The Roth IRA Calculator is a free retirement savings estimator that checks eligibility, projects future balances with compound interest, and compares Roth IRA outcomes against Traditional IRA and taxable brokerage accounts using current IRS limits and user-specific inputs.
What is the Roth IRA Calculator?
The Roth IRA Calculator projects retirement savings growth by taking inputs including current age, retirement age, current balance, annual contribution, and expected annual return. It outputs an estimated balance at retirement, a year-by-year breakdown table, and a chart showing balance growth over time. The calculator runs in the browser at rothiracalculator.app and is maintained by an independent team reachable at [email protected].
Key Features
- Four comparison modes — Growth projection, eligibility check (MAGI-based), Roth vs Traditional IRA with tax savings reinvestment, and Roth vs taxable brokerage account with dividend drag.
- Year-by-year breakdown table — Shows contribution, interest earned, and ending balance for every age from current to retirement, with 35 rows of annual data visible in the example.
- Inflation toggle — Switch between nominal and inflation-adjusted values (3% default) to see future dollars in today's purchasing power.
- 2026 contribution limits built in — Auto-fills the $7,500 base limit (or $8,600 age 50+) and phases out contributions based on MAGI ($153k–$168k single, $242k–$252k married filing jointly).
- Real-time chart — Line graph plotting total balance and contributions year by year, redrawing instantly as any slider moves.
- Eligibility calculator with phase-out math — Takes filing status, MAGI, age, and tax year (2025 or 2026) to output exact allowed contribution, handling phase-out ranges to the dollar.
Who is it for?
- Individual investors planning retirement — Enter your age, current balance, and expected contribution to see a year-by-year projection of your Roth IRA balance at retirement with compound interest visible at each age.
- Savers comparing Roth vs Traditional IRA — Input your current and expected marginal tax rates to see which account type yields a higher after-tax value at retirement, including the reinvestment of Traditional tax savings.
- High-income earners checking eligibility — If your MAGI exceeds $153,000 (single) or $242,000 (married filing jointly), use the eligibility tab to confirm your reduced contribution limit or determine if a backdoor Roth may be needed.
- Anyone weighing Roth IRA vs taxable brokerage — Compare tax-free Roth growth against a taxable account where dividends are taxed annually and capital gains are due at withdrawal, with adjustable dividend yield and tax rate inputs.
What can you do with the Roth IRA Calculator?
- Project your Roth IRA balance at retirement: Enter your current age and target retirement age, set an annual contribution (up to the 2026 limit of $7,500 or $8,600 if 50+), and choose an expected annual return to see the estimated balance with contributions and growth separated.
- Check your 2026 contribution eligibility: Select your filing status (single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household), enter your MAGI and age, and the calculator outputs the exact amount you can contribute based on IRS phase-out thresholds.
- Compare Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA with tax savings reinvested: Input your current marginal tax rate and expected retirement tax rate to see which account yields a higher net value at retirement, with the Traditional side modeling reinvested tax savings in a taxable account.
