Retirement Savings Calculator
Project your retirement savings with compound growth, Social Security, inflation adjustment, and the 4% safe withdrawal rule.
Average Retirement Savings by Age (2022 Federal Reserve SCF)
| Age Group | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $49,130 | $18,880 |
| 35–44 | $141,520 | $45,000 |
| 45–54 | $300,000 | $115,000 |
| 55–64 | $537,560 | $185,000 |
| 65–74 | $609,230 | $200,000 |
Source: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances 2022. 33% of US adults have no retirement savings.
2025–2026 Contribution Limits
Key Formulas
FV = PV × (1 + r)ⁿFV = PMT × [((1 + r)ⁿ − 1) / r]Target = Annual Expenses × 25Needed = Income × 70–80%Market Benchmarks
🔒 All calculations happen in your browser — no data is stored or sent
Related Tools
Free Retirement Savings Calculator — Project Your Nest Egg
Are you saving enough for retirement? Our free retirement savings calculator projects your nest egg using compound growth, Social Security benefits, and the 4% safe withdrawal rule. See exactly whether you're on track — or how much more you need to save — with inflation-adjusted projections in today's dollars.
Enter your age, income, current savings, and monthly contribution to get a complete retirement readiness analysis. The calculator shows your projected savings at retirement, sustainable monthly withdrawal income, and compares your target using the widely-used 25× rule. Includes 2025–2026 contribution limits, average savings benchmarks by age from the Federal Reserve, and key market data. All calculations happen in your browser — nothing is stored or sent.
How to use Retirement Savings Calculator
- Enter your current age and planned retirement age — The default retirement age is 67 (full Social Security eligibility for those born 1960+). Adjust based on your personal goal.
- Enter your annual income and current savings — Your gross income is used to calculate the income replacement ratio. Include all retirement accounts (401k, IRA, Roth) in current savings.
- Set your monthly contribution — This is how much you save toward retirement each month. The calculator projects this contribution forward with compound growth.
- Adjust return rate and inflation — The default 7% return reflects the S&P 500 long-term inflation-adjusted average. The 2.5% inflation rate is based on recent Federal Reserve targets.
- Review your retirement readiness — Check whether your projected savings meet the 4% rule target. If there's a shortfall, increase your monthly contribution or extend your retirement age to close the gap.
Features
- Compound Growth Projection — Projects your current savings and monthly contributions forward using the future value of annuity formula with monthly compounding.
- 4% Rule / 25× Analysis — Calculates your target retirement savings using the widely-accepted safe withdrawal rate. Shows whether you're on track, and the exact surplus or shortfall.
- Inflation-Adjusted Values — See your projected savings in today's dollars so you can compare purchasing power accurately.
- Social Security Integration — Factors in your expected Social Security benefit to reduce the savings gap you need to cover from your portfolio.
- Savings Benchmarks — Compare your savings to the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances data by age group (median and average).
- 2025–2026 Contribution Limits — Displays current 401(k), IRA, and SECURE 2.0 super catch-up limits so you can maximize tax-advantaged savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to retire comfortably?
The most common guideline is the 4% rule (or 25× rule): multiply your annual retirement expenses by 25. If you need $60,000/year in retirement, your target is $1.5 million. This assumes a 4% annual withdrawal rate, which historically sustains a portfolio for 30+ years. The average American says they need $1.26 million to retire comfortably (Northwestern Mutual 2024 survey).
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule states you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjust for inflation each year, and your money should last at least 30 years. It's based on the Trinity Study using historical stock/bond returns. Example: $1 million portfolio → $40,000/year or ~$3,333/month. Some financial planners now recommend 3.5% for extra safety.
How much should I save for retirement each month?
Most financial experts recommend saving 15–20% of your gross income for retirement (including employer match). For a $75,000 salary, that's $938–$1,250/month. Starting earlier dramatically reduces the monthly amount needed due to compound growth. Someone starting at 25 needs to save roughly half as much monthly as someone starting at 35 for the same retirement goal.
What is a good rate of return for retirement planning?
The S&P 500 has averaged approximately 10% nominal annual return over its history, or about 7% after inflation. A balanced portfolio (60% stocks / 40% bonds) historically returns about 8% nominal or 5–6% real. Use 7% for a moderate stock-heavy portfolio, or 5–6% for a more conservative estimate.