401(k) calculator with employer match and 2026 limits
Estimate your balance at retirement from current savings, salary-based contributions and employer match. The model applies 2026 IRS limits, salary growth, fees and inflation and shows every projected year.
Inputs used by this calculator
401(k) Calculator uses the fields below. The starting values reproduce the page example; replace them with values from the same units and time period before using the result.
| Input | Starting example | Accepted value | How it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current age | 35 | 18 to 79 | Supplies the current age quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Retirement age | 65 | 19 to 80 | Supplies the retirement age quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Current annual salary (USD) | 70,000 | 0 to 1000000000 | Supplies the current annual salary (usd) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Current 401(k) balance (USD) | 40,000 | 0 to 1000000000000 | Supplies the current 401(k) balance (usd) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Employee contribution (% of salary) | 8 | 0 to 100 | Supplies the employee contribution (% of salary) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Employer match (% of contribution) | 50 | 0 to 500 | Supplies the employer match (% of contribution) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Employer match limit (% of salary) | 6 | 0 to 100 | Supplies the employer match limit (% of salary) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Expected salary increase (%) | 3 | -50 to 50 | Supplies the expected salary increase (%) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Expected annual return (%) | 7 | -99 to 100 | Supplies the expected annual return (%) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Annual plan fees (%) | 0.5 | 0 to 20 | Supplies the annual plan fees (%) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Expected inflation (%) | 2.5 | -20 to 50 | Supplies the expected inflation (%) quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
How to project a 401(k)
Enter age, retirement age, salary and current balance. Then describe the percentage you contribute and the employer matching formula. Return, fees, salary growth and inflation are assumptions that should be tested as scenarios.
- Confirm your plan's matching formula.
- Enter your employee contribution rate.
- Use a reasonable range of returns and fees.
- Compare nominal balance with inflation-adjusted purchasing power.
How employer matching is calculated
A 50% match up to 6% of salary means the employer contributes half of the employee amount eligible for matching, with eligible employee contributions capped at 6% of salary. The maximum employer amount in that example is 3% of salary.
match = match rate × min(employee contribution, salary × match limit)2026 contribution limits
The IRS employee elective-deferral limit is $24,500 for 2026. A plan may permit an $8,000 catch-up for participants age 50 or older, while ages 60–63 may qualify for the higher $11,250 catch-up. The defined-contribution overall limit is $72,000 before applicable catch-up contributions.
Future statutory limits are unknown. This projection increases the 2026 dollar limits using the entered inflation rate only as a modeling convention.
Fees, returns and purchasing power
The model applies an equivalent monthly net return after the entered annual plan fee. Inflation-adjusted value discounts the final nominal balance to approximate today's purchasing power. Neither value predicts market performance.
Plan rules this estimate cannot know
Employer vesting, payroll timing, Roth versus traditional tax treatment, plan-specific compensation definitions and future law may change the real account. Confirm limits and match details with the plan administrator.
What the 401(k) Calculator answers
Project a US 401(k) balance with salary growth, contributions and employer match.
Use 401(k) Calculator when you know Current age, Retirement age, Current annual salary (USD), Current 401(k) balance (USD), Employee contribution (% of salary), Employer match (% of contribution), Employer match limit (% of salary), Expected salary increase (%), Expected annual return (%), Annual plan fees (%) and Expected inflation (%) and need the relationship expressed by the published equation.
2026 federal contribution figures used
| Category | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Employee elective deferral | $24,500 |
| Age 50+ catch-up | $8,000 |
| Age 60–63 higher catch-up | $11,250 |
| Defined-contribution overall limit | $72,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How does a 401(k) employer match work?
The employer contributes according to the plan formula, often matching part of employee contributions up to a percentage of salary.
What is the 401(k) employee limit for 2026?
The IRS elective-deferral limit is $24,500, before an eligible catch-up contribution.
Does the calculator include catch-up contributions?
Yes. It applies the modeled 2026 catch-up for projected years at age 50+, including the higher amount at ages 60–63.
Are future IRS limits known?
No. The calculator indexes today's limits by your inflation assumption solely for projection.
Does the result include retirement taxes?
No. Withdrawal taxes depend on account type, future income, law and distribution choices.
What question does this 401(k) Calculator answer?
Project a US 401(k) balance with salary growth, contributions and employer match.
What to keep in mind
US-oriented estimate using 2026 IRS limits indexed by the entered inflation assumption. Plans, vesting, taxes, future law and actual returns differ.
Results are rounded for display in US format, with money in dollars and cents; CSV exports keep full calculation precision. This is a calculation summary, not an official certificate.