401(k) calculator
Project your 401(k) balance with employer match and the 2026 IRS limits, including catch-up at 50 and 60 to 63.
- ๐บ๐ธ US federal & state rules
- 2026 IRS limits (Notice 2025-67)
- See sources
401(k) balance at 65
$1,568,332
You put in $356,816, your employer adds $107,045, and growth adds $1,064,472.
- Your 2026 contribution
- $7,500
- Employer match this year
- $2,250
- Your 2026 limit at 35
- $24,500
- Total added this year
- $9,750
This is an example. Enter your numbers above and press the button to see your own result.
Balance by age
| Age 40 | $115,401 |
|---|---|
| Age 45 | $230,600 |
| Age 50 | $403,121 |
| Age 55 | $657,783 |
| Age 60 | $1,029,676 |
| Age 65 | $1,568,332 |
2026 IRS limits
| Employee deferral | $24,500 |
|---|---|
| Catch-up, age 50 and over | $8,000 |
| Catch-up, age 60 to 63 | $11,250 |
| Employee plus employer (before catch-up) | $72,000 |
| Pay that counts for the plan | $360,000 |
- An estimate, not financial advice. Returns are a steady average and the 2026 limits are held flat, though the IRS raises them most years.
- Vesting schedules can take back some of the employer match if you leave early. Check your plan's summary.
Show the math
| You contribute | $75,000 ร 10% = $7,500 |
|---|---|
| Employer match | 50% of your contribution up to 6% of pay = $2,250 |
| Each year | Balance ร (1 + 7%) + contributions, salary up 3% a year |
What to do next
How it works
Each year, your contribution is your salary times the percentage you pick, capped at the IRS deferral limit plus any catch-up for your age. The employer match is the match rate applied to your contribution, counting only pay up to the match ceiling. The balance grows at the yearly return and then that year's contributions are added.
Your salary rises by the raise you enter. The calculator follows the catch-up rules by age: nothing before 50, the regular catch-up from 50, the larger catch-up from 60 to 63, and back to the regular catch-up at 64.
Things to keep in mind
The IRS adjusts these limits for inflation most years. Holding them at 2026 levels makes the projection a little low for people who max out.
Fees matter over decades. A plan with 1% in yearly fees cuts a 7% return to about 6%, which can mean a balance a fifth smaller after 30 years.
Sources
Rules applied as of 2026-01-01. See the sources below for details.
- IRS Notice 2025-67, 2026 amounts relating to retirement plans and IRAsChecked 2026-10-19
- IRS Retirement topics, 401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limitsChecked 2026-10-19
- IRS Retirement topics, catch-up contributionsChecked 2026-10-19
Frequently asked questions
What is the 401(k) limit for 2026?
You can defer up to $24,500 of pay in 2026. At 50 or older you can add a $8,000 catch-up, and in the years you turn 60 to 63 the catch-up is $11,250 instead.
How does an employer match work?
A common match is 50% of what you put in, up to 6% of pay. On a $75,000 salary, contributing at least 6% ($4,500) gets you $2,250 from your employer.
Is there a limit on employer plus employee contributions?
Yes. For 2026, employee and employer money together cannot pass $72,000, not counting catch-up contributions.
Do catch-up contributions have to be Roth?
Starting in 2026, yes if your prior-year wages from that employer were over $150,000. Others can still choose pre-tax catch-ups.