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🏖️ Retirement Calculator

Calculate how much you need to save to retire comfortably. See your projected nest egg and required monthly savings.

Your Retirement Plan

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How to Use This Retirement Calculator

Enter your current age, target retirement age and life expectancy. Add your current savings, monthly contribution and desired annual retirement income. The calculator shows your projected nest egg at retirement, whether you're on track, and how much more you'd need to save monthly to hit your goal.

The 4% Rule — How Much Is Enough?

The most widely used retirement savings benchmark is the 25x rule: multiply your desired annual retirement income by 25 to get your savings goal. This is derived from the 4% safe withdrawal rate — research showing a portfolio can sustain 4% annual withdrawals for 30+ years. If you want $50,000/year in retirement, you need approximately $1,250,000 saved.

The Power of Starting Early

Compound growth is the single most powerful force in retirement planning. Someone who starts saving $500/month at 25 and stops at 35 (10 years of contributions, $60,000 total) will typically end up with more at retirement than someone who starts at 35 and saves $500/month continuously until 65 ($180,000 total). Time in market beats amount invested.

Expected Return Rate — What to Use

The US stock market (S&P 500) has averaged approximately 10% per year historically (7% after inflation). A diversified balanced portfolio (stocks + bonds) typically returns 6–8% annually. The default of 7% in this calculator represents a moderately aggressive portfolio before inflation adjustment. The real (inflation-adjusted) return is typically 3–5%.

Retirement Income Sources Beyond Savings

Your savings aren't your only income source in retirement. Social Security in the US provides the average recipient approximately $1,800–2,000/month. The UK state pension is currently £221.20/week (2025/26). Australia's Age Pension provides up to $1,144/fortnight for singles. Factor these into your income planning — they significantly reduce how much your nest egg needs to cover.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do I need to retire?
The most common guideline is 25 times your annual expenses (the 25x rule). For $50,000/year, that's $1.25 million. However, this varies significantly based on your age at retirement, investment returns, other income sources, and lifestyle. The calculator above gives you a personalised number.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule says you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one, then adjust for inflation annually, and your money should last at least 30 years. It's based on historical US stock and bond market returns. Some researchers now suggest 3.5% is safer given current interest rates and valuations.
How much should I be saving for retirement at my age?
A common benchmark: by age 30 have 1× salary saved, by 40 have 3×, by 50 have 6×, by 60 have 8×, by 67 have 10×. If you're behind, increasing your savings rate now has an outsized impact because you still have years of compound growth ahead.
Can I retire early?
Early retirement (before 60) requires a larger nest egg because you'll need more years of withdrawals. It also requires careful tax planning around accessing retirement accounts early without penalties. The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement typically targets 25–33× annual expenses, using a 3–4% withdrawal rate.
Should I account for inflation in retirement planning?
Yes — inflation is critical. At 3% inflation, $50,000 today only buys what $27,684 buys in 20 years. This calculator accounts for inflation by adjusting your target income to future dollars. Most financial planners use 2.5–3.5% for long-term inflation assumptions.