Free · 2026 IRS limits · Employer match
401(k) calculator
Project your 401(k) balance at a chosen retirement age. Model an employer match, the verified 2026 IRS limits ($24,500 + $8K catch-up at 50, $11.25K super catch-up at 60–63), and an assumed growth rate. Free, no sign-up.
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2026 401(k) rules snapshot · As they actually stand
Employee elective deferral
$24,500 base · +$8,000 catch-up at 50+ · +$11,250 super-catch-up at 60–63 (SECURE 2.0 §109). (IRS Notice 2025-67.)
Combined employee + employer limit
$72,000 ($80,000 with the regular catch-up). The "mega backdoor Roth" depends on whether the plan document permits after-tax contributions above the employee deferral limit.
Roth catch-up mandate hit pause
Catch-up tax-source requirements and implementation timing depend on current IRS guidance and plan administration. Check the current notice and payroll instructions before assuming that a catch-up must be Roth or pre-tax.
Employer match math
Match formulas vary by plan and year. Review your Summary Plan Description for the eligible percentage, vesting and contribution deadline, then model the employer dollars separately from your own return assumption.
Quick answer · 4 most-asked 401(k) scenarios
$0 start, $500/mo + 50% match (3% salary cap) at 25
$60K salary, match adds ~$150/mo → $650/mo total. At a constant 8% nominal rate with month-end deposits for 40 years → about $2.27M at 65.
$50K balance, $1,500/mo + match at 35
$100K salary, 100% match to 4% → about $1,833/mo total. At a constant 8% nominal rate with month-end deposits for 30 years → about $3.28M at 65.
Max contribution from 30 ($2,041/mo + match)
$24.5K + an illustrative employer $500/mo → $2,541/mo. At a constant 8% nominal rate with month-end deposits for 35 years → about $5.83M. Catch-up at 50 adds more if eligible.
Late starter: $0 at 50, max ($32.5K + match)
$2,708/mo + match. At a constant 7% nominal rate with month-end deposits for 17 years → $1.05M at 67. An eligible super catch-up changes the modeled contribution amount.
Key 401(k) terms (used throughout this page)
- 401(k) plan
- Employer-sponsored retirement plan under IRC §401(k). Pre-tax contributions generally defer income tax; eligible distributions and Roth sources follow different tax rules.
- Employer match
- An employer contribution based on your plan formula. Common examples include 50% up to 6% of pay or dollar-for-dollar up to 4-5%; verify your own plan, vesting and withdrawal rules before deciding.
- Vesting
- How much of employer contributions you own. A plan may use immediate, graded or cliff vesting; the Summary Plan Description controls. Your own elective deferrals are generally fully vested.
- Roth 401(k)
- After-tax 401(k) source. Qualified distributions may be tax-free when the applicable age, five-year and other requirements are met; it may fit when tax diversification is valuable.
- Catch-up contribution
- Extra contribution at age 50+: $8,000 in 2026. Super catch-up at 60-63 under SECURE Act 2.0: $11,250.
- RMD
- Required Minimum Distribution. Traditional 401(k) requirements depend on applicable age, birth year and plan status; current law generally exempts the original owner of a Roth 401(k) from lifetime RMDs. Check current IRS rules.
2026 IRS 401(k) contribution limits
| Age | Employee limit | Catch-up | Total employee | Combined w/ employer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | $24,500 | — | $24,500 | $72,000 |
| 50-59 / 64+ | $24,500 | $8,000 | $32,500 | $80,000 |
| 60-63 (super) | $24,500 | $11,250 | $35,750 | $83,250 |
The ages 60–63 super catch-up is an additional contribution opportunity for eligible participants. Limits apply to combined Traditional + Roth 401(k) contributions, not each separately; check the current IRS notice and plan rules.
How to use this 401(k) calculator
- Current balance. Sum all your 401(k) accounts (current + rolled over). Include Roth 401(k) if relevant.
- Monthly contribution. Your monthly contribution + dollar value of employer match. Both compound.
- Annual return. Enter a nominal return assumption and test lower, central and higher cases. Add an explicit inflation assumption for purchasing-power comparisons; historical returns do not guarantee future results.
- Years to retirement. Enter your target retirement age minus your current age. Social Security claiming age and retirement date are separate assumptions.
- Read the result. Compare the projected balance with your spending target under several withdrawal, inflation, fee and tax assumptions. A 25× spending comparison is only a starting scenario, not a safety determination.
Employer match: review the plan contribution
An employer match is an immediate contribution on eligible dollars under your plan formula. Its value depends on vesting, taxes, fees, investment performance and when you can withdraw the money. The two most common structures are:
- 50% match up to 6% of salary: Contribute 6% of pay, employer adds 3%. Total: 9%.
- 100% match up to 4% of salary (dollar-for-dollar): Contribute 4%, employer adds 4%. Total: 8%.
- Tiered match (less common): 100% of first 3% + 50% of next 2%. Max employer = 4% on a 5% employee contribution.
Illustrative example: $60K salary, 50% match to 6%. Contribute 6% ($3,600/yr) and the employer adds $1,800/yr. If those employer dollars were invested monthly at a constant 8% annual assumption for 40 years, they would grow to about $530,000; actual returns, vesting and plan fees vary. Your own contributions over 40 years total $144,000.
Roth 401(k) vs Traditional 401(k)
Same calculator, different tax timing:
- Traditional 401(k): Contributions generally defer income tax. In this illustration, a $24,500 contribution at a 24% marginal federal rate would represent $5,880 of tax before considering deductions, payroll, state and other rules; withdrawals are generally taxable under applicable rules.
- Roth 401(k): Contributions are made after tax. In the same illustration, $5,880 is the assumed current federal tax on $24,500 at 24%; a distribution can be tax-free only if it is qualified under the applicable age, five-year and other requirements.
- Mathematically: With equal contribution bases, returns, fees and timing, equal tax rates can produce equivalent after-tax arithmetic. Different rates may favor one tax treatment in the model, while plan terms and contribution limits can change the result.
- Practical: A mix can provide tax diversification, but the suitable split depends on current and expected tax treatment, plan costs, liquidity, eligibility and goals.
Vesting schedules
Your elective deferrals are generally fully vested. Employer contributions may be subject to a plan vesting schedule. For certain contributions, ERISA limits a graded schedule to six years and a cliff schedule to three years, but the plan document controls:
- Immediate: 100% vested from the date specified by the plan.
- Illustrative graded schedule: 25% per year over four years would leave 50% vested after two years; your plan may use another schedule.
- Illustrative cliff schedule: 0% until the stated milestone, then 100%; leaving before that milestone can forfeit unvested employer contributions.
When evaluating job switches, calculate forfeited unvested match as part of the total comp delta.
Early withdrawal tax illustration (before 59½)
A 401(k) distribution before 59½ may incur ordinary income tax and an additional 10% tax unless an exception applies. Illustrative $50,000 distribution at a 24% federal marginal assumption:
- Federal income tax (24%): $12,000
- Illustrative additional 10% tax: $5,000
- State income tax (varies, ~5%): $2,500
- Net to you: ~$30,500 of $50,000 = 39% loss
Possible exceptions: the Internal Revenue Code lists specific exceptions, which can include certain substantially equal periodic payments, disability, death, a qualified domestic relations order and qualifying separation from service. Hardship rules do not automatically remove every tax or additional tax; check the current IRS guidance and plan administrator.
Who this 401(k) calculator is for
20s starter
Consider an available match, then test a sustainable contribution amount. A $60K salary plus match at a constant 8% nominal assumption for 42 years can produce a multi-million-dollar arithmetic scenario; it is not a target or forecast.
30s catching up
Test the contribution amount your budget can sustain. A $100K salary with a 4% match and a constant 8% nominal assumption over 32 years is an arithmetic scenario; plan terms, fees, taxes and returns change the result.
40s late start
Model the applicable contribution and catch-up limits with your plan's match. A longer contribution horizon can change the arithmetic result; test the retirement age, rate, fees and taxes rather than assuming a fixed dollar gain.
50s+ super catch-up
$35.75K (ages 60–63) plus any eligible match is one possible contribution scenario. The result over 7–10 years depends on the return, timing, fees, taxes, plan terms and eligibility.
What happens to your 401(k) when you leave your job
Four options after separation:
- Leave it with the old plan: Simplest. Funds stay invested. Limited control if plan has high fees.
- Roll into new employer's plan: Consolidates accounts. Subject to new plan's fund menu and fees.
- Roll into a Traditional IRA: Most flexibility. Choose any investments. No tax consequences for direct rollover. Watch the 60-day rule on indirect rollovers.
- Take a distribution: May create income tax, an additional tax and lost tax-advantaged growth. Compare the applicable rules and your cash need before choosing this option.
Compare the actual fees, investment menu, creditor protection, tax treatment and withdrawal options before choosing between the old plan, a new plan or an IRA.
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Methodology & sources
- Compound growth formula: standard future-value-of-annuity (P(1+r/n)^(nt) + PMT × [((1+r/n)^(nt)−1)/(r/n)])
- 2026 IRS contribution limits: IRS Notice 2025-67 (verify the latest notice before using a future-year limit)
- SECURE Act 2.0 provisions (super catch-up, RMD age 73, Roth 401(k) RMD elimination): HR 2954 (2022)
- Vesting limits: ERISA §203 (29 USC §1053) — 6-year graded / 3-year cliff maximum
- Early withdrawal additional tax & exceptions: IRS early-distribution guidance
- Historical return context (not a forecast): Robert Shiller CAPE dataset and NYU Stern (Damodaran) historical returns
- Vesting practices & match structures: Vanguard How America Saves annual report
401(k) calculator FAQ
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
For 2026, the IRS notice lists a $24,500 employee 401(k) deferral limit. Eligible participants age 50+ can add an $8,000 catch-up, while ages 60-63 may use the $11,250 catch-up instead, subject to plan and eligibility rules. The annual additions limit is $72,000 before the applicable catch-up. Check the current IRS notice and plan document before contributing.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
If your plan offers a match, consider contributing enough to receive it after checking vesting, tax and liquidity rules. Then choose a sustainable contribution rate across retirement accounts and test several return assumptions; the calculator's projections are not guarantees.
Should I choose traditional or Roth 401(k)?
Traditional 401(k) contributions generally defer income tax, while Roth 401(k) contributions are taxed before contribution and qualified distributions may be tax-free. Either may fit depending on current and future tax assumptions, plan fees, employer contributions, eligibility, liquidity and withdrawal rules; model more than one scenario and check the plan document.
What happens to my 401(k) if I leave my job?
Depending on the plans and your circumstances, you may leave the balance in the old plan, move it to a new employer plan, make a direct rollover to an IRA, or take a distribution. A direct rollover can preserve tax-deferred treatment; a cash distribution may create income tax, an additional tax and lost tax-advantaged space. Compare fees, investments, creditor rules and plan features before deciding.
Can I withdraw from my 401(k) before age 59½?
A distribution before age 59½ may be subject to ordinary income tax and an additional 10% tax, unless an exception applies. The exception and plan rules are specific: examples can include certain substantially equal periodic payments, disability, death, a qualified domestic relations order and qualifying separation from service. Hardship distributions do not automatically remove every tax or additional tax; check current IRS guidance and the plan administrator.
What is 401(k) vesting?
Vesting determines how much of an employer contribution you keep if you leave. A plan may use immediate, graded or cliff vesting, and the schedule can differ by contribution source. Your own elective deferrals are generally fully vested; read the Summary Plan Description for the employer contribution schedule.
Is this 401(k) calculator free?
Yes — completely free, no sign-up, no email required. This page shows the verified 2026 IRS limit snapshot and links to the source; limits and SECURE Act implementation details can change, so check the current IRS notice and your plan document. Works on mobile and desktop.
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