401(k) Calculator
Free 401(k) calculator: your balance at retirement with employer match, salary raises and the 2026 IRS limits, and how much match you leave on the table.
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What it does
It projects a 401(k) year by year: your contributions as a share of a salary that grows, your employer's match, the IRS limits for your age, and the investment return. It shows the balance at retirement in future and in today's dollars, how much came from you, from your employer and from growth, and how much more you would have by contributing enough to get the full match.
How to use it
- Type your salary, age, retirement age and current 401(k) balance.
- Add your contribution and your employer's match as your plan describes it, for example 50% up to 6% of salary.
- Read the balance at retirement, where it came from, and the note on any match you are leaving on the table.
The arithmetic runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere and nothing is stored, so you can use these with real numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How does an employer match work?
"50% up to 6%" means your employer adds 50 cents for every dollar you put in, on contributions up to 6% of your salary. On a $75,000 salary, contributing 6% ($4,500) brings $2,250 from your employer; contributing 3% brings only $1,125. Contributing at least up to the match is the highest guaranteed return available.
What are the 401(k) limits for 2026?
You can defer up to $24,500. From age 50 you can add a catch-up of $8,000, and from 60 to 63 a larger catch-up of $11,250 instead. Your contributions plus your employer's cannot exceed $72,000, not counting catch-up.
Traditional or Roth 401(k)?
The balance grows the same way in both; the difference is when you pay tax. Traditional contributions lower your tax today and withdrawals are taxed; Roth contributions are taxed today and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. The calculator shows the balance before any tax on withdrawals.
Why are the limits kept in 2026 dollars?
The IRS raises them with inflation most years, so a fixed limit in today's dollars is the closest estimate of a limit that keeps pace with prices. If your salary grows faster than inflation, you may reach the limit later in your career.
Wikipedia — 401(k)
Wikipedia — SECURE 2.0 Act
Wikipedia — Defined contribution plan