How Long Will My Money Last Calculator
How long will my money last in retirement? Enter savings, monthly withdrawals, returns and inflation to see the age your money runs out.
Editorial review: Farrow (pseudonym; identity and professional credentials are not disclosed). This page is for educational purposes, not professional advice.
Your inputs
Results update as you type. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
Results
- Runs out at age
- 82
- Total withdrawn
- $773,165
- 4% rule monthly withdrawal
- $1,667
Example with the starting values
These results use the calculator's initial inputs. Change the values above to calculate your own estimate.
Inputs
- Retirement savings
- 500000 $
- Monthly withdrawal
- 3000 $
- Expected return
- 5 %/yr
- Inflation
- 2.5 %/yr
- Age at retirement
- 65
Results
- Your money lasts
- 17 yr 5 mo
- Runs out at age
- 82
- Total withdrawn
- $773,165
- 4% rule monthly withdrawal
- $1,667
How does the How Long Will My Money Last Calculator work?
This calculator answers how long your retirement savings will last. Your savings earn the expected return each month, divided by 12, and your withdrawal comes out every month.
Once a year the withdrawal rises with inflation, so it keeps the same buying power. The money lasts until the balance hits zero. Anything past 100 years shows as never running out.
The 4% rule is a common starting point: withdraw 4% of your savings in the first year, then raise it with inflation. Historically that lasted at least 30 years in most US market periods.
Returns are held steady, so this ignores sequence risk, the danger of a market drop early in retirement. Taxes are not included, so enter what you withdraw before tax.
For example, $500,000 withdrawn at $3,000 a month, with a 5% annual return and 2.5% annual inflation increases, lasts about 17 years under this smooth-return model. Actual market returns vary, so this is not a guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
How long will my retirement savings last?
Divide your savings by your yearly withdrawal for a rough floor, then add growth. $500,000 at $3,000 a month, rising 2.5% a year with a 5% return, lasts about 17 years.
How long will $1 million last in retirement?
At $4,000 a month rising 2.5% a year with a 5% return, about 30 years. At $6,000 a month it lasts about 17 years.
What is the 4% rule?
Withdraw 4% of your savings in the first year of retirement and raise that amount with inflation each year. On $500,000 that is $20,000 a year, about $1,667 a month.
Should I include Social Security?
Enter only what you take from savings. If you need $5,000 a month and Social Security pays $2,000, the withdrawal is $3,000.