A retirement savings calculator answers the question that actually keeps people up at night: am I saving enough? It takes what you have today and what you add each month, grows it to your retirement age, then checks whether the result can fund the lifestyle you want once Social Security is counted.
The verdict above is deliberately calm — On track, Almost there, or a gap to close — and whenever there’s a shortfall, you get the precise extra monthly saving (or the year or two of working longer) that fixes it. Everything is shown in today’s money so the numbers feel real.
How much should you be saving?
There’s no single number, because it depends on when you want to stop, how much you’ll spend, and how much Social Security or a pension covers. A common starting point is to aim for a nest egg around 25× the annual spending your own savings need to cover — but the calculator works it out from your actual inputs rather than a rule of thumb.
The most powerful lever early on is time. A dollar saved in your thirties has decades to compound; the same dollar saved in your fifties barely gets going. That’s why starting — even small — beats waiting for the “right” amount.
Reading your on-track verdict
The funded-ratio arc shows how close your projected savings come to the income you’re targeting. Above 100% and you’ve got margin; in the 85–99% band you’re almost there; below that, there’s a gap — but it’s framed as a solvable plan, never a pass/fail.
Two fixes always appear with any gap: the extra you’d save each month to reach on-track, and the alternative of retiring a little later, which both grows the balance and shortens the years it has to last. Pick whichever fits your life.
What to do if you’re behind
Falling short at first is normal, especially mid-career. The highest-impact moves are usually raising your contribution (even a small, automatic annual increase compounds), capturing every dollar of employer match, and keeping fees low so more of the growth is yours.
If saving more isn’t possible right now, working a couple of extra years is surprisingly powerful — it’s the rare lever that helps from both ends at once. Use the what-if chips above to see each option’s effect on your own numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to save for retirement?
Enough that your savings, plus Social Security or a pension, can cover your annual spending sustainably — often a nest egg around 25× the portion your own savings must fund. The calculator works out your specific number from your spending, age, and expected returns.
Am I on track for retirement?
Enter your age, current savings, monthly contribution, and target spending above. You’ll get a clear verdict — on track, almost there, or a gap to close — plus the exact extra saving or later retirement age that would put you on track.
How much should I have saved by my age?
A common guideline is roughly 1× your salary saved by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, and 8–10× by 67 — but these are rough benchmarks. Your real target depends on your spending and other income, which this calculator accounts for.
Does this include Social Security?
Yes. Social Security (or a pension) directly offsets what your savings have to cover, which dramatically lowers the nest egg you need. Enter your estimated monthly benefit in “other monthly income” — the U.S. average is around $1,900.