Find out how much you need to retire and whether you're on track. Enter your age, current savings, monthly contributions, and desired retirement income to get a personalized projection with visual charts.
Retirement planning is one of the most important financial decisions you'll make. According to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Household Economics, only about 31% of non-retired adults feel their retirement savings are on track. Whether you're 25 and just starting or 55 and catching up, the first step is knowing your numbers — and that's exactly what our calculator provides.
Your "retirement number" is the total savings needed to maintain your desired lifestyle. The most common way to calculate it is the 25x rule: multiply your desired annual retirement spending by 25. This is the inverse of the 4% safe withdrawal rate from the Trinity Study. For example:
But these are today's dollars. At 3% inflation, $60,000/year in 2026 becomes roughly $97,000/year in 2042 and $145,000/year in 2056. Our calculator adjusts for inflation automatically so you see the real number you need to save.
Fidelity's widely cited retirement benchmarks suggest saving multiples of your annual salary by certain ages. Here's what that looks like for someone earning $75,000/year:
Behind schedule? Don't panic. Even catching up from zero at age 40, saving $1,200/month at 7% returns would grow to roughly $680,000 by age 65. Add employer matching and Social Security, and a comfortable retirement is still within reach.
Compound interest is the engine of retirement savings. Here's a concrete comparison for someone investing $500/month at 7% annual return:
The 10-year head start between ages 25 and 35 nearly doubles the final amount — even though you only contribute $60,000 more. Explore this in detail with our compound interest calculator.
Maximize your tax-advantaged savings with the latest IRS contribution limits for 2026:
If your employer offers a 401(k) match (commonly 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary), contribute at least enough to capture the full match before funding other accounts. On a $75,000 salary with a 50%-up-to-6% match, that's $2,250/year of free money — equivalent to a guaranteed 50% instant return. Use our salary calculator to see how pre-tax 401(k) contributions affect your take-home pay.
If the calculator shows you're behind, here are five actions ranked by impact:
Our free calculator uses industry-standard financial formulas to project your retirement savings. It models the accumulation phase (your working years) by compounding your contributions and investment returns monthly using the 4% safe withdrawal rate (based on the Trinity Study) to determine your sustainable monthly income in retirement. It then adjusts your desired income for inflation using BLS CPI data, giving you a realistic picture of whether your plan meets your future needs. Visual charts show your projected savings trajectory, monthly income breakdown, and whether you're on track or facing a shortfall.
Reviewed by Tahir Özcan · Founder, WealthCalc · Editorial policy
Projects retirement savings using a compound growth formula with inflation adjustment. The withdrawal phase uses the 4% safe withdrawal rate from William Bengen's original research and the Trinity Study. Contribution limits come from IRS Notice 2025-67 and Social Security figures from the SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet.
4 In-Depth Guides
Plan your retirement with confidence using 2026 contribution limits, the 4% rule, and age-based savings milestones. Find out if you are on track.
Read Full GuideCalculate exactly how much you need to retire comfortably in 2026. Covers the 4% rule, Social Security timing, healthcare costs, and age-specific savings benchmarks.
Read Full GuideA complete side-by-side comparison of Roth and Traditional IRAs with 2026 contribution limits, income thresholds, tax implications, and decision framework.
Read Full GuideBenchmark your retirement savings against recommended targets at every age from 25 to 65. Includes catch-up strategies if you are behind and realistic 2026 projections.
Read Full GuideThe amount you need to retire depends on your desired lifestyle, expected expenses, and how long your retirement lasts. A common rule of thumb is to aim for 25 times your annual expenses (based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate). For example, if you need $4,000/month ($48,000/year), you'd need roughly $1.2 million saved. Our retirement calculator helps you determine your specific number based on your unique situation.
The 4% rule is a guideline that suggests you can withdraw 4% of your retirement savings in the first year of retirement, then adjust that amount for inflation each year, and your money should last approximately 30 years. For example, with $1 million saved, you could withdraw $40,000 per year. This rule is based on historical stock and bond market returns and is used as a starting point for retirement planning.
The best time to start saving for retirement is as early as possible. Thanks to compound interest, even small contributions in your 20s can grow significantly by retirement. For example, saving $200/month starting at age 25 with a 7% annual return would grow to approximately $525,000 by age 65. Starting the same savings at age 35 would only grow to about $244,000. Every year you delay costs you significantly in potential growth.
Inflation reduces the purchasing power of your money over time. At a 3% inflation rate, something that costs $4,000 today would cost about $9,400 in 30 years. Our retirement calculator accounts for inflation by adjusting your desired income to future dollars, giving you a more accurate picture of how much you truly need to save for a comfortable retirement.
A commonly used average annual return rate for a diversified stock portfolio is 7% (adjusted for inflation) or 10% (nominal). However, the right rate depends on your investment mix. Conservative portfolios (more bonds) might average 4-6%, while aggressive portfolios (more stocks) might average 8-10%. Our calculator defaults to 7%, which is a widely accepted long-term average for a balanced approach.
If our calculator shows a shortfall, you have several options: (1) Increase your monthly contributions, even by a small amount. (2) Delay retirement by a few years, which gives your savings more time to grow. (3) Reduce your desired retirement income or planned expenses. (4) Seek higher returns by adjusting your investment strategy (with appropriate risk management). (5) Plan for supplemental income in retirement, such as part-time work or Social Security benefits.
Get a complete picture of your finances by combining this tool with our other free calculators and in-depth guides.
Last reviewed:
Projects retirement savings using a compound growth formula with inflation adjustment. The withdrawal phase uses the 4% safe withdrawal rate from William Bengen's original research and the Trinity Study. Contribution limits come from IRS Notice 2025-67 and Social Security figures from the SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet.
Figures are updated whenever the IRS, SSA, CMS, FHFA, HHS, or BLS publishes a new inflation adjustment or statutory change. This tool is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional for decisions affecting your personal finances.
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