401(k) Calculator
Free · no sign-up · reviewed July 2026
Your 401(k) is probably the biggest wealth-building tool you have, especially if your employer matches. This calculator projects what your balance could grow to by retirement, and shows how much of that is free match money versus your own savings versus pure growth.
Set your salary, what you contribute, and your employer's match, then watch decades of compounding stack up. The blue band is money your employer hands you for free, so make sure you're capturing all of it.
Drag to adjust
Your 401(k) at age 65
$1,385,969
$97,489 of that is free employer match
💡 Over 35 years, you'd put in $194,978, your employer would add $97,489 in matching for free, and investment growth would contribute $1,068,501. That growth ends up being the biggest piece, which is the whole point of starting early.
$194,978
You contribute
over the years
$97,489
Employer adds
free match
$1,068,501
Growth
from compounding
- Your money$219,978
- Employer match$97,489
- Growth$1,068,501
- Years until retirement
- 35
- Your contributions
- $194,978
- Employer match
- $97,489
- Investment growth
- $1,068,501
- Balance at retirement
- $1,385,969
The 2-minute guide
Always get the full match first
If your employer matches, say, 50% of your contributions up to 6% of pay, then contributing at least 6% earns you an instant 50% return on that money. Nothing else in investing is that guaranteed. Before paying down low-rate debt or investing elsewhere, contribute enough to grab every dollar of the match.
Raise your contribution with every raise
The easiest way to save more without feeling it: bump your contribution by 1% each time you get a raise. You never see the money hit your checking account, so you never miss it, and the effect on your final balance is enormous thanks to compounding.
Growth eventually dwarfs contributions
Early on, your balance grows mostly from what you and your employer add. But give it 20 or 30 years and the green 'growth' band takes over. That's compounding doing the heavy lifting, and it's why time in the market beats trying to time it.
This is a projection, not a promise
Real returns swing year to year, and a 7% average includes some ugly years mixed with great ones. Treat the final number as a motivating estimate, revisit it yearly, and lean toward saving a little more than you think you need.
Frequently asked questions
How much will my 401(k) be worth at retirement?
It depends on your salary, how much you contribute, your employer match, your investment return and how many years you have. As a rough example, contributing 6% of a $65,000 salary with a 50% match and 7% returns for 35 years can grow to well over $1 million. Enter your own numbers above for a personalized projection.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At an absolute minimum, contribute enough to get your full employer match, since that's free money. A common target is 15% of your income toward retirement (including the match). If you can't hit that yet, start where you can and increase 1% at a time.
What is the 401(k) contribution limit?
For 2025, employees can contribute up to $23,500 of their own pay (people 50 and older can add a catch-up contribution on top). Employer match dollars don't count toward that limit. The cap usually rises a little each year with inflation.
What return should I assume for my 401(k)?
Many long-term projections use 6–7% per year for a stock-heavy portfolio. Returns are never guaranteed and vary a lot year to year, so it's wise to run a lower rate too and see how the result changes.
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