gardencalculator.net

401(k) Calculator

Project your 401(k) balance at retirement, including employer matching and annual salary growth.

Written by Jude Ramsey · Last updated August 2026 · How these calculators are checked

The method behind this calculator

An employer match is the highest guaranteed return available to most workers — often 50 cents or a dollar for every dollar you contribute, up to a cap. Contributing less than the cap leaves that money on the table permanently.

This calculator models your contribution, the match, salary growth and investment returns year by year, and flags exactly how much free match you are forfeiting if your contribution sits below the cap.

Try it with these numbers

On the values this calculator opens with, the 401(k) at retirement is $972,382.83. Underneath, Your yearly contribution comes out at $4,200 and Employer match / yr at $2,100. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.

Step by step

  1. Enter your salary and the percentage you contribute.
  2. Enter your employer’s match rate and the cap it applies to.
  3. Set your years to retirement and expected return.

Formula reference

each year: balance = (balance + your contribution + match) × (1 + return) match = salary × min(your %, match cap) × match rate

Common questions

How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At minimum, enough to capture the full employer match. Beyond that it depends on your other goals and the annual contribution limit.
What happens if I leave my job?
Your own contributions are always yours. Employer contributions may be subject to a vesting schedule.
Traditional or Roth 401(k)?
Traditional reduces taxable income now; Roth is taxed now and tax-free later. Which wins depends on your tax rate now versus in retirement.

Related calculators

Retirement calculatorRoth IRA calculatorPaycheck calculatorCompound Interest calculator