Retirement Calculator
Plan your retirement savings and see if you're on track
Your Information
Results
Fill in your details to see projections
What is the Retirement Calculator?
Planning for retirement feels abstract until you actually run the numbers. This calculator tells you whether you're on track, or how far off you might be, based on what you've saved so far, how much you're putting away each month, and when you want to stop working. It's useful for anyone from a 25-year-old opening their first 401(k) to a 55-year-old wondering if they can retire in 10 years. CalciHub's version lets you factor in your current savings, monthly contributions, expected annual return, and target retirement age, then shows you a projected nest egg alongside an estimated monthly income in retirement.
How Does It Work?
The math here is compound interest applied over time. Your current balance grows each year at your expected rate of return, and your regular contributions keep adding fuel. The formula is:
FV = PV × (1 + r)ⁿ + PMT × [((1 + r)ⁿ − 1) / r]
FV = Future value of your retirement savings
PV = Present value (what you have saved right now)
r = Annual rate of return divided by 12 (monthly rate)
n = Total number of months until retirement
PMT = Monthly contribution amount
How to Use CalciHub's Retirement Calculator
1. Enter your current age and the age you plan to retire.
2. Input your current retirement savings balance.
3. Add your monthly contribution amount.
4. Set an expected annual return (historically, a diversified stock portfolio has averaged around 7% after inflation).
5. Hit Calculate to see your projected balance and estimated monthly income.
Tip: Run the calculator twice, once with your current contribution and once with a slightly higher amount. The difference is often bigger than you'd expect.
A Quick Example
Sarah is 32, lives in Chicago, and has $18,000 saved in her 401(k). She contributes $400 a month and hopes to retire at 65. She uses CalciHub with a 7% annual return.
Current savings: $18,000
Monthly contribution: $400
Years to retirement: 33
Expected return: 7%
Projected balance at 65: approximately $742,000
Estimated monthly income (30-year retirement): around $3,900/month
Sarah's current savings rate gets her close to a comfortable retirement, but bumping her contribution to $500/month would push her projected balance above $900,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
The old rule of thumb was 25x your annual expenses, sometimes called the 4% rule. So if you spend $60,000 a year, you'd want around $1.5 million saved. That's a starting point, not a hard rule — your actual number depends on your lifestyle, health, Social Security income, and whether you have a pension or other sources of income.
For a mixed portfolio of stocks and bonds, 6–7% is a reasonable assumption after inflation. If you're more aggressive (mostly stocks), some planners use 8%. If you're conservative or near retirement, 4–5% is more realistic. The number matters a lot over 30 years, so it's worth running the calculator with a few different rates.
It should, but keep it separate from this calculator's output. CalciHub's retirement calculator focuses on your personal savings. You can estimate your Social Security benefit on the SSA.gov website, then add that monthly figure to whatever this calculator shows you.
Not necessarily, though the math does get harder the later you start. The IRS allows people 50 and older to make catch-up contributions to their 401(k) — an extra $7,500 on top of the regular limit as of 2024. Starting at 45 is not ideal, but 20 years of aggressive saving and investing can still build a meaningful balance.
Yes, completely free. No account needed, no sign-up, no paywall. Just open the calculator, enter your numbers, and get your results instantly.
Related Finance calculators
See all Finance →- ROI CalculatorCalculate Return on Investment and annualized ROI for any investment.
- Investment CalculatorFuture value of lump sum plus recurring monthly investments.
- Savings Goal CalculatorPlan how much to save monthly to reach your financial goal.
- Interest Rate CalculatorFind the interest rate given loan amount, payment, and term.
- Down Payment CalculatorPlan your home down payment savings goal and timeline.
- Net Worth CalculatorCalculate total net worth from assets and liabilities.
More from Finance
View all posts →Longer reads from our finance collection.