ToolFeather
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401(k) Calculator

Project what your 401(k) could be worth at retirement — from your current balance, contributions, employer match and expected return.

Quick presets

401(k) Calculator

$
$ / year
% of salary
% of salary
e.g. a 50% match on the first 6% of pay = 3%.
% a year
% a year
Limits & inflation 2026 IRS rules
% a year
Balance at retirement
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–
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Where it comes from
Year-1 contribution vs 2026 limit –
Projected balance
Insights
    2026 401(k) limits
    • $24,500employee deferral (402(g))
    • +$8,000catch-up at age 50+
    • +$11,250super catch-up, ages 60–63 (instead of $8,000)
    • $72,000total employee + employer (415(c))
    • $150,000FICA wages above which catch-ups must be Roth

    IRS Notice 2025-67 · limits are indexed most years

    Educational estimate, not financial or tax advice. Returns are never guaranteed. Everything is calculated in your browser.

    Runs in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded or stored.

    ToolFeather · Employer match
    Scratchpad auto-saved
    Stored in this browser (localStorage)
    Step-by-step~40s read

    How it works — in four simple steps

    No signup and nothing to install — it all runs in your browser.

    1

    Enter your balance and salary

    Add your current 401(k) balance and your annual salary.

    2

    Set your contributions

    Enter what you contribute as a percent of salary, plus any employer match.

    3

    Add years and return

    Set the years until retirement, an expected annual return, and an optional salary increase.

    4

    Calculate

    See your projected balance and, if you like, the full year-by-year breakdown.

    Pro tip

    Always contribute at least enough to get the full employer match — it's an instant, guaranteed return on that money.

    Features

    Projects your 401(k) to retirement

    Combine your current balance, contributions and employer match, then grow it at your expected return to see your likely balance on retirement day.

    Employer match counted

    The match is often free money — this shows exactly how much your employer adds over the years, on top of your own contributions.

    See where the money comes from

    The result separates your contributions, employer contributions and pure investment growth, so you can see how compounding does the heavy lifting.

    Year-by-year breakdown

    Open a year-by-year table to watch the balance build, and see how salary increases lift your contributions over time.

    About the 401(k) Calculator

    A 401(k) is a tax-advantaged retirement account offered through your employer (private-sector employers). Money you contribute is invested and compounds over decades, and many employers add a matching contribution — effectively free money toward your retirement.

    This calculator projects your balance at retirement by growing your current balance at your expected annual return and adding your contributions and the employer match each year, with your salary (and therefore your contributions) rising by the increase you set. The result splits out how much came from you, from your employer, and from investment growth — which, over a long horizon, is usually the largest piece.

    Returns are assumptions, not guarantees, and markets fluctuate — treat the figure as a planning estimate. It runs entirely in your browser, so none of your numbers are uploaded.

    Examples

    $25,000 balance · $70,000 salary · 8% you + 4% match · 7% return · 30 years → a projected balance well into the seven figures, most of it investment growth.

    Frequently asked questions

    5 answers
    How is the 401(k) balance projected?
    Each year the tool grows your existing balance by your expected return, then adds your contribution and the employer match; your salary rises by the increase you set, so contributions grow too. It repeats this for every year until retirement.
    Does it include the employer match?
    Yes. Enter the match as a percent of salary and it's added every year, then shown separately in the results so you can see how much your employer contributes.
    Are the returns guaranteed?
    No. The return is an assumption you choose; real markets rise and fall. Use a conservative figure and treat the result as an estimate, not a promise.
    Does it account for taxes and fees?
    No — it projects the gross balance. A traditional 401(k) is taxed on withdrawal, and fund fees reduce returns, so your spendable amount will differ. This is an educational estimate, not financial advice.
    What's the 2026 contribution limit?
    For 2026 (IRS Notice 2025-67) the employee contribution limit is $24,500, with an $8,000 catch-up from age 50 and a larger $11,250 catch-up at ages 60–63. Total employee plus employer additions are capped at $72,000. Tick 'Cap my contributions' and the tool applies these limits for you.