401(k) Calculator – Estimate Retirement Savings & Employer Contributions

Free Retirement Planning Calculator

401(k) Calculator 2026

Easily estimate future 401(k) savings using your current balance, salary, employee contributions, employer match, expected return, and years until retirement.

401(k) Calculator

401(k) Retirement Growth Today Retirement
Your estimated current retirement account balance.
Current annual salary used to estimate contributions.
Your estimated contribution as a percentage of salary.
Simplified employer contribution percentage.
Annual return assumption before taxes and other plan-specific effects.
Number of years you plan to continue investing.

Estimated 401(k) Results

Estimated 401(k) Balance
$0.00
Your Contributions
$0.00
Employer Contributions
$0.00
Estimated Growth
$0.00
Important: This 401(k) calculator provides an estimate for informational and retirement-planning purposes. Investment returns are not guaranteed. Actual results can vary because of market performance, contribution timing, employer-plan rules, fees, salary changes, taxes, and other factors.

What Is a 401(k) Calculator?

A 401(k) calculator estimates how a retirement account could grow over time based on your current balance, salary, contribution percentage, employer contribution assumption, expected annual return, and years until retirement.

This calculator is designed for scenario planning. It can help you explore how different contribution rates, employer match assumptions, investment returns, and time periods affect a projected future balance.

How This 401(k) Calculator Works

The calculator converts your annual salary into estimated monthly employee and employer contributions. Those contributions are then added to the current 401(k) balance each month while applying the expected monthly investment return.

Monthly Employee Contribution = Annual Salary × Employee Contribution % ÷ 12
Monthly Employer Contribution = Annual Salary × Employer Match % ÷ 12
Monthly Return = Expected Annual Return ÷ 12

This is a simplified model. Actual 401(k) plans can calculate employer matching contributions differently and may have eligibility, vesting, contribution-limit, payroll, and plan-specific rules.

401(k) Growth Example

Suppose you start with $20,000, earn $70,000 per year, contribute 6% of salary, receive a simplified 3% employer contribution, assume a 7% annual return, and have 30 years until retirement.

The calculator applies these assumptions month by month to estimate a future 401(k) balance. The result is a projection, not a guarantee of what your retirement account will actually be worth.

Try changing the contribution percentage or years until retirement to compare different scenarios.

Why Employer Matching Contributions Matter

Employer contributions can add money to a 401(k) account in addition to the employee’s own contributions. However, the actual employer match formula depends on the retirement plan.

Some plans may match a percentage of employee contributions rather than simply contributing the same percentage of salary entered in this calculator. Therefore, the employer-match field here is intentionally a simplified planning assumption.

Employer contributions may also be subject to vesting requirements. The U.S. Department of Labor explains that employees are always 100% vested in their own contributions, while employer matching contributions can be subject to a plan’s vesting schedule. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

2026 401(k) Contribution Limits

For 2026, the IRS states that the employee elective deferral limit for traditional and safe-harbor 401(k) plans is $24,500. The general catch-up contribution limit for employees age 50 or older is $8,000, while the higher catch-up limit for employees ages 60 through 63 is $11,250 for 2026. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

These limits are separate from the simplified percentage-based assumptions used by this calculator. Your actual plan may also impose its own restrictions or lower limits.

Official source: Check the IRS retirement-plan contribution limits and your employer’s plan documents for the rules that apply to your situation.

401(k) Contributions and Employer Match

Your own salary-deferral contributions are generally immediately vested. Employer contributions can have different vesting rules depending on the plan.

The Department of Labor notes that traditional defined-contribution plans can use vesting schedules for employer matching contributions, while some plans such as certain safe-harbor arrangements can have immediate vesting for required employer contributions. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Review your Summary Plan Description or other plan documents to determine your actual employer match formula and vesting schedule.

What Affects Your Future 401(k) Balance?

Current Balance A larger starting balance gives the calculation a larger amount to compound over the investment period.
Employee Contributions Increasing your contribution percentage can increase the amount added to your retirement account.
Employer Contributions Employer contributions can increase retirement savings, subject to the actual plan’s matching and vesting rules.
Investment Return Investment performance can significantly affect long-term account growth, but actual returns vary and are not guaranteed.
Time A longer investment period gives contributions and potential compound growth more time to accumulate.
Fees Investment and plan fees can reduce the amount of money that remains invested and therefore affect long-term results.

401(k) Calculator vs. Retirement Calculator

A 401(k) calculator focuses specifically on projected retirement-account growth from employee contributions, employer contributions, current savings, expected returns, and time.

A broader retirement calculator can also consider retirement income needs, inflation, Social Security, retirement spending, and other planning assumptions.

For broader retirement planning, use our Retirement Calculator .

How to Use the 401(k) Calculator

  • Enter your current 401(k) balance.
  • Enter your current annual salary.
  • Enter your employee contribution percentage.
  • Enter a simplified employer contribution assumption.
  • Enter an expected annual investment return.
  • Enter the number of years until retirement.
  • Click Calculate Now.
  • Change individual assumptions to compare scenarios.

401(k) Calculator FAQs

What does a 401(k) calculator calculate?

It estimates a future 401(k) balance using your current balance, contributions, employer contribution assumption, expected return, salary, and investment period.

How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?

The appropriate contribution amount depends on your income, expenses, plan rules, retirement goals, tax situation, and other financial circumstances. This calculator lets you model different contribution percentages rather than prescribing a specific amount.

Does this calculator include employer matching?

Yes. You can enter an employer contribution percentage. However, this is a simplified assumption and may not reproduce your employer’s actual matching formula.

Are employer 401(k) contributions always fully vested?

Not necessarily. Employer contributions can be subject to a vesting schedule depending on the plan. Your own employee contributions are generally immediately vested. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?

The IRS states that the 2026 employee elective-deferral limit for traditional and safe-harbor 401(k) plans is $24,500. Additional catch-up limits can apply based on age. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Does this calculator account for the 401(k) contribution limit?

No. This calculator uses the percentage and salary assumptions you enter. Check current IRS limits and your employer plan rules separately when evaluating actual contributions.

Does this calculator include taxes?

No. It estimates account growth and does not calculate your individual income-tax liability or retirement withdrawal taxes.

Does a 401(k) guarantee investment returns?

No. A 401(k) is a retirement account structure, while the investments held inside the account can gain or lose value.

Can I compare different contribution percentages?

Yes. Enter different contribution percentages and calculate again to compare the resulting projections.

Can I print or save the calculation?

Yes. Click Print / Save PDF and use your browser’s print options to save the results.

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401(k) Calculator Disclaimer

This calculator is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not provide investment, retirement, tax, or legal advice. The projected balance depends on the assumptions entered and does not guarantee future investment performance.

Actual 401(k) results may differ because of market performance, contribution timing, salary changes, employer matching rules, vesting, investment fees, taxes, contribution limits, withdrawals, and other plan-specific factors.

Review your plan documents and official IRS and Department of Labor information for rules applicable to your situation.

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