401(k) Calculator
Project your 401(k) balance at retirement.
Enter your values
Enter the annual salary in $.
Enter the your contribution in %.
Enter the employer match in % of salary.
Enter the current balance in $.
Enter the annual return in %.
Enter the years to retirement you are working with.
Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.
- Balance at retirement
- $851,425.23
- Total contributed
- $285,000.00
- Investment growth
- $566,425.23
- Annual contribution incl. match
- $9,600.00
- Free money from match per year
- $3,200.00
- 4% withdrawal income
- $34,057.01
Quick answer
Your 401(k) grows from your contributions, the employer match and compounding returns — the match is an instant 50–100% return.
At a glance
| What it does | Project your 401(k) balance at retirement. |
|---|---|
| Category | Finance |
| Inputs needed | Annual salary, Your contribution, Employer match, Current balance, Annual return, Years to retirement |
| Main output | Balance at retirement |
| Cost | Free — no sign-up, no download |
How to use the 401(k) Calculator
- 1Enter your salary and contribution percentage.
- 2Add your employer's match.
- 3Set your current balance, return and years left.
Inputs explained
- Annual salary($)
- Enter the annual salary in $.
- Your contribution(%)
- Enter the your contribution in %.
- Employer match(% of salary)
- Enter the employer match in % of salary.
- Current balance($)
- Enter the current balance in $.
- Annual return(%)
- Enter the annual return in %.
- Years to retirement
- Enter the years to retirement you are working with.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Annual salary80000 $
- Your contribution8 %
- Employer match4 % of salary
- Current balance45000 $
- Annual return7 %
- Years to retirement25
Results
- Balance at retirement$851,425.23
- Total contributed$285,000.00
- Investment growth$566,425.23
- Annual contribution incl. match$9,600.00
- Free money from match per year$3,200.00
- 4% withdrawal income$34,057.01
Frequently asked questions
Should I always get the full match?
Yes — it is the highest-return money available to most workers.
What return should I assume?
6–7% after inflation is a reasonable long-term equity-heavy assumption.
What do I need to enter into the 401(k) Calculator?
Just 6 values: annual salary, your contribution, employer match, current balance, annual return, years to retirement. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.
How does the 401(k) Calculator work out the answer?
Your 401(k) grows from your contributions, the employer match and compounding returns — the match is an instant 50–100% return. The working is shown step by step so you can verify the result by hand.
Is the 401(k) Calculator free, and do I need an account?
It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.