How much should I save for retirement?

A common rule of thumb is to save 10–15% of gross income a year including any employer match, and to aim for a portfolio that replaces 70–80% of pre-retirement income. Your actual number depends on lifestyle and health.

What return should I assume?

After inflation, a diversified stock-heavy portfolio has historically returned about 6–7% a year. Using a rate after inflation keeps results in today's dollars, which is more honest for planning.

A planning guideline that says withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in the first year, then adjusting for inflation, has historically given a high chance of lasting 30 years. It is a starting point, not a guarantee.

Retirement Calculator

See what today's contributions look like at retirement, and roughly what monthly income that builds for the years that matter.

Last updated: August 5, 2026

Your age

Retirement age

Current savings

Monthly contribution

Annual return after inflation, typical 6–7%

Savings at retirement —

Monthly income at 4% withdrawal —

Total you will have contributed —

Growth from investing —

How retirement math works

Retirement savings grow two ways at once: what you put in, and what that money earns. Monthly contributions compound alongside the existing balance, and the longer the runway, the more the growth dwarfs the contributions. That is why starting early beats starting big.

The calculator uses an annual return after inflation, so the final figure is in today's dollars. The 4% withdrawal figure then estimates a sustainable annual income: retire on 25 times your annual spending, or spend 4% of the portfolio per year.

The formula

FV = P × (1 + r)ⁿ + PMT × [(1 + r)ⁿ − 1] ÷ r

P — current savings · r — annual return after inflation
n — years until retirement · PMT — yearly contribution (12 × monthly)

Worked example

At 30, with $10,000 saved and $500/month going in, retiring at 65 with a 6% real return.

Future value ≈ $752,000. At 4% that produces about $2,506/month.

Wait until 40 and the same monthly habit reaches only about $383,000 — roughly half, entirely because of ten fewer years of compounding.

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Frequently asked questions

Should I include Social Security?

Most Americans will get Social Security, but the exact amount depends on earnings history and claiming age. This calculator shows the personal-savings side; add your Social Security estimate on top for a fuller plan.

What does "after inflation" mean here?

The return you enter is net of inflation. A nominal 9% return with 3% inflation becomes a 6% real return. Using real numbers means the savings figure behaves like money today, which is how you should think about spending it.

Is the 4% rule still reliable?

It has held up in most historical US scenarios but is debated for longer retirements and higher market valuations. Treat it as a planning baseline, and stress-test with conservative returns before committing to a plan.

This is an illustrative estimate assuming a constant rate of return. Actual results vary with markets, taxes and fees. Consider speaking with a financial professional about your specific plan.