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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.

401(k) Calculator

For 2025 the employee 401(k) contribution limit is $23,500 (plus a catch-up if you're 50 or older). This calculator doesn't cap your input, so keep your contributions within the current IRS limit.

This is an educational estimate, not financial advice. Real returns vary and are not guaranteed, and it ignores taxes, fees and inflation unless stated. For decisions about your retirement, consult a licensed financial professional. 🔒 All figures are calculated in your browser — nothing is entered anywhere or stored.

🔒 Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or stored. All processing happens in your browser.

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.

How it works — in four simple steps

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

Step 01

Enter your balance and salary

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

Step 02

Set your contributions

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

Step 03

Add years and return

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

Step 04

Calculate

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

How it works

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

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 2025 contribution limit?
The 2025 employee contribution limit is $23,500, with an extra catch-up if you're 50 or older. The tool doesn't enforce the limit, so keep your input within it.