401(k) Calculator
For 2026 the IRS 401(k) employee contribution limit is $24,500, up from $23,500 in 2025, plus a catch-up of $8,000 at age 50 or older (IRS Notice 2025-67). Enter your salary, contribution rate and employer match to project your balance at retirement.
Updated for 2026 IRS limits (IRS Notice 2025-67) Last reviewed
Reviewed by Hassan Ahmed, Founder and Software Developer. Not a licensed tax advisor.
Balance at retirement
$1,126,522
Your contributions
$214,089
Employer match
$107,045
Investment growth
$780,388
Year-by-year growth
| Year | Your $ | Match $ | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4,500 | $2,250 | $33,973 |
| 6 | $5,217 | $2,608 | $92,893 |
| 11 | $6,048 | $3,024 | $182,738 |
| 16 | $7,011 | $3,505 | $317,104 |
| 21 | $8,128 | $4,064 | $515,245 |
| 26 | $9,422 | $4,711 | $804,374 |
| 30 | $10,605 | $5,302 | $1,126,522 |
2025 vs 2026: what changed
Compared with the 2025 tax year, the main 2026 changes for 401(k) and IRA savers are a higher employee deferral limit and a higher age 50 catch-up (IRS Notice 2025-67).
| Item | 2025 | 2026 | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b) and TSP employee deferral limit | $23,500 | $24,500 | +$1,000 (+4.3%) | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| Catch-up contribution, age 50 and over | $7,500 | $8,000 | +$500 (+6.7%) | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| Higher catch-up contribution, ages 60 to 63 | $11,250 | $11,250 | No change | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| Total annual additions limit, section 415(c) | $70,000 | $72,000 | +$2,000 (+2.9%) | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| IRA contribution limit | $7,000 | $7,500 | +$500 (+7.1%) | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
| IRA catch-up, age 50 and over | $1,000 | $1,100 | +$100 (+10.0%) | IRS Notice 2025-67 |
How this 401(k) calculator works
Each projected year the calculator contributes your chosen percentage of salary, capped at the 2026 employee deferral limit of $24,500, adds the employer match, grows the balance at your expected return and raises your salary by the growth rate you set. Catch-up contributions are not added automatically. To see what the same money does in a taxable account, use the compound interest calculator, and check the tax effect of pre-tax deferrals in the take-home pay calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 401(k) contribution limit?+
What changed from 2025 to 2026?+
How does employer match work?+
What annual return should I assume?+
Should I do Roth or Traditional 401(k)?+
Does this include catch-up contributions?+
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