Retirement Calculator - 401K & Savings Projection

Finance

Retirement Calculator (401K)

Last updated: July 11, 2026

Estimate how much your 401K and retirement savings will grow by the time you retire. Factor in employer matching, monthly contributions, and investment returns.

Current Age

Retirement Age

Current Savings ($)

Monthly Contribution ($)

Annual Return Rate (%)

Employer Match (%) Percentage of contribution employer matches (e.g. 50 = 50 cents per dollar)

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your Current Age and planned Retirement Age.
Input your Current Savings balance and planned Monthly Contribution.
Set the expected Annual Return Rate and your employer's Match Percentage.
Click Calculate to see projected savings, total growth, and estimated monthly retirement income.

Formula

FV = P × (1 + r)^t + (C + M) × [((1 + r)^t − 1) / r]

Where FV = future value, P = current savings, r = monthly rate (annual / 12), t = months to retirement, C = monthly contribution, and M = employer match amount per month.

Examples

Early Starter (Age 25): $10,000 initial, $500/month at 7% return, 50% employer match for 40 years = $1,183,000 projected savings. Monthly retirement income ≈ $3,943.

Mid-Career (Age 40): $100,000 initial, $1,000/month at 7% return, 50% employer match for 25 years = $1,270,000 projected savings. It’s never too late to start.

Without Employer Match: Same as mid-career above but with 0% employer match = $1,090,000. The employer match adds $180,000 in extra savings over 25 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 401K?

A 401K is an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan that allows you to contribute a portion of your paycheck before taxes. Many employers match a percentage of your contributions, which is essentially free money for your retirement.

How much should I save for retirement?

A common rule of thumb is to save 10–15% of your pre-tax income. If your employer offers a match, contribute at least enough to get the full match. The 4% rule suggests you need 25 times your annual expenses saved by retirement.

When should I start saving for retirement?

The sooner, the better. Thanks to compound interest, someone who starts at age 25 can save significantly less per month than someone who starts at age 35 and still end up with more at retirement.

What is the 4% rule?

The 4% rule suggests you can safely withdraw 4% of your retirement savings each year without running out of money over a 30-year retirement. For example, $1,000,000 saved supports $40,000 per year or about $3,333 per month.