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401(k) calculator
What your 401(k) grows to with your contributions, the employer match, raises and fees, under the 2026 IRS limits.
At 30, with $25,000 in a 401(k), contributing 10% of a $70,000 salary with a 50% match on the first 6%, a 7% return and 0.3% fees, the balance reaches $1,728,412 at 65. That is $614,249 in today's dollars.
401(k) balance at retirement
$1,728,412
You put in $349,961 and your employer $104,988. In today's dollars: $614,249.
This year: $7,000 from you and $2,100 in match.
| Age | Balance | In today's dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| 35 | $88,578 | $76,409 |
| 40 | $182,128 | $135,520 |
| 45 | $317,713 | $203,928 |
| 50 | $512,079 | $283,526 |
| 55 | $788,451 | $376,569 |
| 60 | $1,179,026 | $485,743 |
| 65 | $1,728,412 | $614,249 |
2026 contribution limits
| Limit | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Employee contributions | $24,500 |
| Extra catch-up from age 50 | $8,000 |
| Higher catch-up at ages 60 to 63 | $11,250 |
| Total with employer money (under 50) | $72,000 |
The calculator caps your own contributions at these limits every year and keeps them in today's dollars; the IRS raises them with inflation over time. Employer match does not count toward the employee limit.
What the match is worth
A 50% match on the first 6% of a $70,000 salary adds $2,100 a year when you contribute at least 6%. Contributing less leaves part of it unused: at 3% you get $1,050.
Fees over a career
With the same inputs, fees of 1% instead of 0.3% leave $1,485,762 instead of $1,728,412 at 65.
Questions people ask
How much will my 401k be worth when I retire?
It depends on your balance, how much you and your employer add, the return and the time left. In the example it is $1,728,412 at 65, or $614,249 in today's dollars; change the inputs above to see yours.
What is the 401k limit for 2026?
$24,500 of employee contributions, plus a $8,000 catch-up from age 50, or $11,250 for ages 60 to 63, according to the IRS.
How much should I contribute to my 401k?
At least enough to get the full employer match, since that money is otherwise lost. Beyond that, it depends on your target: the FIRE calculator and how much do I need to retire work it out.
Related
The Roth IRA calculator projects the other main account, and the rule of 55 covers withdrawals from a 401(k) before 59½.
Projections use the return you enter and are not a forecast. Taxes on withdrawals are not included. See the disclaimer.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service, "401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500", IR-2025-111.
- Internal Revenue Service, Retirement topics: 401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limits.
Last reviewed by Asier Fernández, editor, on . Educational information only, not financial advice. How we calculate