401(k) Calculator 2026 — Retirement Balance with Employer Match
Your 401(k) is likely your biggest wealth-building machine: pre-tax contributions, employer match, and decades of compounding. Project your balance at retirement and see what raising your contribution one percentage point is worth. The 2026 employee limit is $24,500 (plus $8,000 catch-up at 50+).
Percent of your contribution matched (e.g. 50% up to the cap).
- Your total contributions
- $180,000.00
- Employer match total
- $67,500.00
- Investment growth
- $609,825.88
Growth by year
| Year | Contributed | Interest earned | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $9,900.00 | $3,215.49 | $53,115.49 |
| 2 | $9,900.00 | $4,163.61 | $67,179.09 |
| 3 | $9,900.00 | $5,180.26 | $82,259.36 |
| 4 | $9,900.00 | $6,270.42 | $98,429.77 |
| 5 | $9,900.00 | $7,439.38 | $115,769.15 |
| 6 | $9,900.00 | $8,692.84 | $134,362.00 |
| 7 | $9,900.00 | $10,036.92 | $154,298.92 |
| 8 | $9,900.00 | $11,478.16 | $175,677.09 |
| 9 | $9,900.00 | $13,023.59 | $198,600.68 |
| 10 | $9,900.00 | $14,680.74 | $223,181.42 |
| 11 | $9,900.00 | $16,457.69 | $249,539.11 |
| 12 | $9,900.00 | $18,363.09 | $277,802.19 |
| 13 | $9,900.00 | $20,406.23 | $308,108.42 |
| 14 | $9,900.00 | $22,597.07 | $340,605.48 |
| 15 | $9,900.00 | $24,946.28 | $375,451.76 |
| 16 | $9,900.00 | $27,465.32 | $412,817.09 |
| 17 | $9,900.00 | $30,166.46 | $452,883.55 |
| 18 | $9,900.00 | $33,062.87 | $495,846.42 |
| 19 | $9,900.00 | $36,168.66 | $541,915.08 |
| 20 | $9,900.00 | $39,498.97 | $591,314.05 |
| 21 | $9,900.00 | $43,070.02 | $644,284.07 |
| 22 | $9,900.00 | $46,899.23 | $701,083.30 |
| 23 | $9,900.00 | $51,005.25 | $761,988.55 |
| 24 | $9,900.00 | $55,408.10 | $827,296.65 |
| 25 | $9,900.00 | $60,129.22 | $897,325.88 |
How this calculator works
- Your percentage of salary (capped at the 2026 limit of $24,500) plus the employer match is invested monthly and compounded at your expected return.
- A typical match — 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary — is an instant 50% return. Contributing below the match cap is leaving free money on the table.
- Projections assume steady salary and returns; real markets are lumpy, but long-horizon averages make this a useful planning anchor.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I put in my 401(k)?
At minimum, enough to capture the full employer match. The common benchmark for a comfortable retirement is 15% of gross income including match, ramping up with each raise.
Traditional or Roth 401(k)?
Traditional saves tax now at your marginal rate; Roth locks in tax-free withdrawals later. Higher earners often prefer traditional; early-career workers in low brackets often benefit from Roth.
What are the 2026 contribution limits?
$24,500 employee deferral, plus $8,000 catch-up if you're 50 or older. Employer contributions sit on top under a separate overall cap.
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Disclaimer: Results are estimates for educational purposes only and are not tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax rules are simplified (credits, phase-outs, and local taxes may not be modeled). Verify important decisions with the IRS, your state tax authority, or a licensed professional.