Roth IRA Calculator
A Roth IRA solves a specific problem: paying tax on a smaller number now (your contribution) instead of a much larger one later (your contribution plus decades of growth). For money that won't be touched for 20-30 years, that trade-off usually favors the Roth — this calculator shows what that tax-free growth actually adds up to.
Enter your details to see your projected balance.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your current age, target retirement age, and current Roth IRA balance.
- Enter how much you plan to contribute annually — the calculator automatically caps this at the 2026 IRS limit.
- Click "Project my Roth IRA" to see your estimated tax-free balance at retirement.
How the calculation works
Your annual contribution is capped at the 2026 IRS limit ($7,500, or $8,600 if you're 50+), then divided into monthly deposits and grown forward alongside your existing balance using compound monthly returns at your entered rate. Unlike a Traditional IRA or 401(k), none of this growth is taxed later — the entire projected balance shown is what you'd actually be able to withdraw in retirement, dollar for dollar.
A worked example
Say you're 30, already have $8,000 saved, and contribute the full $7,500 limit every year at an assumed 7% return until you retire at 65. Your own contributions over those 35 years add up to $262,500 — but the projected tax-free balance lands closer to $1.1 million. That roughly $840,000 gap is pure compound growth, and because it's inside a Roth, none of it is taxed on the way out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 Roth IRA contribution limit?
$7,500 for those under 50, and $8,600 for those 50 and older (a $1,100 catch-up), per IRS Notice 2025-67. This limit is shared with Traditional IRA contributions.
Can anyone contribute to a Roth IRA?
No — eligibility phases out at higher incomes. For 2026, the phase-out range is $153,000-$168,000 for single filers and $242,000-$252,000 for married filing jointly.
Is my current balance already includes future contributions?
No, enter only what you have saved so far — the calculator adds your planned future contributions on top of that starting balance.
What if my income is too high to contribute directly?
Many high earners use a "backdoor Roth" — contributing to a Traditional IRA (which has no income limit) and then converting it to a Roth. This has tax implications if you already hold other pre-tax IRA funds, so it's worth discussing with a tax professional.
Is a Roth IRA the same as a Roth 401(k)?
No — they share the "tax-free growth" concept, but have separate contribution limits, different income rules, and a Roth 401(k) (unlike a Roth IRA) is subject to required minimum distributions unless rolled into a Roth IRA.