401(k) Calculator
Project your 401(k) at retirement with raises, any employer match formula and the 2026 IRS limits, including the new age 60 to 63 super catch-up.
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About this toolWhat is the 401(k) Calculator?
This 401(k) calculator projects your plan balance from today to the age you stop working. Enter your salary, the raise you expect each year, the percentage of pay you defer, your employer's match formula and an expected return, and it shows the final balance, how much of it came from you, from your employer and from investment growth, plus the same figure at today's prices.
The 2026 IRS limits are built in and editable: a $24,500 elective deferral limit, an $8,000 catch-up from age 50 and the larger $11,250 catch-up for ages 60 through 63 that SECURE 2.0 introduced. When your percentage would push you past a limit, the projection caps the deferral and recalculates the match on what you actually put in, the way payroll does.
Every number is worked out in your browser. The chart splits the balance into your money, the match and growth, and the table shows the year, your age, salary and each source of money so you can check any single year by hand.
- Built-in 2026 IRS limits with the year shown and every value editable
- Age 50 catch-up and the age 60 to 63 super catch-up applied by age
- Any tiered employer match, plus the 415(c) and compensation caps
- Stacked chart and year-by-year table of your money, match and growth
- Inflation-adjusted balance, copyable summary and shareable link
How to use the 401(k) Calculator
- Enter your current age, the age you plan to retire, your salary and the raise you expect each year.
- Enter your current 401(k) balance and the percentage of pay you contribute.
- Choose your employer's match from the list, or pick Custom and type the tiers from your plan document.
- Set an expected annual return and an inflation rate for the today's-money figure.
- Leave IRS limits on to cap deferrals at the 2026 values, or open Edit limits to change them or project them upward each year.
- Switch between the chart and the year-by-year table, then use Copy or Share to keep the scenario.
Worked examples
Mid-career saver with a 50% to 6% match
Input
Age 30 to 65, $75,000 salary, 3% raises, $25,000 balance, 10% deferral, 50% of the first 6%, 7% return
Output
$2,244,190 at 65 ($945,637 at today's prices at 2.5% inflation); you put in $453,466, the employer $136,040, growth $1,629,685
Growth ends up about three times the money paid in, because the early contributions compound for more than 30 years. Inflation is what turns $2.2 million into roughly $946,000 of today's spending power.
Leaving the match on the table
Input
Same inputs, but deferring 4% instead of 6%
Output
$1,179,503 at 65 against $1,635,798 at a 6% deferral
At 4% the employer adds only 2% of pay instead of 3%. The missing match plus the lower deferral, compounded for 35 years, costs over $450,000 of final balance.
Catch-up years from 55
Input
Age 55 to 65, $180,000 salary, 25% deferral, limits on
Output
Deferral capped at $32,500 at ages 56 to 59 and 64 to 65, and $35,750 at ages 60 to 63
The super catch-up adds $3,250 a year for four years compared with the ordinary catch-up. At this salary those catch-ups would also have to be Roth contributions from 2026.
Background and insight
The limits come from the IRS announcement of 13 November 2025 (IR-2025-111) and Notice 2025-67. For 2026 the 402(g) deferral limit is $24,500, the age 50+ catch-up is $8,000, the age 60 to 63 catch-up is $11,250, the 415(c) cap on total employee plus employer additions is $72,000 and the compensation that can be counted for employer contributions is $360,000. Catch-up eligibility depends on the age you reach by 31 December, so the calculator tests the age you turn during each projected year.
Match formulas are written as tiers. "50% up to 6%" means the employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you defer, on the first 6% of pay, so deferring 6% earns a 3% match and deferring 10% still earns 3%. The common safe harbor formula is 100% of the first 3% plus 50% of the next 2%, a 4% match at a 5% deferral. You can type any formula as rate:up-to pairs, such as 100:3,50:2.
From 2026 a second SECURE 2.0 rule applies: if your FICA wages from the previous year were above $150,000, catch-up contributions must be made as Roth (after-tax) money. The dollar amount does not change, so the projection is the same, but the tax treatment is different and the calculator flags it when your salary is above that level.
Common use cases
Checking you collect the full match
See the deferral percentage that maxes out your employer's formula and what the gap costs over a career.
Planning the catch-up years
Model ages 50 to 65 with the higher limits and see how much the 60 to 63 window adds.
Comparing job offers
Run two match formulas and salaries side by side to value the retirement part of a package.
Deciding on a contribution increase
Test 10%, 12% and 15% to see how much each extra percentage point is worth at retirement.
Tips and limitations
- The match shown is before vesting. If you leave before you are vested, some or all of the employer money may be forfeited.
- If you max out early in the year, your contributions stop and so may the match. Ask HR whether the plan does a year-end true-up.
- Limits are held at 2026 values unless you set a yearly increase. Holding them flat is conservative for high earners whose percentage would exceed the cap.
- The return is applied every year without volatility, fees or taxes. Subtract your fund's expense ratio from the expected return for a more honest figure.
- This is a projection under assumptions, not financial advice, and it does not model withdrawals, required minimum distributions or taxes on the way out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
The elective deferral limit is $24,500 for 2026. People who are 50 or older by the end of the year can add an $8,000 catch-up, for $32,500 in total, and people aged 60, 61, 62 or 63 can add $11,250 instead, for $35,750. Employer contributions are counted separately under the $72,000 total additions limit.
How does a 50% match up to 6% work?
Your employer adds half of what you contribute, but only on the first 6% of your pay. On a $75,000 salary, deferring 6% ($4,500) earns a $2,250 match. Deferring 10% still earns $2,250, and deferring 4% earns $1,500.
What is the age 60 to 63 super catch-up?
SECURE 2.0 raised the catch-up for people who turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 during the year. For 2026 it is $11,250 instead of the usual $8,000. At 64 the catch-up returns to the normal age 50+ amount, and the calculator switches back automatically.
Do 401(k) catch-up contributions have to be Roth?
From 2026, yes for higher earners. If your FICA wages from your current employer were above $150,000 in the previous year, any catch-up contributions must go in as Roth. Employees under that threshold can still choose pre-tax catch-ups if the plan allows.
How much should I have in my 401(k) by retirement?
There is no single number. Work out the yearly income you will need, subtract Social Security and any pension, and use a withdrawal rate you are comfortable with to turn that gap into a target. The retirement calculator on this site does that step, and this tool tells you whether your current contribution reaches it.
Is the employer match included in the $24,500 limit?
No. The $24,500 limit covers only your own elective deferrals, pre-tax and Roth combined. Employer matching and profit-sharing money count toward the larger $72,000 annual additions limit together with your regular deferrals.
What return should I assume for a 401(k)?
Use a rate that fits your mix of investments after fees, and test a lower one. A stock-heavy portfolio is often modelled at 6% to 7% nominal, a balanced one lower. Running 5%, 7% and 9% shows how sensitive the result is.
Is there an in-depth guide to the 401(k) Calculator?
Yes. “401(k), Roth IRA and Annuities: The Maths Behind Retirement Accounts” covers the background, how it works, common pitfalls and worked examples. Read the full guide.
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