United States·Updated for 2026·Figures in USD · before inflation
401(k) Calculator
See how your 401(k) could grow by retirement with your contributions and your employer's match, within the 2026 IRS limits, and how much federal income tax contributing saves you this year.
You and your 401(k)
years
years
$
$
Share of each paycheck, before tax
%
Match and assumptions
Cents per dollar you put in, as a percent (50 = 50%)
%
Share of salary the match covers
%
Your assumption; returns are not guaranteed
%
Your assumption
%
For the tax saved this year
Enter your age, salary, contribution and the yearly return you want to assume. Your projected balance appears here as you type.
Calculating
Show the mathSee how this was worked outHide
Contributions are capped at the 2026 IRS limits for your age in every year (the limits usually rise with inflation, so later years are conservative). Growth is applied once a year to the starting balance, with contributions added at the end of each year. The tax saved uses the 2026 brackets and standard deduction, federal only.
Updated ·Source: the IRS·Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded
Figures last verified November 1, 2026. Contribution limits are from the IRS for 2026 (IR-2025-111 and Notice 2025-67); the tax saved uses the 2026 brackets.
2026 401(k) contribution limits
Your age
Your limit
Under 50
$24,500
50 to 59, or 64 and over
$32,500 ($24,500 + $8,000 catch-up)
60 to 63
$35,750 ($24,500 + $11,250 catch-up)
Everything going in, you and your employer
$72,000, not counting catch-up contributions
A worked example
A 30-year-old earning $60,000 with $10,000 saved puts in 6% ($3,600 a year), and the employer matches 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% ($1,800). Without any growth, that reaches $199,000 by 65. With an assumed 6% return, it could reach $678,609: $126,000 from them, $63,000 from the employer and $479,609 of growth. The 6% is an example, not a forecast.
Contribution rate and the balance at 65
Age 30, $60,000 salary, 50% match up to 6%, an assumed 6% return, no raises, before inflation:
You contribute
You, a year
Employer, a year
Federal tax saved, this year
Balance at 65
3%
$1,800
$900
$216
$300,874
6%
$3,600
$1,800
$432
$601,748
10%
$6,000
$1,800
$720
$869,191
15%
$9,000
$1,800
$1,080
$1,203,496
Before-tax saving, and the match
Traditional 401(k) contributions come out of your pay before federal income tax, so your take-home pay falls by less than you save. An employer match adds to your account on top of your pay. Social Security and Medicare are still taken from the money you contribute, and withdrawals in retirement are taxed as income.
To see how a 401(k) changes your take-home pay, use the paycheck calculator and enter it under pre-tax deductions. Your 2026 tax bracket shows the rate your contributions save, and the tax refund calculator estimates your refund.
401(k) FAQ
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
$24,500 of your own contributions. From age 50 you can add a catch-up of $8,000, for $32,500 in all, and at ages 60 to 63 the catch-up is $11,250, for $35,750.
Does my employer match count toward the limit?
Not toward your $24,500 limit. It does count toward the overall limit on everything that goes into your account in a year, which the IRS sets at $72,000 for 2026, not counting catch-up contributions.
How much tax does a 401(k) save?
A traditional 401(k) contribution comes out before federal income tax, so it saves your top tax rate on every dollar. $3,600 a year for a single filer earning $60,000 saves about $432 of 2026 federal income tax. Social Security and Medicare still apply, and you pay income tax when you withdraw the money.
What return should I assume?
That is up to you; no one can promise a return. The calculator asks for the yearly return you want to test, so try a few, including a cautious one. Results are before inflation.
How much should I contribute?
Contributing at least enough to get your full employer match means you collect all of the match, which is money you would not otherwise receive. Beyond that, it depends on your budget, other savings and goals.
