401(k) Calculator

It starts with your current balance, then adds your employee contribution and employer match each year. Contributions are spread across 12 monthly deposits, salary can grow each year, and the balance compounds monthly at your expected annual return. The result is an estimate, not a guaranteed retirement value.

Yes. Employee contributions are capped at the 2026 elective deferral limit of $24,500. It also applies the 2026 catch-up limits: $8,000 for workers age 50-59 and 64+, and $11,250 for workers age 60-63.

The match applies only to the part of your contribution that falls inside the employer match limit. If your employer matches 100% up to 6% of pay and you earn $75,000, the maximum match is $4,500. Contributing more than 6% still raises your own savings, but it does not increase the match in that setup.

Use a long-term assumption that matches your asset mix. A stock-heavy portfolio may use 6-8% nominal return for planning, while a bond-heavy portfolio should usually be lower. Actual market returns will vary by year, and a bad sequence near retirement can materially change the ending balance.

No. The projection is pre-tax and nominal. It does not subtract plan fees, investment expense ratios, future income tax on traditional 401(k) withdrawals, or inflation. For a rough purchasing-power estimate, calculate the real rate as (1 + return) / (1 + inflation) - 1. For example, a 7% return with 3% inflation is about 3.9% real.