401(k) Calculator
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is 401(k) growth calculated?
401(k) growth is calculated using compound interest applied to your contributions and employer match. The calculator multiplies your annual contribution plus match by your expected annual return rate, then compounds that balance each year until retirement. Higher contribution rates and longer time horizons produce exponentially larger results because of compounding.
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
For 2026, the IRS limit on employee 401(k) contributions is $24,500 for workers under 50. Workers 50 and older can add an $8,000 catch-up, bringing their total to $32,500. Workers aged 60 to 63 get a larger $11,250 catch-up under SECURE 2.0, for a total of $35,750. Employer match does not count toward these employee limits, but the combined employee plus employer total is capped at $72,000.
Does employer match count toward the contribution limit?
No. Employer match is separate from the employee contribution limit. The employee limit ($24,500 in 2026 under age 50) only covers your own payroll contributions. Employer match is on top of that. The combined employee plus employer plus profit-sharing total is capped separately at $72,000 for 2026.
Should I contribute to a traditional or Roth 401(k)?
Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your taxable income now but are taxed at withdrawal. Roth 401(k) contributions are made with after-tax dollars but grow and withdraw tax-free. The right choice depends on whether you expect your tax rate to be higher or lower in retirement. Younger workers in lower tax brackets often benefit more from Roth; higher earners closer to retirement often prefer traditional.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k) each year?
At minimum, contribute enough to capture the full employer match (usually 3 to 6% of salary), because that is free money. A common target is 10 to 15% of gross salary including the match. Use the calculator to see how your contribution rate translates into projected retirement balance, and increase the rate by 1% each year you get a raise.
How to Use This 401(k) Calculator
This free 401(k) calculator helps you estimate how much you can accumulate for retirement based on your income, contributions, employer match, and expected investment returns. It’s a great tool for visualizing how consistent saving and compounding can grow your retirement nest egg over time.
To get started, enter your current age and retirement age, annual income and the rate you expect it to grow, your starting balance, and your contribution, which you can give either as a percentage of salary or as a flat dollar amount. Add your employer match details: the match rate (100% means dollar for dollar) and the limit on it as a percentage of salary. Then set your expected rate of return, any annual account fees, and an inflation rate, which drives the In Today’s Dollars figure. Leave “Cap contributions at IRS limits” checked to have the projection respect the annual deferral limit, including the catch-up amounts once you reach 50.
Once you click “Calculate,” the tool provides a full summary including:
- Projected 401(k) Balance
- Your Contributions
- Employer Match
- Investment Growth
- In Today’s Dollars, your projected balance restated in current purchasing power
In this example, starting at age 21 with a $50,000 balance, contributing 10% of a $100,000 salary that grows 2% a year, receiving a dollar-for-dollar employer match capped at 3% of salary, and earning 7% a year against the default 0.5% account fee, you could retire at 65 with about $4.86 million, roughly $3.91 million of which is investment growth. Drop the fee to zero and the same projection ends near $5.63 million, which is a useful reminder of what half a percent a year costs over a career.
Below the results, you’ll see a dynamic chart breaking down the total value of your 401(k) over time. It plots your Projected Balance against Total Invested (You + Employer) and your Balance in Today’s Dollars, so you can see both the impact of compound returns and what inflation does to the headline number. A year-by-year table below the chart breaks out salary, contributions, match, and balance for every year.
Whether you’re just starting out or fine-tuning your retirement strategy, this 401(k) calculator gives you a powerful view of your financial future.
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