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Coast FIRE Calculator

Find out whether your invested balance is already enough to grow into a full retirement fund with no further contributions.

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

How this calculator arrives at its answer

Coast FIRE is the point where compounding alone will carry your existing investments to your retirement number. You still need to cover living costs, but you no longer need to save for retirement — a meaningful amount of freedom well before full financial independence.

The calculator discounts your FIRE number back to today at your real return rate and compares it against what you have invested now.

A worked example

On the values this calculator opens with, the coast FIRE status is Not yet. Underneath, FIRE number needed comes out at $1,250,000 and Coast FIRE number today at $226,612.86. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.

How to use it

  1. Enter your current age and target retirement age.
  2. Enter your invested balance and expected annual spending.
  3. Set a real return rate and withdrawal rate.

How the number is calculated

FIRE number = annual spending ÷ withdrawal rate coast number = FIRE number ÷ (1 + real return)^years you are coasting when balance ≥ coast number

Questions people ask about this

What is the difference between Coast FIRE and full FIRE?
Full FIRE means your investments cover your living costs today. Coast FIRE means they will cover retirement later, but you still work to pay current bills.
What real return should I use?
Use a return net of inflation — historically around 5% for a diversified equity-heavy portfolio, though this is not a guarantee.
Is the 4% withdrawal rate safe?
It is a historical guideline, not a promise. Longer retirements and poor early returns can both strain it. This is not financial advice.

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