🏖️ Retirement Withdrawal Calculator
See how long your savings could last with yearly withdrawals that rise with inflation, at a steady rate of return.
How the Retirement Withdrawal Calculator Works
This calculator answers a common retirement question: if you start with a certain amount and withdraw a set amount each year, how many years will the money last? Each year, the withdrawal is taken at the start of the year, the remaining balance grows at the rate of return you enter, and the next year’s withdrawal increases with inflation so that it keeps the same purchasing power.
The result assumes a constant return every year. Real markets move up and down, and the order of returns matters: poor returns early in retirement can shorten how long savings last even when the average return is the same. Treat the result as an illustration for comparing scenarios, not as a forecast. The “initial withdrawal rate” shown is the first year’s withdrawal as a share of savings, the figure discussed in the well-known 4% rule of thumb, which is based on historical studies and is not a guarantee.
Formula
Year k: balance after withdrawal = balance − withdrawal(k) Balance at end of year = (balance after withdrawal) × (1 + return) Withdrawal(k + 1) = withdrawal(k) × (1 + inflation) Initial withdrawal rate = first withdrawal ÷ starting savings × 100
How to Use It
- Enter your savings at the start of retirement.
- Enter the amount you plan to withdraw in the first year.
- Enter an assumed yearly return and inflation rate.
- See how many years the savings last and the balance at key points.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my retirement savings last?
It depends on the starting balance, the withdrawal amount, investment returns, and inflation. This calculator simulates each year with constant rates to estimate when the balance would run out.
What is the 4% rule?
A rule of thumb from historical US research suggesting that withdrawing 4% of savings in the first year and adjusting for inflation afterward lasted at least 30 years in most historical periods studied. It is a historical finding, not a guarantee.
Why does the result change so much with small rate changes?
Because returns and inflation compound over decades. A one-point difference in return or inflation can change how long savings last by many years.
Are taxes included?
No. Enter withdrawals as the amounts you plan to take out; taxes on withdrawals depend on account type and where you live.
Related Glossary Terms
Related Calculators
- 🔥 FIRE Number Calculator — Financial Independence, Retire Early — find your number and timeline.
- 🏦 401(k) Calculator — Estimate your retirement savings using real 2026 IRS contribution limits.
- 🎈 Inflation Calculator — Future cost and buying power of money for any inflation rate.
- 📈 Compound Interest Calculator — See how your money grows with compound interest and regular monthly contributions.
Formula and content last reviewed: September 2026. All calculations run in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to or stored on our servers.
Guide: understanding your result
- How long savings last depends on the withdrawal rate, investment returns, inflation and the order of returns (sequence risk).
- Required minimum distributions from most pre-tax accounts begin at age 73 for many people under current law.
- Withdrawals from traditional accounts are generally taxable income.
Worked example
A $1,000,000 portfolio earning a steady illustrative 5% a year, with fixed withdrawals (no inflation increase):
| Withdrawal rate | Annual withdrawal | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| 3% | $30,000 | Lasts indefinitely |
| 4% | $40,000 | Lasts indefinitely |
| 5% | $50,000 | Lasts indefinitely |
| 6% | $60,000 | 35 yr 11 mo |
Fixed withdrawals and a constant return — real markets fluctuate. Illustration only.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming average returns arrive smoothly every year.
- Forgetting that withdrawals from pre-tax accounts are taxed.
Official sources
Examples are calculated live from the same data the calculator uses and are for education only — they are not financial, tax or investment advice.
More Finance calculators
See all →✔ Reviewed by GelirLab Editöryal Ekibi · Last reviewed: September 2026 · How we check our calculators