Summary: how much to save for retirement, free and private
A retirement calculator estimates whether your savings will last as long as you do. Enter your ages, savings, monthly saving, current monthly expenses, expected returns and inflation. The calculator projects your savings at retirement, inflates your expenses to that date, works out the lump sum needed to pay them until your life expectancy, and shows the surplus or shortfall.
A shortfall comes with the monthly saving that would close it. The figures are estimates built on steady returns and inflation, not forecasts. The maths runs in your browser, so nothing you type is uploaded (check the Network tab in DevTools).
Table of use: three example plans
These are illustrative inputs, not predictions or advice. Rates are return before retirement, return after retirement and inflation.
| Plan | Inputs | Savings at retirement | Savings needed | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting early (INR, the default) | Age 30, retire 60, to 85; ₹5,00,000 saved, ₹20,000 a month; expenses ₹50,000; 10%, 7%, 6% | ₹5,03,10,555 | ₹7,48,06,969 | Shortfall ₹2,44,96,413; save ₹31,781 a month |
| Mid-career (USD) | Age 35, retire 65, to 90; $50,000 saved, $1,000 a month; expenses $4,000; 7%, 5%, 3% | $1,556,678 | $2,283,349 | Shortfall $726,671; save $1,618 a month |
| Close to retirement (GBP) | Age 55, retire 67, to 90; £400,000 saved, £1,500 a month; expenses £2,500; 6%, 4%, 2.5% | £1,118,319 | £780,489 | Surplus £337,830 |
The method: projected savings = current savings × (1 + r)years + monthly deposits compounded at the equivalent monthly rate, deposited at the start of each month. Expenses at retirement = today's monthly expenses × (1 + inflation)years. Savings needed = the present value of those expenses paid at the start of every month until life expectancy, rising with inflation once a year and discounted at your after-retirement return.
Features
- Six currencies: INR, USD, GBP, AUD, NZD and CAD, shown in each currency's local number format. The selector changes the symbol only and does not convert amounts.
- Retirement length from your life expectancy, stated in the Savings Needed line.
- On track or Savings gap banner with the monthly saving that would close any shortfall.
- Surplus or Shortfall, the monthly income your savings support (also in today's money) and the age they would last until.
- 4% rule comparison (25 × yearly expenses) and a ring chart splitting contributions from investment returns.
- Download PDF report of your inputs and projection, made in your browser.
- Input checks: current age 15 to 100, life expectancy up to 120, and rates up to 50%.
How to use the retirement calculator
- Pick your Currency; nothing is converted, so enter amounts in it.
- Fill in Current Age, Retirement Age and Life Expectancy.
- Enter Current Savings, Monthly Savings and Current Monthly Expenses in today's money, minus any pension you expect.
- Set Return Before Retirement (%), Return After Retirement (%) and Inflation (%) as yearly rates.
- Read the banner and result cards, then press Download PDF to keep a copy.
Who can use it
Savers can compare retiring at 60 with 65, see how more monthly saving moves the gap, or check an existing portfolio. It uses fixed rates (one return before and one after retirement, plus inflation), so it suits quick planning, not detailed tax or pension modelling.
The savings calculator, compound interest calculator and investment calculator show how deposits grow. The percentage calculator helps with inflation and return arithmetic, and the currency converter converts an amount before you enter it here. For debts, try the loan calculator, EMI calculator or mortgage calculator, and the tax calculator for tax. More are in the calculators hub; see the privacy policy for data handling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How much do I need to retire?
It depends on your spending, how long retirement lasts and what your savings earn. The calculator inflates your monthly expenses to your retirement date, then finds the lump sum that pays them every month until your life expectancy. For example, $4,000 a month today at 3% inflation becomes $9,709 a month in 30 years, and with a 5% return after retirement the lump sum needed for 25 retirement years is $2,283,349.
How does this retirement calculator work?
It grows your savings and monthly deposits at your return before retirement, inflates your expenses to the year you retire, then works out the savings needed on that day to pay them monthly until your life expectancy while the balance earns your after-retirement return. The difference is your surplus or shortfall. Taxes, fees and market swings are not included.
Why does life expectancy change the result?
Savings must cover every month between retirement and life expectancy, so a longer plan needs a larger lump sum. In the USD example with retirement at 65, planning to age 90 needs $2,283,349 and planning to age 95 needs $2,622,438. Many planners choose a late-80s or 90s age so that a long life does not leave them short.
What is the 4% rule and why is its figure different?
The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of savings in the first year and adjusting for inflation afterwards, which means saving 25 times your yearly expenses. It comes from William Bengen's 1994 research and the later Trinity Study. The calculator shows that figure for comparison, but its own target uses your retirement length, return and inflation, so the two can differ widely.
What if I am behind on retirement savings?
The banner shows the monthly saving that would close the gap. You can also retire later, which adds saving years and shortens the period your money must last, lower your planned expenses, or aim for a higher return, which usually means more risk. Change one input at a time to see which lever matters most.
What return and inflation should I assume?
Use cautious numbers for something as important as retirement, and try several scenarios. Rates are yearly and entered as percentages. What builds purchasing power is the gap between your return and inflation. Returns after retirement are often set lower than before, because portfolios tend to hold more bonds and cash once withdrawals begin.
Is it safe to enter my savings and expenses here?
Yes. All calculations run in your browser, so the figures you type are not uploaded or stored, and they disappear when you close the page. The Download PDF button also builds the report in your browser. You can verify this in the Network tab of your browser DevTools while you change the inputs.
Estimates only, not financial advice. Consider a qualified adviser before big retirement decisions.