401(k) Calculator
Project your 401(k) balance at retirement with employer match, salary growth and current IRS contribution limits.
Estimates only. Results assume a constant average annual return, monthly compounding and the 2026 IRS limits. This tool is for education and is not investment, tax or legal advice.
What Is a 401(k) Calculator?
A 401(k) calculator estimates how much money your employer-sponsored retirement account could be worth on the day you retire. It combines your current balance, the amount you save every month, any employer match, salary growth and the average return your investments earn. Instead of guessing, you see a clear projection of how your contributions, employer match and investment growth add up over time.
Whether you are starting your first job or are ten years from retirement, running the numbers regularly shows whether you are on track and which small changes, such as saving one extra percent of pay, make the biggest difference.
How to Use Our 401(k) Calculator
- Enter your ages. Add your current age and the age you plan to retire. The gap is the number of years your money can grow.
- Add your salary and current balance. Salary is used to calculate your employer match and to grow your contributions each year.
- Enter your monthly contribution. This is the amount you personally defer from each month’s pay.
- Set your employer match. A common formula is a 50% match on contributions up to 6% of salary. Check your plan documents for your own formula.
- Choose growth assumptions. Enter an expected annual return, yearly salary increase and inflation rate.
- Press Calculate. You will see your projected balance split into your contributions, employer match and investment returns, plus the value in today’s dollars and a growth chart.
401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026
The IRS adjusts 401(k) limits every year for inflation. Our calculator automatically caps your yearly contributions at these limits and lets them rise with inflation in future years.
| Limit | 2026 Amount |
|---|---|
| Employee elective deferral | $24,500 |
| Catch-up contribution (age 50 and over) | $8,000 |
| Higher catch-up (ages 60 to 63) | $11,250 |
| Total employee + employer limit (under 50) | $72,000 |
Under SECURE 2.0, savers aged 60 to 63 can make a larger catch-up contribution, and from 2026 higher earners (roughly $150,000 or more in prior-year wages) must make their catch-up contributions as Roth contributions. Always confirm the current figures on the IRS website or with your plan administrator.
How the 401(k) Calculation Works
Every month the calculator adds one-twelfth of your yearly contribution and employer match to your balance and applies one-twelfth of your annual return, so growth compounds monthly. At the end of each year your salary and contributions are raised by your salary-increase rate. Your employer match each year equals the lesser of your contribution and the match limit multiplied by your salary, times the match rate. Finally, the balance is divided by the inflation factor to show what it would be worth in today’s dollars, and a 4% withdrawal rate is used to estimate sustainable retirement income.
Example
A 30-year-old with a $10,000 balance who saves $1,500 per month until age 65 and earns 7% a year, with no raises and no employer match, would end up with roughly $2.8 million. About $640,000 of that is money they put in and the rest is investment growth. Enter the same figures in the calculator, set the salary increase and match to zero, and compare. Then add a real employer match to see how much extra free money it creates.
Why Use The Fund Advisor’s 401(k) Calculator?
- Personalised results: Every number reflects your own age, pay, savings and match formula.
- Current IRS rules built in: Contribution limits, catch-up amounts and the higher catch-up for ages 60 to 63 are applied automatically.
- Clear visuals: A growth chart and a breakdown of contributions, match and returns make the result easy to understand.
- Inflation-aware: See your future balance in today’s dollars so you know what it can really buy.
- Free and private: Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.
Tips to Grow Your 401(k) Faster
- Contribute at least enough to earn the full employer match, which is an immediate return on your money.
- Raise your contribution rate by 1% each year or whenever you get a raise.
- Keep investment fees low. A 1% difference in fees can cost tens of thousands of dollars over decades.
- Use catch-up contributions from age 50 to speed up saving in the final decade.
- Avoid early withdrawals and loans, which interrupt compounding and may trigger taxes and penalties.
- Review your projection once a year, or after any major change in income or goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this 401(k) calculator?
It gives a solid estimate based on the numbers you enter, but real returns vary every year and your plan’s rules may differ. Treat the result as a planning guide rather than a guarantee.
What return rate should I use?
Many planners use 5% to 7% a year for a diversified, stock-heavy portfolio before inflation. A more cautious figure is wise if you are close to retirement or hold mostly bonds.
Does the calculator include taxes?
No. Traditional 401(k) withdrawals are taxed as income in retirement, while qualified Roth 401(k) withdrawals are generally tax free. Consider your future tax rate when judging the result.
What happens if I contribute more than the IRS limit?
Excess deferrals are not allowed and can be taxed twice if not corrected. Our calculator caps your yearly contribution at the limit and tells you when that happens.
How much should I have in my 401(k) by retirement?
A common guideline is to save about 10 to 15 times your final salary, including employer contributions and other savings. Use our retirement calculator to compare your projection with your own spending needs.
Related Calculators
Plan the rest of your retirement with our Retirement Calculator, Social Security Calculator, Pension Calculator and Budget Calculator.
Disclaimer: This calculator is provided for general information and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor or tax professional before making retirement decisions.
