401(k) Calculator 2026

What is a 401(k) calculator?

A 401(k) calculator estimates how much your workplace retirement account could be worth at a future age. This 401k retirement calculator combines your current balance with your contributions, your employer’s match, salary raises and an assumed annual return.

Use it as a planning estimate, not a promise. A 401k growth calculator can help you compare saving choices, while a 401k match calculator shows how the match changes your projection. Your actual balance can differ because investment returns vary and your pay, contributions or plan terms may change.

Why your 401(k) projection matters

Your projected balance can help you decide whether your current savings rate fits your retirement plans. If the estimate looks lower than you want, you can consider raising your contribution, saving more when your pay increases, or working longer. If you are weighing a job change, compare the new pay and retirement benefits with what you would leave behind.

The employer match is part of your compensation. A contribution below the level needed to receive the full match may leave some employer money unclaimed, depending on your plan’s terms. Check your plan documents to see how matching works and whether employer contributions have vesting conditions.

The 2026 employee contribution limit is $24,500. Catch-up contributions are $8,000 at age 50 or older, and $11,250 at ages 60 to 63. The calculator displays these figures to help you compare your contribution with the annual limit. Confirm retirement-plan and tax decisions with a qualified professional.

How to use this 401(k) calculator

1. Enter your current age and the age you expect to retire. The difference gives the calculator the period over which to project your account.
2. Enter your salary and current 401(k) balance. Use your current pay and account balance rather than an older estimate.
3. Enter your contribution as a percentage of salary. Check your pay stub or plan account if you are unsure what you currently contribute.
4. Add your employer’s match rate and the share of salary eligible for the match. Check the plan’s matching formula so these fields reflect your benefits.
5. Enter your expected yearly raise and annual return. These are assumptions for the projection. Try a lower return or raise to see how a more cautious estimate changes the result.
6. Review the projected balance, contribution totals, investment growth and displayed 2026 limits. Change one assumption at a time to see what affects the estimate.

401(k) calculator example

How to read your 401(k) calculator results

Projected balance is the estimated account value at your selected retirement age. Your contributions and employer match show the money added under the assumptions you entered. Investment growth is the projected increase attributed to the assumed return.

Look at each part rather than focusing only on the final balance. If your own contributions seem low, test a higher contribution rate. If the employer contribution seems low, confirm that your match rate and match limit reflect your plan. A projection is sensitive to its assumptions, so compare several reasonable scenarios instead of treating one result as certain.

How to improve your 401(k) projection

1. 01

   Raise your contribution when you can

   Consider increasing your contribution rate after a pay raise or when another expense ends. Even a gradual change can increase the amount going into the account. Check your budget and plan rules before changing payroll deductions.

2. 02

   Review the employer match

   Read your plan’s matching terms and make sure the calculator inputs match them. If your current contribution does not qualify for the full match, consider whether you can increase it without making your monthly budget difficult.

3. 03

   Check the projection against different assumptions

   Test a lower annual return and a smaller raise as well as your preferred estimates. This shows how dependent the projected balance is on future growth, rather than contributions alone.

4. 04

   Revisit the plan as your situation changes

   Update your salary, balance and contribution after a job change or major pay adjustment. If you are deciding between retirement saving and another financial goal, compare the trade-offs with a qualified professional.

Common 401(k) calculator mistakes

• Entering the wrong match terms

  The match rate and the salary limit for matching are separate details. Check your plan documents instead of assuming the employer matches every dollar you contribute.

• Treating the return as guaranteed

  The annual return is an input, not a promise. Investment values can rise or fall, so do not plan around a single projection as if it were certain.

• Ignoring contribution limits

  Compare your planned employee contribution with the displayed 2026 limit and applicable catch-up amount. Ask a tax professional or plan administrator how the rules apply to your situation.

• Reading the total without checking its parts

  Review contributions, employer match and investment growth alongside the projected balance. If the components do not reconcile, verify the calculation before using the result.

The 401(k) formula

Key terms

Employee contribution

Money you direct from your pay into your 401(k), commonly entered here as a percentage of salary.

Employer match

Money your employer contributes based on the matching formula in your plan.

Catch-up contribution

An additional contribution amount available to eligible employees based on age. The calculator displays the 2026 amounts.

Investment growth

The projected increase in your account attributed to the annual return assumption entered in the calculator.