Retirement Calculators
Seven calculators for the retirement decisions that are hard to undo: what a 401(k) contribution really costs each paycheck, what an early withdrawal leaves you, how much you need to stop working, when to claim Social Security, what you must withdraw each year, which account type leaves you more after tax, and how far a health savings account can go.
7 calculators · Last reviewed September 26, 2026
The calculators
401(k) Paycheck
What a 401(k) contribution and match do to each paycheck
401(k) Early Withdrawal
What you keep after the 10% penalty and tax, or a loan instead
FIRE Number
How much you need to retire early, and when you get there
Social Security Break-Even
Claiming at 62, 67 or 70: which pays more over your life
RMD Calculator
Your required minimum withdrawal this year
Roth vs Traditional
Which 401(k) or IRA leaves you more after tax
HSA Growth
Your HSA as a tax-free retirement account
Which calculator answers your question?
How much will a 401(k) contribution cut my paycheck, and am I getting the full match?
401(k) PaycheckWhat percent of my pay do I need to max out my 401(k) in 2026?
401(k) PaycheckHow much will I actually keep if I cash out my 401(k) early, and would a loan be cheaper?
401(k) Early WithdrawalHow much do I need saved to retire early, and how many years will it take?
FIRE NumberShould I claim Social Security at 62, at full retirement age, or at 70?
Social Security Break-EvenHow much must I withdraw from my IRA or 401(k) this year?
RMD CalculatorWill a Roth or a traditional account leave me more money after tax?
Roth vs TraditionalWhat could my HSA be worth by retirement if I invest it?
HSA GrowthHow much will my savings grow with regular contributions?
Compound InterestKey ideas behind these calculators
Pre-tax contributions cost less than they look
A traditional 401(k) contribution comes out before income tax, so take-home pay falls by the contribution minus the tax it saves. It does not lower Social Security or Medicare tax. A Roth contribution is taken after tax and lowers take-home pay dollar for dollar.
Withdrawal rate
The well-known 4% rule comes from studies of historical U.S. market returns over 30-year retirements. Divide yearly spending by the withdrawal rate to get a savings target: 25 times spending at 4%. Retiring earlier means a longer retirement, so many planners use a lower rate.
Real vs. nominal returns
A real return is the return after inflation. Long-range projections in today’s dollars use real returns, so the result is money you can compare with today’s prices.
Tax now or tax later
Traditional accounts give a deduction today and tax withdrawals later. Roth accounts tax contributions today and let qualified withdrawals come out tax-free. With the same tax rate now and in retirement they end up equal; the difference comes from your rate changing.
Claiming age is a longevity bet
Claiming Social Security early gives smaller checks for more years. Waiting gives larger checks for fewer years. The break-even age is when the two running totals cross; living past it favors waiting.
Required minimum distributions
Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s must start paying out at a set age. Each year’s minimum is the prior December 31 balance divided by a life-expectancy factor from an IRS table, so the percentage withdrawn rises with age.
What these estimates leave out
- Investment returns, inflation and tax law in the future, which no calculator can know. Treat results as ranges, not promises.
- State income tax on withdrawals and Social Security, and the taxation of Social Security benefits, unless a calculator says it includes them.
- Your exact paycheck withholding, which your employer figures from your W-4. The 401(k) tools estimate full-year tax and spread it evenly.
- Spousal and survivor Social Security benefits, pensions and annuities, unless a calculator says it models them.
- Your full plan. For decisions like claiming age or large conversions, check your figures at ssa.gov and irs.gov or with a fee-only financial planner.
See the full disclaimer and how we build and check the calculators.
Retirement guides
All guidesSocial Security Claiming Age: The Break-Even Math
Claim at 62, 67, or 70? The right answer depends on a break-even age most calculators skip. Here is the actual math, worked by hand.
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RMD Rules 2026: Required Age, Formula, and the April 1 Trap
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Roth vs. Traditional: It's a Bet on Your Future Tax Rate
Neither account is universally better. The math shows exactly why it comes down to one comparison: your tax rate today versus your tax rate when you withdraw.
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401(k) Limits 2026: $24,500, Catch-Ups, Per-Paycheck Math
The 2026 401(k) limit is $24,500, with bigger catch-ups at 50 and 60-63. Per-paycheck amounts to max out, plus the new Roth catch-up rule.
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401(k) Employer Match: How It Works and How People Miss It
Match formulas like "50% of 6%" can mean less than they sound. How to read yours, and the maxing-out mistake that forfeits part of it.
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401(k) Balance by Age: How Much Should You Have Saved?
Fidelity's rule of thumb: 1x salary by 30, rising to 10x by 67. What that means in dollars, and the savings rate that gets you there.
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