Retirement Planner Calc

Last Updated: May 2026

FIRE Calculator

Your FIRE number is the amount of money you need to retire and never run out. This calculator finds it in seconds.

Financial Independence, Retire Early is built on one math principle: invest enough that 4% of your portfolio covers your annual spending. At that point, historically, your portfolio grows fast enough to last indefinitely.

This calculator shows three scenarios: Lean FIRE for minimalist lifestyles, Regular FIRE using the standard 4% rate, and Fat FIRE for a generous retirement with more margin. It also calculates your Coast FIRE number, the point at which you can stop saving entirely and let compound interest do the rest.

All inputs are for your annual spending in retirement, not your current income. Most FIRE planners find their number is 60% to 80% of their current salary.

Your Numbers

Your FIRE Number

$1,500,000

Regular FIRE

LeanRegularFat
Target$1,200,000$1,500,000$1,980,000
Years away17.920.523.8
FIRE date204420472050

You're 6.7% of the way to your FIRE number

Coast FIRE

If you stop saving today, your current $100,000 will grow to your FIRE number by age 75 on its own.

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Savings Trajectory vs FIRE Target

All Retirement Planning Tools

Everything you need to plan and optimize your retirement — from savings projections to RMD compliance.

FIRE Calculator

Find your number for financial independence. Lean FIRE, Regular FIRE, Fat FIRE, and Coast FIRE scenarios.

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RMD Calculator

Calculate your 2026 Required Minimum Distribution using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. RMDs begin at age 73.

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Roth Conversion Analyzer

Should you convert to Roth in 2026? See the tax cost now versus the tax savings in retirement.

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Social Security Break-Even

Compare claiming at 62, 67, or 70. Find the exact age when delayed claiming pays off.

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401(k) Growth Calculator

Project your 401k balance with employer match and 2026 catch-up contributions included.

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Retirement Income Calculator

How long will your savings last? Model monthly withdrawals and see your money timeline.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Your FIRE number is the total invested assets you need to retire and live off your portfolio indefinitely. It is calculated by multiplying your expected annual spending in retirement by 25 — the inverse of the 4% safe withdrawal rate. If you plan to spend $50,000 per year in retirement, your FIRE number is $1,250,000. If you plan to spend $80,000, your FIRE number is $2,000,000. This rule assumes your portfolio will generate at least 4% real returns annually to sustain indefinite withdrawals.
The three FIRE variants reflect different lifestyle spending targets. Lean FIRE uses a 5% withdrawal rate (20x annual spending) — designed for a minimalist lifestyle, typically $25,000 to $40,000 per year. Regular FIRE uses the standard 4% rate (25x spending) for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. Fat FIRE uses a 3% withdrawal rate (33x spending) for a generous lifestyle with significant discretionary spending, typically $100,000 per year or more. Barista FIRE is a hybrid — partially funded portfolio plus a low-stress part-time job to cover daily expenses while the portfolio continues to grow.
Coast FIRE is the point at which your existing invested assets — without any additional contributions — will grow to your full FIRE number by your target retirement age through compound interest alone. Once you reach Coast FIRE, you only need to earn enough to cover your current living expenses — you can "coast" to retirement without saving another dollar. For example, $200,000 invested at age 35 growing at 7% annually reaches approximately $1.5 million by age 65 — if that's your FIRE number, you've hit Coast FIRE at 35.
The historical average real return of the U.S. stock market is approximately 7% after inflation. FIRE calculators typically use 7% as a default because it is a long-term average that accounts for both bull and bear markets. More conservative planners use 5% to account for potentially lower future returns or a more conservative asset allocation. More aggressive FIRE seekers sometimes use 8% or 9% for the accumulation phase. The withdrawal phase typically uses a lower assumed return — 4% to 5% — reflecting a more conservative allocation in retirement.
Inflation erodes purchasing power over time. A $50,000 lifestyle today will cost approximately $90,000 in 20 years at 3% annual inflation. Most FIRE calculations account for inflation by using real (inflation-adjusted) returns rather than nominal returns. The 4% safe withdrawal rate was derived from historical data that already accounts for inflation — meaning the 4% withdrawal is increased annually to maintain purchasing power. If you retire at 40 instead of 65, your portfolio needs to sustain 50+ years of withdrawals rather than the 30 years the 4% rule was designed for, which is why many early retirees use a 3% or 3.5% rate.
Yes — but carefully. If you are pursuing early retirement before Social Security eligibility (age 62 earliest, with FRA at 67), you cannot count on Social Security for the early years. Your FIRE number must fund those years independently. Once you reach Social Security claiming age, your monthly benefit reduces the amount your portfolio must support. A $2,000 monthly Social Security benefit reduces your annual portfolio withdrawal need by $24,000 — reducing your required FIRE number by $600,000 (at the 4% rate) for the period when you receive benefits.
The original 4% safe withdrawal rate was based on a 30-year retirement period. For early retirees targeting 40 to 50 year retirements, most research suggests a 3% to 3.5% withdrawal rate provides better protection against sequence-of-returns risk. The Trinity Study (the academic basis for the 4% rule) showed 4% had a 95% success rate over 30 years but a lower success rate over 40+ years. For a 50-year retirement, 3.3% is commonly cited as the equivalent safe rate. The calculator above allows you to model any withdrawal rate from 3% to 5% to see how it affects your longevity projection.

How the FIRE Calculator Works

Step 1: Enter your expected annual spending in retirement. This is your lifestyle cost, not your income.

Step 2: The calculator multiplies that number by the FIRE multiplier for your chosen scenario. Regular FIRE uses 25 (the inverse of 4%). Lean FIRE uses 20 (5% withdrawal). Fat FIRE uses 33 (3% withdrawal).

Step 3: It subtracts your current savings from your FIRE number to find the gap.

Step 4: It projects how long it will take to close that gap at your monthly savings rate and expected return.

Step 5: It calculates your Coast FIRE age, the age at which your current savings alone will reach your FIRE number through compound growth.

The expected return field defaults to 7%. This is the historical average real return of the U.S. stock market from 1926 through 2024, after adjusting for inflation. Conservative planners use 5% to 6%.

Projections are estimates based on your inputs and assumed rates of return. Actual investment performance, tax rates, and Social Security benefits will differ. This calculator does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized retirement planning.

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