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Time Until Retirement Calculator
Are you on track to retire when you want? Enter your numbers and find out, plus see your earliest possible retirement age and key savings milestones.
Sources & Methodology
By Sean Baldwin · Last reviewed July 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I'm on track for retirement?
A quick benchmark: by age 30, aim to have 1× your annual salary saved; by 40, 3×; by 50, 6×; by 60, 8×; by retirement, 10–12×. These are guidelines, not rules, the 4% withdrawal rule (where you need 25× your annual expenses) is a more precise target. This calculator uses the 4% rule to calculate your goal.
What is the 4% rule for retirement?
The 4% rule states that you can withdraw 4% of your retirement savings annually without running out of money over a 30-year retirement. To use it: multiply your desired annual retirement income by 25 to find your nest egg target. Example: $60,000/year income needs a $1.5 million nest egg.
What annual return should I assume for retirement savings?
A 7% real return (after inflation) is the most commonly cited historical average for a diversified stock portfolio. More conservative projections use 5–6%. If you're closer to retirement and shifting to bonds, 4–5% is more realistic. This calculator uses nominal returns, subtract 2–3% for inflation-adjusted purchasing power.
How much should I save per month for retirement?
A common target is 15% of gross income, including any employer match. If you're starting later, you may need to save more. Use this calculator to find the exact monthly amount needed based on your specific age, savings, and income goals.
Can I retire early using this calculator?
Yes, the calculator shows your earliest possible retirement age at your current savings rate. To retire early, increase monthly contributions, target a higher return (through lower-fee index funds), or reduce your desired retirement income. The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement typically targets 25× annual expenses as the nest egg needed.
How the 4% rule works and why it matters
The 4% rule is the most widely used retirement planning benchmark. It states that if you withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement, then adjust that amount for inflation each subsequent year, a well-diversified portfolio has historically lasted 30+ years in nearly all market conditions. To use it: multiply your desired annual retirement income by 25 to find your target nest egg. If you want $60,000/year in retirement, you need $1.5 million. If you want $80,000/year, you need $2 million. This calculator uses the 4% rule as the foundation for its calculations. One important note: the rule was developed based on a 30-year retirement. If you plan to retire early and need your money to last 40–50 years, a more conservative 3–3.5% withdrawal rate (requiring 28–33× your annual expenses) is often recommended.
The compounding math that makes starting early so powerful
At a 7% annual return, money doubles approximately every 10 years. $10,000 invested at age 25 becomes $20,000 by 35, $40,000 by 45, $80,000 by 55, and $160,000 by 65, all without adding another dollar. The same $10,000 invested at age 45 only becomes $40,000 by 65. This is the core argument for starting retirement saving as early as possible, even in small amounts. Contributing $200/month from age 25 to 65 (40 years) at 7% grows to approximately $525,000. Starting the same contribution at 35 (30 years) yields only $243,000. The 10-year head start nearly doubles the outcome, even though you only contributed $24,000 more. Time in the market is the most powerful variable available to any retirement saver.
The employer match: the highest guaranteed return available to most workers
An employer 401(k) match is a 50–100% instant return on the matched portion of your contribution, no investment beats it. If your employer matches 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary and you earn $70,000, the full match is worth $2,100/year in free money. Not capturing this match by contributing below the threshold is one of the most costly financial mistakes many workers make. Beyond the match, the tax deferral in a traditional 401(k) effectively gives you a discount on contributions equal to your marginal tax rate. At a 22% bracket, every $1,000 contributed only costs you $780 in after-tax dollars. This discount compounds over decades and significantly boosts effective returns compared to saving in a taxable account.
Why most retirement planning estimates are too optimistic
Standard retirement projections assume you'll maintain your current savings rate, earn consistent returns, retire at your target age, and spend predictably in retirement. In practice, life interrupts: career gaps, medical expenses, supporting family members, market downturns near retirement, and longevity beyond projections all affect outcomes. The safest approach is to stress-test your plan with pessimistic assumptions: a 5% return instead of 7%, a retirement that starts two years later than planned, and retirement expenses 20% higher than your current spending (healthcare alone rises significantly after 65). If your retirement math still works under those conditions, you have a genuinely robust plan. This calculator's savings milestones give you concrete checkpoints to verify you're on track before it's too late to adjust.
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How We Calculate Your Score
This calculator does not produce a numerical Worth It Score. Instead, it gives a binary on-track determination: either your projected nest egg meets your retirement goal by your target age, or it falls short by a specific dollar amount. Both outcomes include an earliest possible retirement age at your current savings rate and concrete milestone targets.
- · Projected nest egg = FV of current savings + FV of monthly contributions, compounded monthly at your entered annual return rate over the years until your target retirement age
- · Needed nest egg = (desired monthly retirement income × 12) ÷ 0.04 — this is the 4% safe withdrawal rule, equivalent to 25× your desired annual income
- · On track = projected nest egg ≥ needed nest egg
- · Earliest retirement age = the earliest age at which projected savings would reach the needed nest egg at your current savings rate
- · Additional monthly contribution needed = the extra monthly savings required to close any gap by your target retirement date
The 4% safe withdrawal rule was derived from the Trinity Study and assumes a 30-year retirement. For retirements of 40+ years (early retirees), a 3–3.5% withdrawal rate is more conservative and may be appropriate. Returns shown are nominal; subtract 2–3% for inflation-adjusted real returns. This calculator does not include Social Security income, which could meaningfully reduce the nest egg required.
Cite this calculator: Worth It Calculators, "When Can You Actually Afford to Retire? Find Your Real Date (2026)," worthitcalculators.com/time-until-retirement/ (updated July 2026).