Quick answer
A retirement projection adds the future value of what you have saved to the future value of your monthly contributions: FV = S(1 + i)^m + C × ((1 + i)^m − 1) ÷ i, with i the monthly return and m the months until retirement. Saving $500 a month from age 30 to 65 at 7% grows to about $900,527.
The result is nominal, not adjusted for inflation, and it assumes monthly compounding with contributions at the end of each month. The return is the rate you choose, not a promise: real returns vary and can be negative in some years, so try several rates.
Related tools: 401(k) Calculator: Projected 401(k) balance with salary growth and employer match. CAGR Calculator: Compound annual growth rate between two values. Investment Calculator: Project investment growth from a rate of return you choose.
How to use the Retirement Calculator
- Enter current age (a whole number, between 0 and 100).
- Enter retirement age (a whole number, between 1 and 100). It starts at 65.
- Enter current savings ($) (0 or more).
- Enter monthly contribution ($) (0 or more).
- Enter expected annual return (%) (between 0 and 50). It starts at 7.
- Press Calculate to see the result, and use Reset to start again.
| Input | What to enter | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|
| Current age | A whole number | ≥ 0, ≤ 100 |
| Retirement age | A whole number | ≥ 1, ≤ 100, starts at 65 |
| Current savings | A number, in $ | ≥ 0 |
| Monthly contribution | A number, in $ | ≥ 0 |
| Expected annual return | A number, in % | ≥ 0, ≤ 50, starts at 7 |
Formula and method
Formula
FV = S(1 + i)^m + C × ((1 + i)^m − 1) ÷ i, i = rate ÷ 12, m = months to retirement
IEEE-754 double precision; money shown to cents, rates to 4 decimals. Results are estimates, not financial advice.
Nominal (not inflation-adjusted) projection with monthly compounding and end-of-month contributions. Returns are not guaranteed.
Worked examples
These examples are verified: each one is an automated test case that the live calculator must reproduce exactly.
Example 1
Inputs: Current age = 30; Retirement age = 65; Current savings = 0; Monthly contribution = 500; Expected annual return = 7.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Projected savings at retirement | $900,527.30 |
| Total contributed | $210,000.00 |
| Growth | $690,527.30 |
| Years to retirement | 35 |
Example 2
Inputs: Current age = 60; Retirement age = 65; Current savings = 100000; Monthly contribution = 0; Expected annual return = 0.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Projected savings at retirement | $100,000.00 |
| Total contributed | $100,000.00 |
| Growth | $0.00 |
| Years to retirement | 5 |
The first line is the headline result (projected savings at retirement). Below it the retirement Calculator lists total contributed, growth and years to retirement, which describe the same case from other angles. IEEE-754 double precision; money shown to cents, rates to 4 decimals. Results are estimates, not financial advice.
What drives the result
In the first example $210,000 of contributions grows to $900,527.30, so $690,527.30 comes from growth. The longer money stays invested, the larger the growth share becomes, which is why starting earlier matters more than most single changes in the contribution.
What this calculator does not model
- Inflation: dollars at retirement buy less than dollars today.
- Employer matching contributions and increases in your contributions over time.
- Taxes, fees and withdrawals.
Employer match and inflation: how to model them here
If your employer adds money for every dollar you contribute, add the employer's monthly amount to your own contribution before you enter it: with $500 of your own and $100 from your employer, enter $600.
To see the result in today's purchasing power, enter a real return instead of the nominal one. The real return is (1 + nominal) ÷ (1 + inflation) − 1. For a 7% nominal return and 3% inflation that is 1.07 ÷ 1.03 − 1 = 3.88%, so entering 3.88 gives an answer in today's dollars. The calculator does not model contributions that grow over time.
$500 a month from age 30 to 65 at different returns
Every figure in this table comes from running this calculator, so it matches what the form returns.
| Expected return (%) | Projected savings at retirement | Total contributed | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $568,046.21 | $210,000.00 | $358,046.21 |
| 7 | $900,527.30 | $210,000.00 | $690,527.30 |
| 9 | $1,470,892.24 | $210,000.00 | $1,260,892.24 |
$500 a month at 7% with different retirement ages
Every figure in this table comes from running this calculator, so it matches what the form returns.
| Retirement age | Projected savings at retirement | Years to retirement |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | $609,985.50 | 30 |
| 65 | $900,527.30 | 35 |
| 67 | $1,048,272.22 | 37 |
| 70 | $1,312,406.70 | 40 |
What happens with invalid input
These messages are produced by the calculator itself, so you know what to fix.
- Retirement age: entering "65" shows "Retirement age must be greater than your current age." beside that field and no result.
Choosing between the Retirement Calculator and similar calculators
Each row shows what a related calculator on this site asks for and what it returns, so you can pick the one that matches your question.
| Calculator | You enter | It returns |
|---|---|---|
| [401(k) Calculator](/finance/401k-calculator/) | annual salary, your contribution and employer matches this share of your contribution | Projected balance |
| [CAGR Calculator](/finance/cagr-calculator/) | beginning value, ending value and years | CAGR |
| [Investment Calculator](/finance/investment-calculator/) | initial amount, annual interest rate and years | Projected value |
| [Savings Goal Calculator](/finance/savings-goal-calculator/) | savings goal, current savings and annual return | Monthly deposit needed |
| [Social Security Retirement Benefit Calculator](/finance/social-security-calculator/) | date of birth, average indexed monthly earnings and claiming age: years | Estimated monthly benefit |
Background: personal finance estimates
Financial calculators project from the numbers you give them. Long-range tools depend on guesses about returns and tax rates that are unlikely to hold exactly, payoff tools assume a fixed payment and rate, and tax or salary results depend on the tax year, filing status and country. Official calculators say their output is for reference only.
For decisions that matter, use conservative inputs and check the figures against your lender, plan documents or a qualified adviser.
Assumptions and limitations
- Retirement age must exceed current age
Results are estimates for planning, not financial advice. Lender terms, fees, taxes and rounding rules can change real figures, so confirm important numbers with your lender or a licensed adviser.
If a required value is empty, not a number, or outside its allowed range, the form marks that field with a message and shows no result instead of a misleading number. The automated checks deliberately try invalid entries for retirement age to confirm this.
Frequently asked questions
Does this retirement calculator adjust for inflation?
No. The projection is in nominal dollars. Choose a return that is lower than your expected investment return if you want a rough feel for purchasing power.
What does the Retirement Calculator calculate?
Projected savings at retirement from your contributions and expected return. It returns Projected savings at retirement, Total contributed, Growth and Years to retirement.
What formula does the Retirement Calculator use?
FV = S(1 + i)^m + C × ((1 + i)^m − 1) ÷ i, i = rate ÷ 12, m = months to retirement. Nominal (not inflation-adjusted) projection with monthly compounding and end-of-month contributions.
What do I need to enter in the retirement Calculator?
You enter Current age, Retirement age, Current savings ($), Monthly contribution ($) and Expected annual return (%).
How is the result rounded or limited?
IEEE-754 double precision; money shown to cents, rates to 4 decimals. Results are estimates, not financial advice. Retirement age must exceed current age.
What is an example of a retirement result?
With current age 30, retirement age 65, current savings 0, monthly contribution 500 and expected annual return 7, the projected savings at retirement is $900,527.30.
Can I rely on this calculator for a decision?
Results are estimates for planning, not financial advice. Lender terms, fees, taxes and rounding rules can change real figures, so confirm important numbers with your lender or a licensed adviser. For this calculator in particular: Retirement age must exceed current age.
Related calculators
- 401(k) Calculator — Projected 401(k) balance with salary growth and employer match.
- CAGR Calculator — Compound annual growth rate between two values.
- Investment Calculator — Project investment growth from a rate of return you choose.
- Savings Goal Calculator — Monthly deposit needed to reach a savings goal.
- Defined Benefit Pension Calculator — Annual and monthly pension from years of service, accrual rate and final average salary.
- Auto Loan Calculator — Monthly car payment after down payment and trade-in.
Sources
- Standard time-value-of-money relations (e.g. Brealey, Myers & Allen, Principles of Corporate Finance)
Content last reviewed 2026-11-04. Formulas and worked examples are checked by automated tests against independently computed values.