401(k) Calculator | Project Balance & Employer Match Value
Project your 401(k) balance at retirement
Calculate the exact value of your employer match, model max contribution scenarios, and compare traditional vs...
When Should You Use This Calculator?
- Project 401(k) retirement savings growth with compound interest over time
- Calculate the impact of employer matching contributions on your retirement balance
- Plan retirement savings with annual contributions and see future value projections
- Compare different contribution scenarios to optimize your retirement strategy
- Understand how employer match percentage and cap affect your total retirement savings
Key Features:
- 401(k) balance projection with employer match
- Employer match percentage and cap calculation
- Retirement savings growth visualization
- Future value calculation with contributions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I contribute to my 401(k)?
For 2026, the elective deferral limit is $24,500 (under age 50). If you are 50 or older, you can make an additional catch-up contribution of $8,000, for a total of $32,500. Ages 60-63 get an even higher catch-up under SECURE 2.0, bringing the total to $35,750. This calculator flags contributions above your age-based limit with a non-blocking advisory. Limits adjust annually for inflation.
Does the employer match count toward my contribution limit?
No. Employer matching contributions do NOT count toward your individual elective deferral limit ($24,500 in 2026). They count toward the total combined limit ($72,000 in 2026 for all contributions combined — employee, employer, and after-tax additions).
What is the difference between a traditional and Roth 401(k)?
Traditional 401(k) contributions are pre-tax — you pay tax when you withdraw in retirement. Roth 401(k) contributions are after-tax — withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement, Roth tends to win. This calculator projects a single account's growth; run the numbers once assuming pre-tax and once assuming after-tax dollars to compare the two paths for your own situation.
How do I calculate the true value of my employer match?
Employer match is essentially a 50-100% instant return on your contributions — before any investment growth. For example, if your employer matches 100% up to 3% of a $80,000 salary, that is $2,400 per year in free money. Use the Employer Match value display in this calculator to see exactly how much match you are leaving behind at different contribution levels.
Can I export my 401(k) Calculator calculations?
Yes. In guest mode you can export your calculations to JSON. Signing in adds PDF and CSV export. Click the export button to download your results — useful for record-keeping, sharing, or importing into other tools.
Does this calculator save my history?
Yes. Your calculation history is saved automatically. As a guest you can keep up to 50 calculations per workspace on your device. Sign in for free to keep up to 100 per workspace and access them from any device.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes. The 401(k) Calculator is free to use with no sign-up required. A free account adds more calculation history, multiple workspaces, and access to your saved data from any device.
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