CalcDime

Retirement Savings Calculator

Whether your savings are on track for the income you want in retirement — in today’s dollars — and how much more to set aside each month if they are not.

Reviewed November 2026How we calculate

All retirement accounts
Including employer match

Income goal (today’s dollars)

Your estimate at ssa.gov

Assumptions

Share of savings withdrawn in the first year of retirement
Savings at 67, in today’s dollars$0
Monthly income it supports$0
Your goal$0
From savings$0
From Social Security$0
Savings needed for your goal$0

Savings by age

Nominal dollars — what your statements would show

How the calculation works

Your current savings and monthly deposits grow at the annual return until retirement. The result is then converted to today’s dollars using your inflation assumption, so it can be compared directly with the income you want.

Savings needed = (income wanted − Social Security) × 12 ÷ withdrawal rate

If the projection falls short, the calculator works out the extra monthly deposit, starting now and earning the same return, that closes the gap by your retirement age.

Choosing your assumptions

  • Return. A diversified stock-and-bond portfolio has historically returned more than inflation, but year-to-year results swing widely. Using 5% to 7% nominal keeps the plan from leaning on a strong market.
  • Inflation. The Federal Reserve targets 2% a year; 2.5% to 3% adds a margin for higher stretches.
  • Withdrawal rate. 4% is the common starting point for a 30-year retirement. Use 3% to 3.5% if you retire before 60 or want more certainty.
  • Income goal. Many retirees spend 70% to 80% of their pre-retirement income; housing, health care and travel plans move that number most.

What it leaves out

Taxes on withdrawals from traditional 401(k) and IRA accounts are not deducted, so treat the income figure as before tax unless your savings are mostly Roth. Pensions can be added to the Social Security field. For account-level detail, use the 401(k) and Roth IRA calculators.

Common questions

How much do I need to retire?

Work backward from income. Take the monthly income you want, subtract Social Security and any pension, and multiply what is left by 12 and then by 25 (the inverse of a 4% withdrawal rate). Someone who needs $3,000 a month from savings needs roughly $900,000 in today’s dollars.

What is the 4% rule?

A guideline from historical U.S. market studies: withdrawing 4% of the portfolio in the first year, then adjusting for inflation, has usually lasted at least 30 years. It is not a guarantee. Retiring early or wanting more certainty argues for 3% to 3.5%.

How do I estimate my Social Security benefit?

Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to see your personal estimate at ages 62, full retirement age and 70. The benefit is already in today’s dollars, which is how this calculator treats it.

Why show results in today’s dollars?

At 2.5% inflation, prices roughly double in 28 years. A $1.5 million balance in 2055 buys about what $750,000 buys now. Comparing today’s-dollar figures keeps the goal and the projection on the same scale.

Sources

Results are estimates for educational use and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Confirm figures with your lender, plan administrator or a tax professional before you act. Spotted an error? Tell us.