Which retirement calculator should you use first?
Use them in this order. Each one answers the question the last one raises.
- Retirement calculator: will my money last? Enter your savings, spending, and Social Security. You get the age your money runs out, the extra you'd need to save each month, and a success rate across 500 simulated markets. Use this when you want the big picture.
- 401(k) calculator: how much should I put in at work? If you have a workplace plan, this is usually the next stop. It shows your employer match, your IRS limit by age, and what a contribution really costs per paycheck. On its default inputs, $6,800 a year from you plus $2,550 from your employer reaches $898,442 in today's dollars by 67.
- IRA calculator: Roth or Traditional? Use this once you've captured the match, or if you have no workplace plan. It tells you what your income allows and which account leaves you more after tax.
Not sure what you'll spend? The budget calculator can help you find that figure and any room to save more.
The 2026 numbers to know
| Rule | Amount |
|---|---|
| 401(k) employee limit, under 50 | $24,500 |
| 401(k) limit at 50 to 59, or 64 and older | $32,500 |
| 401(k) limit at 60 to 63 | $35,750 |
| IRA limit, under 50 | $7,500 |
| IRA limit at 50 or older | $8,600 |
| Roth IRA phase-out, single | $153,000 to $168,000 |
| Roth IRA phase-out, married filing jointly | $242,000 to $252,000 |
Inside a phase-out, your limit shrinks. Halfway through the single range, a saver under 50 can put $3,750 in a Roth IRA.
How much do you need in total?
A common starting point is 25 times the yearly gap between your spending and your guaranteed income, based on the 4% rule. The guide How much do you need to retire? works through it step by step, with figures for retiring at ages from 55 to 70, and shows why the smallest number that works on paper tends to fail in a market test.
These calculators give estimates based on your assumptions, and markets, tax law, and benefits will change. Before you make a big or hard-to-reverse choice, such as claiming Social Security early, get your own estimate at ssa.gov and consider talking with a fee-only adviser or tax professional.
More tools for retirement decisions
- Before you retire: the Roth IRA calculator projects growth by age, the Roth conversion calculator weighs tax now against tax later, the HSA calculator adds up the tax savings, and the FIRE calculator finds an early retirement number.
- Choosing how to get paid: the Social Security calculator compares claiming ages, the pension calculator tests a lump sum offer, and the annuity calculator estimates payouts.
- Once you've retired: the retirement withdrawal calculator shows how long your money could last, and the RMD calculator works out required withdrawals.
For a longer walk-through, read How much do you need to retire?.