How much will my Roth IRA be worth by age 67?
Starting at 30 with the full limit gets you to about $1,275,640 at 67, and only $296,200 of that is your own money. Starting age makes a large difference, as the table shows. It holds the 2026 limits flat for the whole period, which is cautious, since the IRS adjusts limits over time and future amounts aren't known.
| Start at age | You put in | Balance at 67 | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | $386,200 | $2,967,574 | $2,581,374 |
| 25 | $333,700 | $1,819,559 | $1,485,859 |
| 30 | $296,200 | $1,275,640 | $979,440 |
| 35 | $258,700 | $887,833 | $629,133 |
| 40 | $221,200 | $611,332 | $390,132 |
| 45 | $183,700 | $414,190 | $230,490 |
| 50 | $146,200 | $273,631 | $127,431 |
| 55 | $103,200 | $158,716 | $55,516 |
If you think in monthly amounts, the next table shows steady deposits over 10 to 40 years. $625 a month is the 2026 limit for someone under 50. A Roth IRA has no employer match, since a match comes from a workplace plan. If you have one, check the 401(k) calculator first. Reinvested dividends are part of the return you enter, so don't add them on top.
| Each month | 10 years | 20 years | 30 years | 40 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $17,105 | $50,754 | $116,945 | $247,154 |
| $250 | $42,763 | $126,884 | $292,363 | $617,886 |
| $400 | $68,421 | $203,015 | $467,781 | $988,617 |
| $625 | $106,907 | $317,210 | $730,908 | $1,544,714 |
How much can I contribute to a Roth IRA in 2026?
Up to $7,500, or $8,600 if you're 50 or older by year end, as long as your modified adjusted gross income is below the phase-out and you have at least that much taxable pay. For 2026, a single filer's limit starts shrinking at $153,000 and reaches zero at $168,000. For a joint return, the range runs from $242,000 to $252,000. If you're married filing separately and lived with your spouse, it runs from $0 to $10,000.
Inside the range, you get a partial contribution. At $160,000 as a single filer, you're 7/15 of the way through the range, so your limit falls by about $3,500 to $4,000. The IRS worksheet rounds the result up to the next $10, and any result above zero but under $200 becomes $200.
| Filing status | Income | Under 50 | 50 or older |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $153,000 | $7,500 | $8,600 |
| Single | $155,000 | $6,500 | $7,460 |
| Single | $158,000 | $5,000 | $5,740 |
| Single | $160,000 | $4,000 | $4,590 |
| Single | $163,000 | $2,500 | $2,870 |
| Single | $165,000 | $1,500 | $1,720 |
| Single | $168,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Joint | $242,000 | $7,500 | $8,600 |
| Joint | $244,000 | $6,000 | $6,880 |
| Joint | $246,000 | $4,500 | $5,160 |
| Joint | $248,000 | $3,000 | $3,440 |
| Joint | $250,000 | $1,500 | $1,720 |
| Joint | $252,000 | $0 | $0 |
The limit is shared across all your IRAs, Roth and traditional together. Couples each get their own limit in their own account, so run this tool once per person. If you put in too much, the excess draws a 6% excise tax for each year it stays there. You can avoid that by withdrawing it, plus its earnings, by your return's due date including extensions.
Roth IRA withdrawal rules: what can I take out, and when?
Your regular contributions can come out at any time, with no tax and no penalty. Earnings are the part with rules. A withdrawal of earnings is tax free only if it's a qualified distribution, which needs two things: the 5-year period has passed, and you've reached 59½ or meet another listed reason. IRS Publication 590-B sets the order: regular contributions come out first, then conversions, then earnings.
| Withdrawing | Before 59½ | After 59½, within 5 years | After 59½ and 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your regular contributions | No tax, no penalty | No tax, no penalty | No tax, no penalty |
| Earnings | Taxed, plus 10% unless an exception applies | Taxed, no 10% additional tax | Tax free |
The clock is the part that catches late starters. It starts on January 1 of the first tax year you contribute for, to any Roth IRA, and it runs only once for contributions. If you're 58 and make your first contribution for 2026, your earnings don't qualify until 2031, when you're 63, even though you pass 59½ well before then. Opening an account early, even with a small amount, starts the clock sooner.
Exceptions to the 10% additional tax include disability, a first home (up to a $10,000 lifetime limit), and certain education or medical costs. An exception can remove the 10% tax without making earnings tax free. Unlike a traditional IRA, the original owner of a Roth IRA never has to take required minimum distributions.
What does it cost to wait a few years before starting?
Waiting 5 years, from 30 to 35, cuts the balance at 67 from $1,275,640 to $887,833. That's $387,807 less, even though you'd skip only $37,500 of contributions. The years you skip are the ones with the longest time to compound. Each later year you delay costs a little less than the one before.
| Years you wait | Contributions skipped | Balance at 67 | Cost of waiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7,500 | $1,187,245 | $88,395 |
| 3 | $22,500 | $1,027,425 | $248,214 |
| 5 | $37,500 | $887,833 | $387,807 |
| 10 | $75,000 | $611,332 | $664,308 |
Can a kid or teen have a Roth IRA?
Yes, if they have taxable pay. There's no minimum age, but the contribution can't be more than what they earned, so a teen who earned $5,000 can put in up to $5,000. Publication 590-A says you can be any age. Providers set their own terms for accounts held by minors, so ask before you open one.
The math here is striking. $3,000 a year from 16 through 20, $15,000 in all, then nothing more, grows to about $399,989 by 67 at a 7% example return. That assumes the money is invested for 46 more years and never touched. A steady 7% for that long is an assumption, not something anyone can promise.
When this Roth IRA estimate can mislead you
A steady 7% line isn't how markets behave, and the return depends on what you hold. Cash inside a Roth IRA earns only what cash earns, so contributing isn't the same as investing. Balances also look large because they're in future dollars. The tool shows today's dollars too, which is the fairer number to plan with.
The tool also keeps your income at the same point in the phase-out. If your pay rises through the range, your direct contributions could stop. It leaves out conversions, spousal contributions, and state tax. If you want to know whether Roth is the right account at all, the IRA calculator compares it with a traditional IRA, and the Roth conversion calculator tests moving existing money. A tax professional can help you check your eligibility, and the IRS's free VITA and TCE programs may help if you qualify.
Common questions
What is the formula behind this Roth IRA calculator?
Each year, the balance grows by your return, then adds that year's contributions with their own part-year growth. With monthly deposits, it uses the monthly rate equal to your yearly return. Contributions are capped each year by your limit at that age and income.
What is the Roth IRA limit for 2026?
$7,500, or $8,600 if you're 50 or older by the end of the year. You also can't contribute more than your taxable compensation, and your income may reduce or remove your limit.
When is the deadline for a 2026 contribution?
Your tax return's due date for 2026, not including extensions. You can contribute for 2026 during 2026 or until that date.
Do I pay tax on Roth IRA growth?
Not on a qualified distribution. If you take earnings out before they qualify, they're generally taxable and may draw a 10% additional tax. You don't deduct Roth contributions, so they come out without further tax.
Can I contribute to a Roth IRA if I earn too much?
Not directly above the phase-out. Some people convert traditional IRA money instead, which brings its own tax rules, including the pro-rata rule. Our Roth conversion calculator shows how that tax works.
Does a 401(k) affect my Roth IRA limit?
A workplace plan doesn't change the Roth IRA contribution limit. Your income still decides whether you can contribute, and traditional 401(k) deferrals can lower that income.
Sources
- Publication 590-A: Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements · Internal Revenue Service
- Publication 590-B: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements · Internal Revenue Service
- 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500 · Internal Revenue Service