See how big your 401(k) could grow. This free 401k calculator projects your balance at retirement including your employer match, and shows how much comes from contributions versus growth.
Estimate only, in nominal dollars. Employer match is treated as dollar-for-dollar up to the percent you contribute.
Use this free 401(k) calculator to project your retirement account balance, including your employer match. Enter your age, salary, contribution rate and expected return to see how much your 401(k) could grow.
A 401(k) calculator projects your workplace retirement balance at retirement. Enter your salary, the percentage you contribute, your employer match and an expected return, and it shows your projected balance, your total contributions, the employer match and investment growth.
The employer match is the key feature — it’s effectively free money, and this calculator shows how much it adds over a career.
A common match is “100% up to 6%” — your employer adds a dollar for every dollar you contribute, up to 6% of your salary. To get the full match, you generally need to contribute at least up to the match limit. This calculator treats the match as dollar-for-dollar up to the percent you contribute, so not contributing enough leaves money on the table.
At age 30 retiring at 65, with a $20,000 balance, a $60,000 salary, contributing 6% with a 3% match at 7% return:
| Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Your contributions | $126,000 |
| Employer match | $63,000 |
| Investment growth | $831,598 |
| Projected balance | $1,040,598 |
The employer match alone adds about $63,000 in contributions — and far more once it compounds.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| 401(k) | An employer-sponsored, tax-advantaged retirement account. |
| Employer match | Money your employer adds based on your contributions. |
| Vesting | How long you must stay to fully own the employer match. |
| Contribution limit | The IRS cap on how much you can contribute each year. |
| Compound growth | Returns earning returns over time. |
Your current balance and your monthly contributions (yours plus your employer match) are compounded at your expected return until retirement. The calculator adds it all up to project your balance and shows how much comes from growth.
An employer match means your company adds money based on what you contribute — for example, "100% up to 6%" matches each dollar up to 6% of your salary. You usually must contribute at least up to the match limit to get the full amount.
At minimum, contribute enough to capture the full employer match — it's free money. Many advisors suggest aiming for 10–15% of your salary including the match, increasing over time.
Vesting is how long you must stay with an employer to fully own the matched contributions. Your own contributions are always 100% yours; the match may vest gradually over several years.
No. The IRS sets an annual 401(k) contribution limit that changes each year. This calculator projects based on your inputs, so keep your contributions within the current limit.
Yes, this 401(k) calculator is completely free, needs no sign-up, and gives instant results directly in your browser.