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FinanceFreeUS · 2026 limits

401(k) Calculator

See how your 401(k) grows by retirement — with your employer match, the 2026 contribution limits, age 50+ and 60–63 super catch-up, and a Traditional vs Roth after-tax breakdown.

Inputs

Account type
Pre-tax now, taxed at withdrawal
Your details
Contributions
Growth assumptions
Tax rates (Traditional vs Roth)
Balance at retirement
$1,323,589
65 — nominal dollars
Your contributions
$330.7K
Employer match
$131.8K
Investment growth
$861.0K

Projected balance by age

GrowthContributions
First-year contributions
You (incl. catch-up)$3,600
Employer$2,400
Total per year (year 1)$6,000
2026 limits: $24,500 elective deferral; total additions (you + employer) capped at $72,000; pay over $360,000 is excluded from the match.
Catch-up contributions
At 50+ you can add an extra $8,000 per year on top of the $24,500 limit.
Ages 60–63 get an enhanced "super" catch-up of $11,250 for 2026 — it replaces the $8,000 catch-up, not added on top. At 64 it reverts to $8,000.
Heads up: under SECURE 2.0, if your prior-year FICA wages exceed $150,000, your catch-up contributions must be made as Roth (after-tax) starting in 2026.
Traditional vs Roth (after-tax value)
Same gross contributions, compared on what you keep.
Traditional, after withdrawal tax$1,164,758
Roth, tax-free$1,323,589
Tax deferred upfront (Traditional)$72.8K
Roth keeps $158.8K more — your retirement rate (12%) is at or above today's (22%).
Estimates only — not tax or investment advice. Real returns vary and tax law changes. Figures are nominal (not inflation-adjusted) and use 2026 federal contribution limits; state taxes and plan-specific rules (vesting, true-up timing) are excluded. Verify current limits with the IRS.

How the 401(k) Calculator Works

A 401(k) is the core workplace retirement account for U.S. employees: each year you defer part of your pay pre-tax (or after-tax for Roth), your employer adds a match, and compounding returns grow the balance until retirement. Enter your age, salary, current balance and contribution rate, and this calculator applies the 2026 IRS limits and your employer match to project your retirement balance plus a Traditional vs Roth after-tax breakdown. Below we cover the mechanism, a worked example, the tax context, and common mistakes.

The mechanism — stacking contributions, match and compounding each year

The projection loops one year at a time from your current age to the year before retirement. Each year it ① takes your deferral (salary × rate, capped at the 2026 limit of $24,500) plus any age-based catch-up, ② computes the employer match (for Safe Harbor, 100% on the first 3% of pay then 50% on the next 2%), and ③ trims the total if employee plus employer exceeds the annual additions limit of $72,000. It then grows the balance at your expected return, adds that year's contribution to set the year-end balance, and raises your salary by the growth rate. The model uses end-of-year contributions, so a year's deposit does not earn that same year's return. The employer match is computed only on pay up to the $360,000 compensation limit.

Worked example — $80,000 salary, 6% deferral

On an $80,000 salary deferring 6%, your contribution is $4,800 a year, and a Safe Harbor match (100% on the first 3% plus 50% on the next 2%, an effective 4%) adds $3,200 — 4% of $80,000 — for $8,000 total in year one. Assuming 7% annual returns over 30 years, compounding grows the balance substantially, and the match is free money worth an instant 100% return, so the employer often funds more than half of your cumulative deposits. At 50 the $8,000 catch-up kicks in, and at ages 60–63 the enhanced $11,250 super catch-up stacks on top of your deferral, accelerating the balance in the final stretch.

Tax context — Traditional vs Roth, and the Roth catch-up rule

A Traditional 401(k) deducts your contribution so you defer tax today and pay ordinary income tax at withdrawal; a Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax dollars but qualified withdrawals are tax-free. This tool applies your retirement marginal rate to the final balance for the Traditional after-tax value and shows the already-tax-free Roth value side by side. As a rough rule, Traditional wins if your rate today is higher than in retirement, and Roth wins if it is lower. Under SECURE 2.0, high earners whose prior-year FICA wages exceed $150,000 must make catch-up contributions as Roth (after-tax). These figures are federal and plan limits only — they exclude state income tax and IRAs — so the calculator flags that scope rather than overstating coverage.

Common mistakes and tips

The first mistake is not contributing up to the full match. The match is an instant 100% (or 50%) return, so leaving the match band empty literally throws away free money — secure a deferral rate that captures the entire match first. The second is assuming the employer match counts toward the $24,500 limit; your deferral cap and the employer match are separate, and only their combined total is capped at $72,000. The third is missing the 60–63 super catch-up — those four years let you push to $11,250 to maximize late-career saving. Note that this tool uses nominal returns (it does not inflation-adjust) and simplifies plan-specific true-up timing, so confirm your exact limits and match rules against your plan documents and the IRS notice.

FAQ

How much can I contribute to a 401(k) in 2026?

For 2026 the employee elective deferral limit is $24,500. If you're 50 or older you can add an $8,000 catch-up ($32,500 total). The combined employee + employer limit (Section 415(c)) is $72,000 for 2026.

What is the 60–63 super catch-up?

Under SECURE 2.0, participants who are age 60, 61, 62, or 63 during the year get an enhanced catch-up of $11,250 for 2026 — about 50% more than the standard $8,000. It replaces the regular catch-up for those four ages only; at 64 you go back to $8,000. Most calculators miss this, so it's built in here.

Does my employer match count toward the $24,500 limit?

No. The $24,500 (plus catch-up) limit is for your own elective deferrals. Employer match is separate and counts only toward the higher combined Section 415(c) cap — $72,000 for 2026. The match is also computed only on pay up to the $360,000 compensation limit.

Should I choose Traditional or Roth?

Traditional contributions are pre-tax — they lower your taxable income now and are taxed as ordinary income when you withdraw. Roth contributions are after-tax with no deduction now, but qualified withdrawals are tax-free. The rule of thumb: if you expect a higher tax rate in retirement than today, Roth usually wins; if lower, Traditional. The calculator shows the after-tax value of each.

What is the Roth catch-up mandate?

Starting in 2026, SECURE 2.0 requires that if your prior-year FICA (Social Security) wages from your employer exceeded $150,000 (the 2026 indexed figure), any catch-up contributions must be made to a Roth account. You still get the catch-up — it just has to be after-tax.

What's a common employer match?

Safe Harbor — 100% of the first 3% of pay you contribute, plus 50% of the next 2% — is very common and maxes out at a 4% match when you defer 5% or more. Another frequent formula is 50% up to 6% (a 3% max match). Always contribute at least enough to get the full match; it's an immediate, guaranteed return.

Are these numbers inflation-adjusted?

No. The projected balance is in nominal (future) dollars. Real purchasing power will be lower because of inflation. Treat the result as a planning estimate, not a guarantee — actual returns and future contribution limits will differ.

Does this include state taxes or IRAs?

No. It uses 2026 federal 401(k) limits only and ignores state income tax, IRA contributions, and plan-specific details like vesting schedules or employer match true-up timing. It's an estimate for planning, not tax advice.

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This 401(k) calculator is for informational and educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Projections use 2026 IRS contribution limits and your assumptions about returns and salary growth; actual results will vary. Figures are nominal and exclude state taxes and plan-specific rules. Consult a qualified advisor before making decisions.