Roth IRA Calculator
Project the tax-free balance of your Roth IRA at retirement from your current age, contributions, and expected return — and see how much of it is growth versus what you paid in.
How to Use
- Enter your current age and the age you plan to retire — the gap is how long your money has to grow.
- Enter your current Roth IRA balance, if you already have one.
- Set your planned annual contribution (the 2026 limit is about $7,000, or $8,000 if you are 50 or older).
- Set an expected annual return — 6%–8% is a common long-run stock-market assumption.
- Read your projected tax-free balance at retirement, plus how it splits between contributions and investment growth.
Show Work
Notes
About the Roth IRA Calculator
The Roth IRA Calculator is a simple, free helper for personal-finance and money decisions that runs entirely on your own device. Project the tax-free balance of your Roth IRA at retirement from your current age, contributions, and expected return — and see how much of it is growth versus what you paid in.
How it works
Enter your figures and the result appears instantly, updating the moment you change anything. There is no submit button and nothing to wait for, so it is easy to try a few what-if numbers and compare the results. Just check each box holds the kind of value it expects.
Want the deeper story? The Knowledge Base explains the ideas behind the tools in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA — which is better?
With a Roth IRA you contribute after-tax dollars and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. A Traditional IRA gives you a tax deduction now but you pay income tax on withdrawals later. Roth tends to win if you expect to be in the same or a higher tax bracket in retirement, or if you value tax-free, required-minimum-distribution-free money. Traditional can win if you expect a much lower bracket later. Many people hold both.
How much can I contribute to a Roth IRA?
For 2026 the contribution limit is roughly $7,000 if you are under 50, and about $8,000 if you are 50 or older thanks to the catch-up amount. These limits apply across all your IRAs combined, and they change over time, so check the current IRS figures before maxing out.
Are Roth IRA withdrawals really tax-free?
Qualified withdrawals are tax-free and penalty-free. To qualify, the account generally must be at least five years old and you must be 59½ or older (other exceptions apply). Because you already paid tax on the contributions, neither your contributions nor decades of growth are taxed when you take a qualified distribution.
What if my income is too high for a Roth IRA?
Roth IRAs have income limits — above a certain modified adjusted gross income your allowed contribution phases down to zero. Higher earners sometimes use a 'backdoor Roth' (contributing to a Traditional IRA and converting), but that has its own tax rules. Check whether you are within the current income limits before relying on this projection.
How accurate is this projection?
This is an estimate, not financial advice. It assumes a single fixed annual return compounded once a year and a constant contribution, which the real market never delivers — returns vary year to year, contribution limits change, and your situation is unique. Use it to understand the power of long-term compounding, then talk to a qualified advisor for decisions.
How do I use the Roth IRA Calculator?
Just type your numbers. The answer shows up right away — there is no button to press. Change anything and it updates by itself.
Does it cost anything or need an account?
No. The tool is completely free, there is no account to create, and it keeps working offline after the page first loads.
Is anything I type uploaded?
No. The tool works entirely on your device, so the values you enter never leave your browser.
Common Use Cases
Starting early
See how a Roth IRA opened in your 20s can grow into a large tax-free balance by retirement.
Mid-career check-in
Project where your current balance and contributions are heading and whether to step them up.
Catch-up planning
Model the extra catch-up contributions allowed once you turn 50.
Comparing return assumptions
Switch between conservative and optimistic returns to see the spread in possible outcomes.
Visualizing growth vs contributions
Separate what you paid in from what compounding earned to appreciate long-term investing.
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