CalcArcade.

401(k) Calculator

Enter your salary, age and how much you contribute, plus your employer’s match. The calculator grows your balance year by year to retirement and shows the result in future dollars and in today’s dollars.

Your numbers

A "50% match" means the employer adds 50 cents for each dollar you put in.

An assumption you can change, not a forecast.

An assumption you can change, not a forecast.

Result

Estimate for information only, not professional advice. Last reviewed .

Tax year 2026. Tax figures last updated October 29, 2026. Sources.

How we calculate it

Each year your contribution is your pay times your contribution percent, limited to the yearly 401(k) limit ($24,500 for 2026, plus $8,000 from age 50 and $11,250 at ages 60 to 63). The employer match is the match rate times your contribution, up to the match limit as a share of pay.

The balance grows as balance × (1 + return) + your contribution + employer match, with contributions added at the end of each year. Pay rises by your raise each year. Dividing the final balance by (1 + inflation) for each year gives today’s dollars.

Assumptions and limits

  • Return, raise and inflation are your assumptions. Real returns vary a lot and can be negative in a year.
  • The contribution limit is held at the 2026 figure for all future years; limits normally rise with inflation, so a high saver may be able to contribute more.
  • Taxes and fees are not included. Traditional 401(k) withdrawals are taxed as income.
  • Matching rules differ by employer: some match in tiers, some have a vesting schedule.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?

Many people start by contributing at least enough to get the full employer match, because it is extra pay. Beyond that, a common target is 10% to 15% of pay, including the match, but the right amount depends on your goals.

What is the 401(k) limit?

For 2026 you can put in $24,500 of your own pay. People 50 or older can add $8,000, and ages 60 to 63 can add $11,250. The employer match does not count toward your limit.

Why show today’s dollars?

Prices rise over decades, so a large future number buys less than it looks like. Dividing by inflation shows what the balance would feel like in money you know today.

Is a traditional or Roth 401(k) better?

It depends on whether your tax rate is higher now or in retirement. The Roth vs traditional calculator compares them.

Related calculators

Worked example (a fixed example using the starting numbers, it does not change as you type)

Inputs: Yearly salary ($) = 85000; Your age now = 35; Age you plan to retire = 67; Your contribution (% of pay) = 6; Employer match rate (%) = 50; Match applies to the first (% of pay) = 6; Current 401(k) balance ($) = 30000; Expected yearly return (%) = 7; Expected yearly raise (%) = 3; Expected yearly inflation (%) = 2.5.

  • Balance at retirement $1,435,769.09
  • In today’s dollars $651,509.73
  • Your contributions $267,764.07
  • Employer match $133,882.03
  • Investment growth $1,004,122.98
  • First-year contribution (you) $5,100.00
  • First-year employer match $2,550.00
  • Years until retirement 32

Embed this calculator

Add this calculator to your own page. Paste the code where you want it. The small link keeps credit to the source.

More financial calculators

Last reviewed: . Formulas and assumptions are described on our methodology page. For information only; not professional advice.