Project your 401k and retirement savings growth with employer match, investment returns, and inflation adjustment. Year-by-year projections included.
This retirement calculator projects your 401k and savings growth over time, accounting for employer match, expected investment returns, and inflation. The results show your projected nominal balance at retirement and its inflation-adjusted purchasing power in today's dollars. The 4% rule estimate shows how much monthly income your savings could support. Starting early has a dramatic impact — 10 more years of compounding can more than double your ending balance. All calculations run in your browser — your data never leaves your device.
Fidelity recommends these savings benchmarks: 1× your salary by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 8× by 60, 10× by 67. For a $75,000 salary, that means $75K by 30, $225K by 40, $450K by 50, $600K by 60, and $750K by retirement. These are targets, not absolutes — use this retirement calculator to model your specific situation.
The 4% rule suggests you can withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio in year one, then adjust for inflation each year, and have a very high probability your money lasts 30 years. A $1,000,000 portfolio supports $40,000/year in withdrawals. Some financial advisors now recommend 3–3.5% for longer retirement horizons.
At minimum, contribute enough to capture your full employer match — otherwise you are leaving free money on the table. Beyond that, aim to contribute 15% of your income (including employer match) toward retirement. The 2026 401k contribution limit is $23,500 (plus $7,500 catch-up if you are 50 or older).
Employer match is free retirement money your employer adds to your 401k when you contribute. A common match is "50% up to 6% of salary" — if you earn $75,000 and contribute 6% ($4,500/year), your employer adds $2,250. Always contribute at least enough to get the full match. It is an immediate 50–100% return on that portion.
Retirement readiness depends on your savings, expected expenses, Social Security benefits, and investment returns. A common benchmark is having 25× your annual expenses saved (based on the 4% rule). If you spend $60,000/year, you need about $1.5 million. Use this retirement calculator to project your balance and see when you might hit your target.