraw, the faster the balance is drawn down in retirement.
Adjusting for Inflation
Inflation is often called the silent thief of retirement savings because it quietly erodes what your dollars can buy. Over long periods, even a moderate inflation rate can roughly halve purchasing power, so an income that feels comfortable today may fall short many years from now. This calculator accounts for that by increasing your desired income each year of retirement, giving you a more realistic picture of how long your savings will actually last rather than an overly optimistic one.
Tax-Advantaged Accounts and When to Use This Tool
In general terms, tax-advantaged retirement accounts let your investments grow with less annual tax drag, which can meaningfully improve long-run outcomes compared with saving the same amount in a fully taxable account. Some accounts offer an upfront tax benefit while others allow qualified withdrawals to be tax-free, and the right mix depends on your situation. This calculator does not model specific account types, contribution limits, or taxes, so treat its figures as a planning estimate. Use it for the big-picture question of whether your savings rate is on track; for modeling a single fixed rate or a shorter-term goal, the compound interest and savings calculators may be more appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to save for retirement?
A widely cited rule of thumb is to aim for roughly 25 times your desired annual retirement income, which corresponds to the well-known 4% withdrawal guideline. For a hypothetical target of $60,000 a year, that would imply around $1.5 million. It is a starting point rather than a precise rule, since your real number depends on your spending, other income sources, and how long you expect retirement to last. This calculator helps you test whether your current savings rate is on track.
What rate of return should I expect?
Future returns are uncertain, so it is best to enter a conservative assumption rather than rely on a fixed figure. A diversified, stock-heavy portfolio has historically offered higher growth and more volatility, while a more balanced stock-and-bond mix tends to be steadier but lower. This calculator lets you adjust the expected return, and running both an optimistic and a cautious scenario gives you a clearer sense of the range of outcomes.
How does inflation affect my retirement savings?
Inflation steadily reduces what your money can buy, so an income that is comfortable today will not stretch as far decades from now. Over long periods, even a moderate inflation rate can roughly halve purchasing power. This calculator addresses that by raising your desired income each year of retirement, which gives you a more realistic view of how long your savings can actually support your lifestyle.
When should I start saving for retirement?
As early as you reasonably can. Thanks to compound growth, money invested in your twenties has decades to build, and the earliest dollars typically do the heaviest lifting. Because of this, someone who starts saving a smaller amount earlier can end up ahead of someone who starts a larger amount later, even after contributing less in total. If an early start is not possible, increasing your contribution rate over time can help make up ground.
What is the 4% rule and is it reliable?
The 4% rule is a guideline suggesting you might withdraw about 4% of your savings in the first year of retirement and adjust that amount for inflation each year afterward, with the goal of not running out over a long retirement. It is a simplification based on historical data and does not guarantee any outcome. Market conditions, fees, taxes, and a longer-than-expected retirement can all change the picture, so treat it as a planning anchor, not a promise.
How long will my retirement savings last?
It depends mainly on how much you withdraw each year, the return your remaining balance earns, and inflation. Drawing down a smaller share each year and continuing to earn a reasonable return can stretch savings across a long retirement, while large withdrawals or a poor sequence of early returns can shorten that horizon considerably. This calculator estimates the number of years your projected balance can sustain your inflation-adjusted income.
Does this calculator include Social Security or pensions?
No. The projection is based solely on the savings, contributions, return, and income figures you enter, so it does not factor in Social Security benefits, pensions, or other income streams. If you expect such income in retirement, you can account for it by reducing the desired monthly income you ask your savings to cover, which lowers the amount your nest egg has to provide on its own.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. Results should not be considered as financial advice. Actual amounts may vary based on additional factors not included in this calculator. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized advice.
Tax data is based on 2026 federal and state rates (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, Tax Foundation). State bracket thresholds may differ slightly from official figures due to rounding and inflation adjustments. Data is updated annually and may not reflect mid-year legislative changes.
See how we calculate and our editorial policy for the formulas, sources, and review process behind this tool.