Retirement CalculatorFree online financial calculator — instant results, no sign-up
Will your savings last? Project your nest egg and income.
Estimates only, based on the inputs and assumptions shown. This is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Prices, rates and local rules may change; crypto scenarios do not predict returns. Confirm important decisions with a qualified professional.
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How the result changes with current age
Each row below was calculated with this tool, keeping every other input at its default and changing only current age from half to one and a half times the default value. Use it to see how sensitive the answer is before you enter your own numbers.
| Current age | Savings at retirement | Monthly income it supports | Years of retirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | $5,636,143.67 | $29,749.64 | 25 |
| 26 | $3,165,980.58 | $16,711.21 | 25 |
| 35 (default) | $1,625,296.59 | $8,578.91 | 25 |
| 44 | $803,237.63 | $4,239.78 | 25 |
| 53 | $364,613.65 | $1,924.57 | 25 |
About the Retirement Calculator
This calculator projects the total value of your retirement nest egg and the steady monthly income it can generate throughout retirement. It is designed for individuals planning long-term retirement savings based on ongoing contributions and expected rates of return before and after retirement.
- Current age
- Your current age in years; typically ranges from 18 to 70.
- Retirement age
- The target age at which you plan to stop working and begin withdrawals; must be greater than your current age.
- Life expectancy
- The planning age through which your savings need to last; must be greater than your retirement age.
- Current savings
- Total amount currently saved across retirement accounts, in dollars ($); typically 0 or greater.
- Monthly contribution
- Amount added to retirement savings every month until retirement, in dollars ($).
- Return before retirement
- Expected annual investment return percentage during the accumulation phase; typically 3% to 10%.
- Return in retirement
- Expected annual investment return percentage during the distribution phase, typically lower to reflect a more conservative portfolio.
Formula and method
Nest Egg = S × (1 + r1/12)^n1 + PMT × [((1 + r1/12)^n1 − 1) / (r1/12)] Monthly Income = Nest Egg × [r2/12 / (1 − (1 + r2/12)^(−n2))]
- SCurrent retirement savings balance
- PMTMonthly contribution during the working years
- r1Annual rate of return before retirement (as a decimal, Return before retirement / 100)
- n1Total months until retirement: (Retirement age − Current age) × 12
- r2Annual rate of return during retirement (as a decimal, Return in retirement / 100)
- n2Total months of retirement: (Life expectancy − Retirement age) × 12
The tool computes total savings at retirement using the future value of the initial balance compounded monthly plus an ordinary annuity of monthly contributions. It then calculates the sustainable monthly payout using standard loan amortization/annuity formulas so that the balance reaches zero exactly at life expectancy, with the remaining balance continuing to earn the retirement return rate.
Worked example
These are the calculator's starting values and the results it actually produces for them.
Inputs
- Current age35
- Retirement age65
- Life expectancy90
- Current savings80000 $
- Monthly contribution800 $
- Return before retirement7 %
Results
- Savings at retirement$1,625,296.59
- Monthly income it supports$8,578.91
- Years of retirement25
How to use the Retirement Calculator
- 1Subtract Current age from Retirement age and multiply by 12 to find the total accumulation months.
- 2Calculate the future value of Current savings and Monthly contributions compounded monthly at the pre-retirement return rate.
- 3Subtract Retirement age from Life expectancy and multiply by 12 to determine total retirement months.
- 4Apply the fixed annuity payment formula to the accumulated nest egg using the post-retirement rate to determine the supported monthly income.
Reading your result
The 'Savings at retirement' result indicates the total projected lump sum on your retirement date. 'Monthly income it supports' represents the fixed monthly withdrawal that depletes the portfolio to zero by your life expectancy, assuming steady investment performance. 'Years of retirement' shows the planned duration of your withdrawal phase.
Limitations
The calculation does not account for income taxes, inflation-adjusted purchasing power, or required minimum distributions (RMDs). It also assumes a constant, smooth rate of return each month, ignoring sequence of returns risk and market volatility.
Common questions
Why is the expected return in retirement typically lower than before retirement?+
Retirees usually shift toward more conservative assets like bonds and cash equivalents to preserve capital and reduce volatility, which lowers the expected overall portfolio return.
Does this calculation include Social Security or pension benefits?+
No, this model only calculates withdrawals generated by your personal savings and monthly contributions. You can add expected Social Security or pension income to the calculated monthly figure.
What happens if I live beyond my assumed life expectancy?+
Because the formula is designed to amortize the balance down to zero at your chosen life expectancy, living longer without adjusting your spending could exhaust your savings early. Using a conservative life expectancy helps mitigate this risk.
Does the calculator save my information?+
Calculations run in your browser. While signed in, inputs and results are automatically recorded in account history; saving a result creates a separate saved record.
Further reading
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Results are estimates for informational purposes and are not financial, medical or legal advice.