401(k) Calculator

Use this free 401(k) Calculator to estimate how much your workplace retirement account could grow, how much you may contribute each year, how an employer match can increase your savings, and what your balance could provide in retirement. You can also compare a Traditional 401(k) with a Roth 401(k), estimate retirement income, calculate a withdrawal after taxes and an optional early-withdrawal penalty, or estimate payments on a 401(k) loan.

This calculator helps you see how different choices can shape your retirement savings over time. You can estimate the impact of your contribution rate, employer match, investment growth, taxes, and future withdrawals, as well as compare Traditional and Roth 401(k) options.

How to Use the 401(k) Calculator

Start with the Growth + Match mode if you want a long-term projection. Enter your current age, planned retirement age, existing balance, salary, employee contribution percentage, employer match, expected salary growth, expected investment return, and annual fees. The calculator estimates how much you contribute, how much your employer adds, how much investment growth may add, and the projected balance at retirement.

Use Contribution mode when you mainly want to know how much you are putting into your plan each year and how much matching money your employer may add. Traditional vs Roth mode compares estimated after-tax retirement values. Retirement Income converts a future balance into a simple withdrawal estimate, while Withdrawal and Loan modes cover two other common 401(k) calculations.

For a broader retirement plan that combines workplace savings with Social Security or other retirement income, use our Retirement Calculator.

What Is a 401(k)?

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan in the United States. Employees can direct part of their pay into the plan and invest the money in options offered by the employer’s plan. Many employers also make matching or other employer contributions.

A Traditional 401(k) generally lets an employee make pre-tax elective deferrals, reducing current taxable income for federal income-tax purposes, while distributions are generally taxable later. A Roth 401(k) uses after-tax employee contributions, and qualified Roth distributions can generally be tax-free. Both can exist inside the same employer retirement plan.

The most useful 401(k) calculations usually involve contributions, employer matching, time, investment return, fees, taxes, and retirement withdrawals. That is why a useful 401k calculator needs more than a single compound-interest equation.

401(k) Growth Calculator

A 401k growth calculator projects how a current account balance and future contributions could grow over time. The main driver is compound growth. Investment returns earned in one period stay in the account and can potentially earn additional returns later.

The projection on this page starts with your current balance, adds employee and employer contributions each year, and then applies the expected investment return after the fee assumption you enter. Salary can also grow each year, which can increase percentage-based contributions and employer matching.

If you want to explore compounding separately from the 401(k) rules, our Compound Interest Calculator shows how a starting balance and recurring deposits can grow over time.

How 401(k) Growth Is Calculated

A simplified future-value model starts with an account balance and repeatedly applies contributions and investment growth. If contributions are constant, the standard future-value formula for recurring deposits can be used. A more realistic 401(k) projection often changes salary and contribution amounts over time, so this calculator steps through the projection year by year.

The calculator treats the expected annual return as an estimate, not a promised rate. Actual investment returns can be positive or negative and rarely arrive in a smooth straight line. Fees also reduce net growth, especially over long periods.

401(k) Calculator With Match

An employer match can materially change long-term retirement savings. A common matching formula might be 50% of employee contributions up to 6% of salary. Under that example, an employee earning $80,000 who contributes at least 6% of salary would contribute $4,800 toward the matched portion and receive up to $2,400 from the employer.

Employers use many different formulas. Some match dollar-for-dollar up to a percentage of salary, some use a partial match, and some make nonelective contributions regardless of how much the employee contributes. The 401k calculator with match lets you enter your own matching percentage and salary cap rather than assuming every employer uses the same formula.

The employer match is separate from the employee elective-deferral limit, although total annual additions to a defined contribution plan are subject to a separate overall limit. Always check the actual summary plan description or benefits information for your employer’s formula.

401(k) Contribution Calculator

The Contribution mode answers questions such as how much should I contribute to my 401k, how much a chosen percentage represents in dollars, and how much the employer match adds. Enter salary and a contribution percentage and the calculator converts the percentage into an annual dollar amount.

For example, 10% of an $80,000 salary is $8,000 per year, or about $666.67 per month on average. If a plan matches 50% up to 6% of salary, the employer contribution would be up to $2,400 in that example.

If you want to compare contribution percentages separately, our Percentage Calculator can help with percentage-of-salary calculations.

2026 401(k) Contribution Limits

For 2026, the basic employee elective-deferral limit for most 401(k) plans is $24,500. Participants age 50 or older may be permitted to make an additional $8,000 catch-up contribution. For participants who are ages 60 through 63 during 2026, the higher catch-up limit is $11,250.

That means the employee deferral amount used by this calculator is up to $24,500 for someone under age 50, up to $32,500 for someone generally age 50 or older, and up to $35,750 for someone age 60 through 63, assuming the plan permits the applicable catch-up contribution.

The IRS also sets a separate overall defined-contribution limit that includes employee deferrals and many employer contributions. For 2026, that overall limit is generally $72,000 before applicable catch-up contributions, subject to compensation and plan rules.

Max Contribution to 401(k)

The phrase max contribution to 401k can mean two different numbers. The first is the employee elective-deferral limit—the amount an employee can defer from pay. The second is the broader annual-additions limit that can include employee deferrals, employer matching contributions, employer nonelective contributions, and certain other additions.

For most employees deciding what percentage to elect from their paycheck, the employee deferral limit is the relevant starting point. Someone with multiple 401(k)-type plans may also need to aggregate elective deferrals when applying the annual limit.

How Much Should I Contribute to My 401(k)?

There is no single percentage that is correct for everyone. A useful first calculation is how much you must contribute to receive the full employer match, if one is available. After that, the appropriate savings rate depends on income, age, current savings, debt, emergency reserves, expected retirement spending, other retirement accounts, and tax considerations.

Rather than treating one contribution percentage as universally correct, use the calculator to test several rates. Comparing 5%, 10%, 15%, and the annual maximum can show how much long-term results change.

Traditional 401(k) vs Roth 401(k)

The difference between a Traditional 401(k) and Roth 401(k) is primarily tax treatment. Traditional employee deferrals generally reduce current taxable income, while retirement withdrawals are generally taxable. Roth 401(k) employee contributions are made after tax, but qualified withdrawals can generally be tax-free.

A basic 401k vs Roth 401k comparison therefore depends heavily on tax rates. If your marginal tax rate is lower today than you expect it to be when the money is withdrawn, Roth treatment may look more attractive. If your current tax rate is considerably higher, the current deduction or deferral from Traditional contributions can be valuable.

The comparison calculator above grows the same starting balance and annual contribution under the same return assumption. It then applies your estimated retirement tax rate to the Traditional balance. This is deliberately simplified: it does not assume that you invest the current tax savings produced by a Traditional 401(k).

Roth 401(k) Calculator

A Roth 401k calculator is useful because the headline account balance does not tell the entire story. If qualified Roth withdrawals are tax-free, a $1 million Roth balance and a $1 million Traditional balance may have different spendable values after tax.

The Roth comparison mode estimates that distinction by displaying the projected Roth value and an after-tax Traditional value. It is not a tax return calculation and does not attempt to model tax brackets, required distributions, Social Security taxation, state-specific retirement exclusions, or future changes in tax law.

Roth 401(k) vs Roth IRA

A Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA both use Roth tax treatment, but they are different account types. A Roth 401(k) is offered through an employer plan and follows workplace-plan contribution limits and rules. A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account with its own annual contribution limit and income-related eligibility rules.

That is why a search for Roth 401k vs Roth IRA should not treat the two accounts as interchangeable. Someone may be eligible to contribute to both, depending on income, plan access, and other rules.

401(k) Retirement Calculator

A 401k retirement calculator can answer two separate questions: how large the account may become and how much retirement income that balance may support. The Retirement Income mode also works as a simple retirement income calculator for the 401(k) balance itself. The Growth mode handles the accumulation side, while Retirement Income converts a balance into a simple annual and monthly withdrawal estimate.

If a $1,000,000 account is multiplied by a 4% withdrawal assumption, the first-year withdrawal estimate is $40,000, or about $3,333 per month before tax. A 3% rate would produce $30,000 per year, while 5% would produce $50,000.

A withdrawal rate is only a planning assumption. It is not a promise that a portfolio will last for a particular number of years. Market returns, inflation, retirement length, fees, investment allocation, taxes, and the pattern of withdrawals all affect sustainability.

How Much Do I Need to Retire?

The question how much do I need to retire cannot be answered from the 401(k) balance alone. Start with expected annual spending, subtract reliable income sources such as Social Security or pensions, and estimate how much of the remaining spending must come from investments.

For example, if retirement spending is $70,000 per year and other income covers $30,000, the investment portfolio must cover the remaining $40,000 before considering taxes and other adjustments. A broader retirement planning calculator is better when multiple income sources need to be combined.

Retirement Savings Calculator vs 401(k) Calculator

A retirement savings calculator typically looks at all savings and retirement income sources. A 401(k) calculator focuses specifically on the workplace plan. The narrower tool is useful for contribution elections, employer match, Roth-versus-Traditional decisions, and 401(k)-specific withdrawals.

For investments held outside a 401(k), the Investment Calculator can model a starting amount, recurring contributions, fees, inflation, and investment returns.

401(k) Withdrawal Calculator

A 401k withdrawal calculator estimates how much of a gross distribution may remain after assumed taxes and, when applicable, an additional early-distribution penalty. The calculator lets you enter federal and state tax assumptions instead of pretending that every withdrawal is taxed at the same rate.

For example, a $20,000 gross withdrawal with a 22% federal tax assumption and 5% state tax assumption would leave an estimated $14,600 before considering any additional penalty. If an additional 10% penalty were also assumed, the simplified net estimate would fall to $12,600.

Actual tax treatment can differ significantly. Traditional 401(k) distributions are generally taxable, but withholding is not necessarily equal to final tax liability. Roth distributions, rollovers, hardship distributions, age-based exceptions, disability, separation-from-service rules, and other circumstances can change the result.

401(k) Early Withdrawal Calculator

The Withdrawal mode can also act as a simple 401k early withdrawal calculator by turning on the optional 10% penalty assumption. This is a rough planning estimate only. The additional tax does not apply in every situation, and a distribution that avoids the additional penalty may still be subject to ordinary income tax.

For tax-sensitive decisions, verify the applicable IRS rules and consider professional tax advice rather than relying only on a quick calculator.

Taxes on 401(k) Withdrawal Calculator

The phrase taxes on 401k withdrawal calculator often implies that one fixed percentage can determine the tax. In reality, Traditional 401(k) withdrawals can affect taxable income and interact with tax brackets, deductions, credits, state taxes, and other income.

This calculator therefore asks you to enter tax-rate assumptions. It shows the arithmetic clearly without claiming to calculate an exact tax return.

401(k) Loan Calculator

A 401k loan calculator estimates the scheduled payment needed to repay a loan over a chosen term and interest rate. Unlike a withdrawal, a plan loan is intended to be repaid to the participant’s account according to the plan’s terms.

The calculator uses the standard amortizing-loan payment formula. Enter the loan amount, stated interest rate, repayment term, and payroll frequency. The result shows the payment per period, total scheduled repayments, and total interest paid.

Whether a plan permits loans, the maximum available amount, the permitted repayment period, payroll-deduction rules, interest rate, and consequences of leaving the employer depend on the plan and federal rules. Treat the result as payment math rather than confirmation that a particular loan is allowed.

401(k) Contributions From Each Paycheck

Many employees think about their 401(k) contribution as a payroll percentage rather than an annual amount. If you contribute 10% of an $80,000 salary, the annual amount is $8,000 before applying any contribution limit. With 26 biweekly paychecks, that averages about $307.69 per paycheck.

Your actual payroll amount can differ when compensation varies because of bonuses, overtime, commissions, unpaid leave, or changes in salary. If you want to compare gross pay and deductions more broadly, see our Paycheck Calculator.

How Much Should I Have in My 401(k)?

The search how much should I have in my 401k does not have one mathematically correct answer. Two people of the same age can reasonably have very different balances because they have different salaries, pensions, retirement ages, Social Security expectations, housing costs, family obligations, and desired retirement spending.

A better approach is goal-based. Estimate the retirement income you want, identify other expected income, calculate the investment balance needed to fill the gap, and work backward to a contribution rate. The growth mode can then test whether your current savings path approaches that goal.

401(k) Estimator Assumptions

Any 401k estimator depends on assumptions. The most important inputs are starting balance, contribution amount, employer contributions, time horizon, investment return, and fees. Small changes can create large differences after several decades.

A higher assumed return produces a larger projection, but it does not make that return more likely. Test several return rates rather than relying on one optimistic number. For example, comparing 5%, 7%, and 9% can show how sensitive the result is to market performance.

401(k) Fees and Long-Term Growth

Investment fees reduce the return that stays in the account. A portfolio earning 7% before 0.5% annual fees has a simplified net return of 6.5% before considering other costs. Over a long time horizon, even a modest difference in annual fees can materially change the projected balance.

401(k) and Inflation

A future account balance is normally shown in future dollars. Inflation reduces what those dollars can buy. A large-looking retirement balance several decades from now may have substantially less purchasing power than the same nominal amount has today.

For broader retirement planning, it can be useful to calculate both nominal future value and an inflation-adjusted value. The 401(k) tool on this page focuses on the account itself, while the site’s full retirement calculator includes additional retirement-planning inputs.

401(k) Calculator Examples

Example 1: 10% Contribution With Employer Match

An employee earns $80,000 and contributes 10%, or $8,000. The employer matches 50% of employee contributions up to 6% of salary. Six percent of salary is $4,800, and 50% of that is a $2,400 employer match. The account receives $10,400 that year before investment growth.

Example 2: Increasing the Contribution Rate

At an $80,000 salary, increasing a contribution from 5% to 10% raises the annual employee deposit from $4,000 to $8,000. Over 30 years, the difference is much larger than the extra $120,000 of direct contributions because the additional deposits also have time to compound.

Example 3: Traditional vs Roth

Assume two accounts reach the same $1,000,000 pre-tax balance. If a simplified 20% retirement tax rate is applied to the Traditional account, its after-tax value is $800,000. A qualified Roth balance may be available tax-free. This example ignores the current tax savings from using the Traditional account, so it should not be interpreted as proving that Roth is always better.

Example 4: Retirement Income

A $750,000 401(k) multiplied by a 4% withdrawal assumption produces $30,000 in the first year, or $2,500 per month before tax. Adding Social Security or pension income would increase total retirement cash flow.

Common 401(k) Calculator Mistakes

• Entering the employer match as though it applies to the entire salary.
• Ignoring the salary percentage at which employer matching stops.
• Assuming a high investment return is guaranteed.
• Ignoring investment fees.
• Using the same tax treatment for Traditional and Roth 401(k) balances.
• Assuming current IRS contribution limits will never change.
• Treating a withdrawal-rate estimate as guaranteed lifetime income.
• Assuming withholding on a distribution equals the final tax owed.
• Ignoring plan-specific vesting, loan, distribution, or matching rules.

401(k) Calculator vs Financial Calculator

A general financial calculator can solve present value, future value, interest-rate, and payment problems. A 401(k) calculator adds retirement-plan details such as salary-based contributions, employer matching, contribution limits, Roth tax treatment, retirement withdrawals, and plan loans.

That makes this tool more useful for workplace retirement questions than a generic financial calculator online, even though many of the underlying formulas are standard time-value-of-money calculations.

Retirement Planning Tools That Work Together

No single retirement planning tool answers every question. A 401(k) calculator is best for the workplace account. An investment calculator helps with taxable investing and other assets. A retirement calculator combines multiple income sources. A paycheck calculator helps determine how contribution changes may affect the amount left in each pay period.

For official information about contribution limits and federal 401(k) rules, see the IRS 401(k) contribution limits page.

401(k) Calculator Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

A 401(k) can be easier to understand when its moving parts are separated. Your contributions determine how much of your pay goes into the account, the employer match can add additional savings, investment returns determine how the balance grows, fees reduce that growth, and tax treatment affects how much of the account may ultimately be spendable.

Use the 401(k) Calculator to test multiple scenarios rather than relying on a single projection. Compare contribution rates, employer matching formulas, Traditional and Roth treatment, retirement withdrawal assumptions, and loan payments. The calculations can help organize the numbers, while the actual decisions should account for your employer’s plan rules, current IRS guidance, taxes, investment risk, and your broader retirement plan.