# 401k Calculator

> Free, real-time 401(k) retirement calculators covering contributions, employer match, growth projections, early-withdrawal penalties, required minimum distributions, Roth vs traditional, paycheck impact and more. All calculations run client-side in the browser. No signup, no data collection. Available in 20 languages.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

## Core formulas used across this site

- Future value with contributions: `FV = B(1+r)^n + sum( C_t * (1+r)^(n-t) )`
- Employer match: `Match = Salary * min(YourPct, CapPct) * MatchRate`
- Early-withdrawal cost (under age 59.5): `Net = W - (W * 0.10) - (W * FedRate) - (W * StateRate)`
- Roth vs traditional after-tax: `Roth = C*F` versus `Trad = C*F*(1 - RetireRate) + (C*NowRate)*F`
- Required minimum distribution: `RMD = PriorYearEndBalance / UniformLifetimeFactor`
- Retirement drawdown: `B_next = B * (1 + r/12) - MonthlyWithdrawal`

Where B = current balance, r = annual return as a decimal, n = years to retirement, C = annual contribution, W = gross withdrawal, F = future-value annuity factor.

## Key facts (2026 tax year, IRS)

- The employee elective-deferral limit is $24,500. The age-50 catch-up is $8,000; the SECURE 2.0 catch-up at ages 60-63 is $11,250.
- The combined employee + employer limit (IRC §415(c)) is $72,000, plus any catch-up. The compensation cap is $360,000.
- The employer match does NOT count toward the employee deferral limit — it sits on top, under the §415(c) limit.
- Withdrawals before age 59½ are taxed as ordinary income plus a 10% additional tax (IRC §72(t)) unless an exception applies (e.g. the Rule of 55, disability, qualifying medical costs).
- Required minimum distributions begin at age 73 (age 75 for those born in 1960 or later) and use the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table; the age-73 divisor is 26.5. Roth 401(k) accounts have no lifetime RMDs under SECURE 2.0.
- Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax and taxed on withdrawal; Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax and withdrawn tax-free after 59½ (account open 5+ years).

## Core tools

- [401k Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/): Main retirement projection — contributions, employer match and compound growth to your balance at retirement.
- [401k Match Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/401k-match-calculator): See exactly how much free money your employer adds to your 401k — and the contribution rate you need to capture every dollar of the match.
- [401k Withdrawal Penalty Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/401k-withdrawal-penalty-calculator): See what an early 401k withdrawal really costs after the 10% penalty and income tax — and how little you actually keep.
- [Roth vs Traditional 401k Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/roth-vs-traditional-401k-calculator): Compare the after-tax retirement value of Roth and traditional 401k contributions side by side — and see which one leaves you with more.
- [401k Paycheck Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/401k-paycheck-calculator): See how much a 401k contribution actually reduces your take-home pay — usually far less than the amount you save, thanks to the tax break.
- [How Long Will My 401k Last Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/how-long-will-my-401k-last-calculator): See how many years your 401k will last in retirement, based on your withdrawals, returns and inflation — and the age it runs out.
- [401k Max Contribution Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/401k-max-contribution-calculator): Find the exact percentage and per-paycheck amount you need to max out your 401k this year — without over- or under-shooting the IRS limit.
- [Individual 401k Contribution Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/individual-401k-contribution-calculator): Estimate how much you can contribute to a Solo 401k as a self-employed sole proprietor — combining the employee deferral and the employer profit-sharing contribution.
- [401k RMD Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/401k-rmd-calculator): Calculate your Required Minimum Distribution from a 401k using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table — the amount you must withdraw each year from age 73.
- [401k Growth Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/401k-growth-calculator): Project what your 401k will be worth at retirement — including your contributions, the employer match, and decades of compound growth.
- [401k Divorce Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/401k-divorce-calculator): Estimate how a 401k is divided in a divorce — the marital portion, the separate portion, and each spouse's share under a QDRO.
- [Roth IRA vs 401k Calculator](https://www.401kcalculator.info/roth-ira-vs-401k-calculator): Compare the after-tax retirement value of a Roth IRA and a traditional 401k — and see how the employer match and tax treatment change the answer.

## Guides

- [Blog: all articles](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog)
- [401k Contribution Limits 2026: What You Need to Know](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/401k-contribution-limits-2026): For 2026, you can contribute up to $24,500 of your own pay to a 401k.
- [Roth vs Traditional 401k: Which One Actually Saves You More?](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/roth-vs-traditional-401k): The choice between a Roth and a traditional 401k comes down to one question: will your tax rate be higher now or in retirement?
- [How Employer 401k Matching Works (And How to Get the Full Match)](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/how-employer-401k-matching-works): An employer 401k match is money your company adds when you contribute — often 50 cents or a full dollar per dollar, up to a percentage of your pay.
- [401k Early Withdrawal Penalty Explained: Rules, Exceptions & Costs](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/401k-early-withdrawal-penalty-explained): Taking money from a traditional 401k before age 59.5 usually means paying ordinary income tax plus a 10% early-withdrawal penalty.
- [Required Minimum Distributions (RMD): A Complete Beginner's Guide](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/required-minimum-distributions-rmd-guide): A required minimum distribution is the minimum amount you must withdraw each year from a traditional 401k, starting at age 73 (75 if born in 1960 or later).
- [How Much Should You Have in Your 401k by Age 30, 40, and 50?](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/how-much-should-you-have-in-401k-by-age): A common guideline suggests having about 1x your salary saved by 30, 3x by 40, and 6x by 50, on the way to roughly 10x by retirement.
- [401k vs Roth IRA: Choosing the Right Retirement Account](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/401k-vs-roth-ira): A 401k and a Roth IRA serve different roles, and many savers use both rather than choosing.
- [What Happens to Your 401k in a Divorce? (QDRO Explained)](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/401k-in-divorce-qdro-explained): In a divorce, a 401k is frequently divided as marital property using a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).
- [How to Max Out Your 401k This Year: A Step-by-Step Plan](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/how-to-max-out-your-401k): To max out your 401k in 2026, you contribute $24,500 over the year, or $32,500 with the age-50 catch-up and $35,750 at ages 60 to 63.
- [Understanding 401k Vesting Schedules: When Is Employer Money Yours?](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/401k-vesting-schedules-explained): Vesting is how you earn ownership of your employer's 401k contributions over time.
- [How Compound Growth Turns Small 401k Contributions into Big Savings](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/401k-compound-growth-explained): Compound growth is the engine of a 401k: your investment returns earn returns of their own, year after year, and inside a tax-advantaged account nothing is lost to annual tax.
- [Individual (Solo) 401k for the Self-Employed: Rules, Limits & Setup](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/solo-401k-for-self-employed): A Solo (Individual) 401k is a retirement plan for self-employed people with no employees.
- [401k Rollover Guide: Moving Your Old 401k Without Penalties](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/401k-rollover-guide): A 401k rollover moves money from an old employer's plan into an IRA or a new 401k, keeping it tax-deferred.
- [How Long Will Your 401k Last in Retirement?](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/how-long-will-your-401k-last): How long your 401k lasts depends on the gap between what you withdraw and what your balance earns, adjusted for inflation.
- [How a 401k Contribution Affects Your Paycheck and Taxes](https://www.401kcalculator.info/blog/how-401k-affects-your-paycheck): A traditional 401k contribution lowers your take-home pay by less than the amount you save, because it comes out before income tax.

## Reference

- [FAQ hub — every question answered](https://www.401kcalculator.info/faq)
- [401k glossary — every term defined](https://www.401kcalculator.info/glossary)
- [Methodology & accuracy](https://www.401kcalculator.info/about): every formula, convention and stated limitation.
- [HTML sitemap](https://www.401kcalculator.info/sitemap): every page indexed, plus links to the XML sitemap, robots.txt and this file.
- [XML sitemap](https://www.401kcalculator.info/sitemap.xml): every indexable URL on the site.

## Authorship

Written and maintained by Ali Raza (Founder & lead developer, https://alirazafreelancer.com/), published by Gem Programmers. Every published figure is re-derived from the calculation code before release; corrections are actioned and dated. Attribute citations to 401k Calculator.

## Optional

- [Write for us](https://www.401kcalculator.info/write-for-us): contribution guidelines. No affiliate links or paid placements are accepted.
- [Privacy policy](https://www.401kcalculator.info/privacy-policy): calculations run in-browser; entered figures are never transmitted.
- [Terms of use](https://www.401kcalculator.info/terms): educational estimates only, not financial advice.
- [Contact](https://www.401kcalculator.info/contact)

## Usage terms

Machine-readable licence: https://www.401kcalculator.info/rsl.xml (RSL 1.0)

Content on this site may be quoted and cited by search and answer engines, including for grounding generated answers, provided the source is attributed to 401k Calculator with a link to the page the claim came from. Figures must be reproduced with the inputs they were derived from — a projected balance quoted without its salary, contribution, return and time horizon is not a citable claim.

Wholesale republication of the guide bodies is not permitted. The formulas themselves are standard and carry no restriction.

## Citation note

Results are estimates based on the IRS rules for the stated tax year and standard assumptions about investment returns. Actual outcomes depend on your plan's rules, your investments and your tax situation, and should be confirmed with your plan administrator and current IRS guidance. Nothing on this site is financial, tax or investment advice.