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Retirement calculator

Projected nest egg at retirement, an inflation-adjusted target using the 4% rule, and whether your current savings plan is on track.

Age and timeline
years
years
years

Plan for at least 25 to 30 years in retirement.

Savings
$

401(k), IRA and other retirement accounts.

$a month
Retirement goals
$a year

In today's dollars. Typically 70 to 80% of pre-retirement income.

$a year

In today's dollars. Check ssa.gov for your own estimate.

Assumptions
% a year
% a year
% a year

Grows your income goal and Social Security estimate to what they will cost at retirement.

Your retirement projection

Projected nest egg at retirement

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Enter your numbers

Enter your numbers to see your projection.

0% of your inflation-adjusted target

  • Starting savings
  • Contributions
  • Investment growth
Years to retirement
-
Years in retirement
-
Target nest egg4% rule, inflation-adjusted
-
Surplus or shortfall
-
Annual withdrawal, 4% rule
-
Social Securityinflation-adjusted
-
Total annual income at retirement
-
Income goalinflation-adjusted
-

Projected growth versus your target

  • Projected savings
  • Target, inflation-adjusted

How it works

A retirement calculator projects your savings forward using your current balance and monthly contributions, then compares that projection to a target based on the 4% rule: the income you want, minus Social Security, both grown to what they will cost in the future by inflation, divided by 4%.

  1. Enter your timeline and savings

    Your age, when you plan to retire, and what you have saved and contribute now.

  2. Set your income goal

    What you want to live on each year, in today's dollars, and your Social Security estimate.

  3. Check your assumptions

    Expected returns before and during retirement, and inflation.

The 4% rule and inflation

A common rule of thumb is that you can withdraw 4% of your nest egg each year without running out of money over a roughly 30-year retirement. In today's dollars, if you need $60,000 a year and expect $20,000 from Social Security, you need your portfolio to cover the remaining $40,000, so target nest egg equals $40,000 divided by 4%, which is $1,000,000.

Target nest egg = (Income goal − Social Security) × 25

Prices rise between now and your retirement, so a dollar you plan to spend then buys less than a dollar today. This calculator grows your income goal and Social Security estimate by your inflation rate over the years until retirement before applying the 4% rule, so the target reflects the actual future cost of living rather than today's prices. A target that only used today's dollars would understate what you really need.

Before you rely on the projection

This is a single, deterministic projection, not a probability of success across many market scenarios. Healthcare costs often rise faster than general inflation and can be the biggest wildcard in retirement. Social Security benefits may change before you claim them, and the amount you enter should come from your own ssa.gov estimate rather than a guess.

Frequently asked questions

How much do I need to retire?

A common approach is the 4% rule: target nest egg equals your income goal minus Social Security, times 25. In today's dollars, needing $60,000 a year with $20,000 from Social Security means covering $40,000 from savings, or about $1,000,000. This calculator then grows that need by inflation to your actual retirement year, since prices will be higher by then.

Why does the calculator adjust my income goal for inflation?

Because your projected nest egg is expressed in future, nominal dollars, comparing it to a target based on today's cost of living would understate how much you actually need. The calculator grows your desired income and Social Security estimate by your inflation rate over the years until retirement, then applies the 4% rule, so both sides of the comparison are in the same future dollars.

What Social Security estimate should I use?

Use your own estimate from a My Social Security account at ssa.gov rather than a guess. Benefits are based on your 35 highest-earning years, reduced if you claim before full retirement age, 67 for those born in 1960 or later, or increased by up to 8% a year if you delay past 67 up to age 70.

What is the difference between pre-retirement and post-retirement return?

Before retirement, most investors hold a more growth-focused, equity-heavy portfolio aiming for 7 to 9% returns. During retirement, a more conservative mix with more bonds, often 4 to 6%, is common to reduce the risk of a market downturn early in retirement. The calculator uses your two separate rate inputs for these phases.

How long should I plan for retirement to last?

Plan for at least 25 to 30 years. If you retire at 65, planning to age 90 or 95 is conservative but realistic, since there is roughly a 50% chance that at least one spouse in a couple who reaches 65 lives to 90. Underestimating how long retirement lasts is one of the biggest planning risks.