Roth IRA Calculator

Q: What is the maximum I can put into a Roth IRA in 2024?

For 2026, the IRS limit is $7,500 per year if you are under 50. 1 If you are 50 or older, you can contribute up to $8,600 per year . 1 The extra $1,100 is the catch-up contribution. 2

Introduction

A Roth IRA is a retirement account where you put in money you've already paid taxes on. The big benefit is that when you take the money out in retirement, you don't pay any taxes on it, not even on the growth. This Roth IRA calculator helps you see how much your savings could grow over time. Just enter how much you plan to put in each year, your expected rate of return, and how many years until you retire. The calculator will show you your total contributions, how much interest you could earn, and what your final balance might look like. Use this tool to plan ahead and make smart choices about your retirement savings.

How to use our Roth IRA Calculator

Enter your age, savings details, and expected rates below to see how much your Roth IRA could grow by retirement, plus how it compares to a regular taxable account.

Current Age: Enter the age you are right now. This tells the calculator how many years you have left until retirement.

Retirement Age: Enter the age when you plan to stop working and start using your savings. This must be higher than your current age.

Current Roth IRA Balance: Enter how much money you already have in your Roth IRA today. If you are just starting out, enter zero.

Maximize Contributions (IRS Limits): Turn this on if you want the calculator to use the maximum amount the IRS allows each year. For 2026, that is $7,500 if you are under 50 and $8,600 if you are 50 or older.¹

Annual Contribution: If you did not turn on the maximize toggle, enter the total dollar amount you plan to put into your Roth IRA each year.

Contribution Frequency: Choose how often you add money to your account: once a year as a lump sum, monthly, or every two weeks. This affects how your earnings compound over time.

Annual Return (%): Enter the yearly rate of return you expect your investments to earn. A common estimate for a stock-heavy portfolio is around 7%.

Inflation Rate (%): Enter the expected rate of inflation. This is used to show what your future balance would be worth in today's dollars.

Current Marginal Tax Rate: Enter your combined federal and state income tax rate right now. This is used to compare the Roth IRA against a taxable account.

Retirement Tax Rate: Enter the income tax rate you expect to pay in retirement. Since many people earn less in retirement, this number is often lower than your current rate.

Annual Contribution Increase (%): Enter a percentage if you plan to raise your yearly contribution over time, such as when you get a raise. Contributions will still be capped at IRS limits.

Capital Gains Tax Rate (Taxable Account): Enter the long-term capital gains tax rate used for the taxable account comparison. This helps show how much you save by keeping gains tax-free inside a Roth IRA.

What Is a Roth IRA?

A Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is a special type of retirement savings account that lets your money grow tax-free. Unlike a traditional IRA, you put in money that you have already paid taxes on. The big benefit comes later: when you retire and take money out, you owe zero taxes on your withdrawals, including all the growth your investments earned over the years.

How Does a Roth IRA Work?

Each year, you can contribute up to a limit set by the IRS. For 2026, the limit is $7,500 per year if you are under 50, and $8,600 per year if you are 50 or older.¹ The extra $1,100 is called a catch-up contribution.² You invest that money in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other assets, and your balance grows over time through compound interest. Because the government does not tax your gains when you withdraw them in retirement, your money can grow much faster compared to a regular taxable investment account.

Why the Roth IRA Matters for Retirement

The power of a Roth IRA comes from compound growth combined with tax-free withdrawals. Compound growth means your investment gains earn their own gains year after year, creating a snowball effect. Over 20, 30, or 40 years, even modest contributions can turn into a large nest egg. Since you will not owe taxes when you take the money out after age 59½, every dollar in your Roth IRA is truly yours to spend.

Roth IRA vs. Taxable Investment Account

When you invest in a regular taxable brokerage account, you pay taxes on dividends each year and owe capital gains tax when you sell investments for a profit. These taxes eat into your returns over time, a problem known as tax drag. A Roth IRA removes this drag entirely. The longer your money stays invested, the bigger the gap between your Roth IRA balance and what you would have in a taxable account. This is why starting early matters so much.

Key Rules to Know

Income limits: You must earn below a certain income to contribute directly to a Roth IRA. For 2026, single filers cannot contribute once income reaches $168,000, and reduced limits start at $153,000.²
Withdrawal rules: You can take out your contributions at any time without penalty.⁴ However, to withdraw your earnings tax-free and penalty-free, you generally must be at least 59½ years old and have held the account for at least five years.³
No required minimum distributions: Unlike a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA does not force you to start taking money out at a certain age, giving you more flexibility in retirement planning.³

Tips for Getting the Most from Your Roth IRA

Start as early as you can. Even small contributions in your 20s or 30s have decades to compound. Try to contribute the maximum amount each year if your budget allows. If you cannot max it out right away, consider increasing your contributions by a small percentage each year as your income grows. Choose a diversified mix of low-cost index funds to keep fees low and growth steady. Finally, avoid withdrawing your earnings early. Letting compound interest work uninterrupted is the single most powerful thing you can do for your retirement savings.

A Roth IRA works best as part of a broader retirement strategy. Pair it with an employer-sponsored plan using our 401k Calculator to maximize your overall savings.

Formulas used

Period Return Rate

r_p = (1 + r_{\text{annual}})^{1/n} - 1

Roth IRA Balance (per sub-period)

B_{t} = B_{t-1} \times (1 + r_p) + \frac{C_{\text{year}}}{n}

Taxable Account Balance (per sub-period, with tax drag)

B_{t}^{\text{tax}} = B_{t-1}^{\text{tax}} \times \left(1 + r_p \times (1 - \tau_{\text{current}} \times 0.15)\right) + \frac{C_{\text{year}}}{n}

Annual Contribution with Escalation

C_y = \min\!\left(C_1 \times (1 + g)^{y-1},\; L_{\text{IRS}}\right)

Inflation-Adjusted (Real) Balance

B_{\text{real}} = \frac{B_{\text{nominal}}}{(1 + i)^{y}}

Taxable Account After-Tax Value

V_{\text{taxable}} = B^{\text{tax}} - \max\!\left(B^{\text{tax}} - C_{\text{total}},\; 0\right) \times \tau_{\text{cg}}

Roth Tax Advantage

\Delta = B_{\text{Roth}} - V_{\text{taxable}}

Effective Growth Multiple

M = \frac{B_{\text{Roth}}}{C_{\text{total}}}

Frequently asked questions

How much will my Roth IRA be worth when I retire?

It depends on your age, how much you contribute, and your rate of return. For example, a 30-year-old who puts in $6,500 per year with a 7% return could have over $900,000 by age 65. Enter your own numbers into the calculator to get a personalized estimate.

What is the maximum I can put into a Roth IRA in 2024?

For 2026, the IRS limit is $7,500 per year if you are under 50.¹ If you are 50 or older, you can contribute up to $8,600 per year.¹ The extra $1,100 is the catch-up contribution.²

What does the inflation-adjusted balance mean?

It shows what your future Roth IRA balance would be worth in today's dollars. Because prices go up over time, $1 million in 35 years will not buy as much as $1 million today. The inflation-adjusted number gives you a more realistic picture of your future buying power.

Is it better to contribute monthly or as a lump sum once a year?

Contributing a lump sum at the start of the year is slightly better because your money has more time to grow. However, most people find it easier to contribute monthly from each paycheck. The difference is usually small, so pick the method that fits your budget best.

What is the annual contribution increase option for?

This lets you model raising your contribution each year by a set percentage. For example, if you get a 3% raise each year, you could increase your Roth IRA contributions by 3% too. The calculator will automatically cap your contributions at the IRS limit so you never go over.

What happens if I earn too much to contribute to a Roth IRA?

If your income is above the IRS limit, you cannot contribute directly. However, you may be able to use a backdoor Roth IRA strategy, where you contribute to a traditional IRA first and then convert it to a Roth. Talk to a tax professional to make sure you do this correctly.

Can I withdraw my Roth IRA contributions early without penalty?

Yes. You can take out the money you put in at any time, tax-free and penalty-free. However, if you withdraw your earnings before age 59½ and before the account is five years old, you may owe taxes and a 10% penalty.⁴

What tax rate should I enter for retirement?

Most people have a lower tax rate in retirement because they earn less. A common estimate is 15% to 22%, but your rate depends on your expected income sources. The calculator uses this rate to compare the Roth IRA against a traditional taxable account.

What is the effective growth multiple?

It shows how many times your total contributions have multiplied. For example, a multiple of 3x means your Roth IRA balance is three times the amount you put in. The extra growth comes from compound interest on your investments over time.

How does the capital gains tax rate affect the comparison?

The capital gains tax rate is applied to the profits in the taxable account when you sell your investments. A higher rate means more taxes owed on the taxable side, which makes the Roth IRA look even better by comparison. The default of 15% is the current long-term capital gains rate for most people.⁵

Should I choose a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA?

Choose a Roth IRA if you think your tax rate will be higher in retirement or you want tax-free withdrawals. Choose a traditional IRA if you want a tax deduction now and expect to be in a lower tax bracket later. If you are young and early in your career, a Roth IRA is often the better choice because your income and tax rate are likely to grow over time.

At what age can I take money out of my Roth IRA tax-free?

You can withdraw both contributions and earnings tax-free and penalty-free once you are at least 59½ years old and the account has been open for at least five years. This is called a qualified distribution.³

What if I can only afford to contribute a small amount?

Even small contributions matter. Putting in $100 per month starting at age 25 with a 7% return could grow to over $250,000 by age 65. The key is to start early and stay consistent. You can always increase your contributions later as your income grows.

Sources

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