Home › Calculators › 401(k) calculator

401(k) calculator

Enter your salary, the percentage you contribute, your employer's match formula and an expected return to project your 401(k) balance at retirement. Your own contributions are capped at the IRS limit: $24,500 for 2026, plus a $8,000 catch-up from age 50, or $11,250 at ages 60–63.

Limits: IRS retirement plan contribution limits. The calculator keeps the 2026 limits flat in future years; the IRS raises them for inflation, and 2027 limits had not been announced when this page was reviewed.

Your age now

Retirement age

Annual salary ($)

Salary raise per year (%)

You contribute (% of salary)

Employer matches (% of your contribution)

…up to (% of salary)

Current 401(k) balance ($)

Expected return (%)

Balance at retirement–

Your contributions–

Employer contributions–

Investment growth–

You put in this year–

Employer adds this year–

How the 401(k) projection works

Each month you contribute your percentage of salary (capped at the yearly IRS limit for your age), your employer adds its match, and the balance grows at the expected return. Example match: “50% up to 6%” means your employer adds 50 cents per dollar you put in, on up to 6% of your salary, so a 3% employer contribution if you contribute at least 6%. Results are before taxes and fees, and ignore vesting schedules.

Common questions

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?

$24,500 for employee contributions, plus $8,000 catch-up at age 50 or older, or $11,250 at ages 60–63, per the IRS.

Does the employer match count toward my limit?

No. The $24,500 limit applies to your own contributions; employer contributions fall under a separate, higher total limit.

Should I contribute enough to get the full match?

The match is extra pay you only receive if you contribute, so many people contribute at least enough to get all of it.

Related calculators

Last reviewed October 31, 2026. This calculator gives estimates for education and planning only. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter and the assumptions stated on this page; they are not investment, tax or trading advice, and real results will differ.