How to use this calculator
- Enter your age, retirement age and salary.
- Enter your contribution as a percentage of pay, and your employer’s match formula from your plan’s summary, for example 50% of contributions up to 6% of pay, or 100% up to 4%.
- Enter your current balance, a yearly return and your expected raises.
- Choose traditional or Roth and your filing status to see this year’s tax effect.
The projection adds each year’s contributions at the end of the year, assumes the same return every year, and raises the IRS limits 2.5% a year after 2026. It shows the balance in future dollars and, using 2.5% inflation, in today’s dollars.
2026 401(k) contribution limits
| Limit | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Your contributions (401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b), TSP) | $24,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 or older | +$8,000 (total $32,500) |
| Catch-up, age 60 to 63 (if the plan offers it) | +$11,250 (total $35,750) |
| You plus your employer, not counting catch-ups | $72,000 |
The limits apply per person across all your 401(k) and 403(b) plans, even with several employers. See all the 2026 and 2027 figures on our contribution limits page.
How employer matching works
A match is money your employer adds when you contribute. The formula has two parts: the match rate (how much they add per dollar you put in) and the cap (on contributions up to what share of your pay). With a 50% match up to 6% on an $80,000 salary:
- Contribute 6% ($4,800): your employer adds $2,400, the full match.
- Contribute 3% ($2,400): your employer adds $1,200, and the other $1,200 is left unclaimed.
- Contribute 10% ($8,000): the match stays at $2,400; the extra 4% is still yours and still grows tax-deferred.
Many plans have a vesting schedule: if you leave before a set number of years, you may forfeit some of the employer’s contributions. Your own contributions are always yours.
What your 401(k) could grow to
Balance at 65, starting from zero, for a $75,000 salary with 3% yearly raises, a 50% match up to 6% and a 7% yearly return:
| Starting age | Contributing 6% | Contributing 10% | Contributing 15% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $1,976,471 | $2,854,902 | $3,952,942 |
| 30 | $1,326,834 | $1,916,538 | $2,653,668 |
| 35 | $874,967 | $1,263,842 | $1,749,935 |
| 40 | $562,554 | $812,578 | $1,125,108 |
| 45 | $348,228 | $502,996 | $696,456 |
| 50 | $202,680 | $292,759 | $405,359 |
| 55 | $105,171 | $151,914 | $210,342 |
Starting ten years earlier roughly doubles the result, because of compound growth; see the compound interest calculator. The amounts are in future dollars.
Traditional or Roth 401(k)?
- Traditional (pre-tax): lowers this year’s taxable income, grows tax-deferred, and is taxed as income when you withdraw it. Required minimum distributions start at 73 or 75; see the RMD calculator.
- Roth: no deduction now, but qualified withdrawals, including all the growth, are tax-free, and Roth 401(k)s no longer have RMDs.
A common rule of thumb: Roth tends to win if you expect a higher tax rate in retirement than now, and traditional if you expect a lower one. Employer matches go into the traditional side unless your plan lets you choose Roth matching. Many people split their contributions between the two.
Getting the most from your 401(k)
- Always get the full match. It’s an instant return on your money that you can’t get anywhere else.
- Raise your rate by 1% a year, or whenever you get a raise, until you reach 15% including the match or the IRS limit. Many plans can do this automatically.
- Mind the fees. A 1% yearly fee instead of 0.1% can cost a large share of your balance over 30 years. Low-cost index funds are usually the cheapest option in a plan.
- Avoid early withdrawals and loans. Withdrawals before 59½ usually owe income tax plus a 10% additional tax, and loans can come due quickly if you leave your job.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I put in my 401(k) in 2026?
How does a 50% match up to 6% work?
How much will my 401(k) be worth when I retire?
Do 401(k) contributions lower my taxes?
Do catch-up contributions have to go in the Roth account?
Sources
- 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500 — Internal Revenue Service
- Retirement topics: catch-up contributions — Internal Revenue Service
- Retirement topics: 401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limits — Internal Revenue Service
- Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 tax brackets and standard deduction) — Internal Revenue Service