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401(k) Calculator 2026
401(k) balance at retirement with your contribution, employer match, raises and 2026 IRS limits.
Calculated in your browser – nothing you enter is sent or stored.
This 401(k) calculator projects your balance at retirement from your contribution rate, your employer match, expected raises and investment return. It applies the 2026 IRS contribution limits, including catch-up contributions from age 50, shows how much free money the match adds, and estimates this year's tax savings from a traditional 401(k).
How to Use the 401(k) Calculator
- Enter your age, planned retirement age, salary and current 401(k) balance.
- Enter the percentage of pay you contribute.
- Enter your employer match – for example "50% up to 6% of pay" – from your plan's summary.
- Adjust raises, return and inflation if you like.
2026 401(k) Limits
| Limit | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Employee contribution (401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, TSP) | $24,500 |
| Catch-up contribution, age 50 and older | +$8,000 (total $32,500) |
| Higher catch-up, ages 60–63 | +$11,250 (total $35,750) |
| Total of employee + employer contributions | $72,000 (plus catch-up) |
Starting in 2026, if you earned more than $150,000 in FICA wages the year before, your catch-up contributions must go into the Roth side of the plan.
How the Employer Match Works
A common match is 50% of what you put in, up to 6% of your pay. On a $75,000 salary, contributing 6% ($4,500) earns a $2,250 match. Contributing less than 6% leaves part of that free money on the table; contributing more doesn't increase the match but still grows your savings.
Example: Starting at 30
A 30-year-old earning $75,000 with $25,000 already saved contributes 10% of pay ($7,500 this year). The employer adds $2,250. With 3% raises and a 7% return, the account reaches about $2.77 million at 67 – about $1.11 million in today's dollars. Of that, $496,307 is the employee's own contributions, $148,892 is the match and about $2.1 million is investment growth. In the 22% bracket, this year's $7,500 contribution also lowers federal income tax by about $1,650.
Traditional vs Roth 401(k)
- Traditional: contributions come out of your pay before income tax, lowering your tax now. Withdrawals in retirement are taxed as income.
- Roth: contributions are made after tax, but qualified withdrawals – including all the growth – are tax-free.
If you expect a higher tax rate in retirement, Roth often wins; if lower, traditional. Many people split between the two. Withdrawals before 59½ usually cost a 10% penalty plus tax, with some exceptions.
See how a 401(k) fits your whole plan with the retirement calculator, or add a Roth IRA on top.
Sources
- IRS – 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500
- IRS – 401(k) plan overview
- U.S. Department of Labor – What you should know about your retirement plan
Last reviewed: October 2026 by the ShrinkBee team. Results are estimates for planning and education, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice.
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