Enter your details above to see your retirement projection.
2026 Retirement Contribution Limits
Most plans aim for 25 times the yearly income your savings must provide: $1,000,000 supports about $40,000 a year under the 4% rule, and $1,500,000 supports $60,000. Social Security covers part of your spending, so only the gap needs a nest egg. The calculator above projects your savings in today's dollars, compares them with that target and shows how much you need to save each year.
The IRS increased 401(k) and IRA limits for 2026. These are your most powerful tax-advantaged savings tools. The SECURE 2.0 Act introduced an enhanced catch-up for ages 60-63.
| Account Type | Under 50 | Age 50+ | Age 60-63 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401(k) / 403(b) / 457 | $24,500 | $32,500 | $35,750 |
| Traditional / Roth IRA | $7,500 | $8,600 | $8,600 |
| SIMPLE IRA | $17,000 | $21,000 | $22,250 |
| SEP-IRA | $72,000 (or 25% of compensation) | ||
The 25x rule: A common guideline is to save 25 times your expected annual retirement spending. At a 4% annual withdrawal rate, this nest egg should last 30+ years. Example: $60,000/year in retirement requires a $1.5M nest egg.
Roth IRA income limits 2026: Single / HOH phase-out $153,000 to $168,000 · MFJ phase-out $242,000 to $252,000. Above these limits, consider a Backdoor Roth IRA.
How Much You Need by Spending Level
Nest egg needed for each amount of yearly spending your savings must cover, after Social Security and any pension. A 4% first-year withdrawal has historically lasted about 30 years; if you retire before 60, the 3% or 3.5% columns are the safer guide.
| Yearly spending from savings | 4% rule (25x) | 3.5% | 3% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $750,000 | $857,143 | $1,000,000 |
| $40,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,142,857 | $1,333,333 |
| $50,000 | $1,250,000 | $1,428,571 | $1,666,667 |
| $60,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,714,286 | $2,000,000 |
| $80,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,285,714 | $2,666,667 |
| $100,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,857,143 | $3,333,333 |
Worked example
You earn $75,000 and want 80% of it in retirement: $60,000 a year. If Social Security pays the 2026 average for a retired worker, $2,071 a month or $24,852 a year, your savings must cover $35,148. At 4% that means a nest egg of about $878,700, not the $1.5 million you would need with no Social Security at all. Use our Social Security calculator to estimate your own benefit.
Monthly Savings Needed to Reach $1 Million by 65
Starting from zero, saving at the end of each month, with the return compounding monthly. These are nominal dollars; $1 million in 30 years will buy much less than it does today, so use the lower return columns if you want a cushion for inflation.
| Start saving at | 5% return | 6% return | 7% return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $655 | $502 | $381 |
| 30 | $880 | $702 | $555 |
| 35 | $1,202 | $996 | $820 |
| 40 | $1,679 | $1,443 | $1,234 |
| 45 | $2,433 | $2,164 | $1,920 |
| 50 | $3,741 | $3,439 | $3,155 |
| 55 | $6,440 | $6,102 | $5,778 |
An employer match counts toward these amounts. Waiting from 25 to 35 roughly doubles the monthly figure at 7%, which is why the first decade of saving matters so much.
2026 Rules That Change the Math
- Roth catch-up for high earners. If your FICA wages from your employer were over $150,000 in 2025, any 401(k) catch-up you make in 2026 must go in as Roth, after tax.
- Social Security timing. Full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. Claiming at 62 cuts the benefit by 30% for life; waiting until 70 raises it by 24%. The largest benefit at full retirement age in 2026 is $4,152 a month, and benefits rose 2.8% in January 2026.
- Senior deduction. From 2025 through 2028, taxpayers 65 and older can deduct an extra $6,000 each, phased out by 6% of income above $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (joint). It lowers the tax on retirement income, including taxable Social Security.
- Required minimum distributions. RMDs start at 73 if you were born from 1951 to 1959 and at 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. Roth 401(k)s and Roth IRAs have no RMDs for the original owner.
- Saver's Credit. Lower earners who contribute can get a tax credit if 2026 income is at or below $40,250 (single), $60,375 (head of household) or $80,500 (married filing jointly).