OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
FIRE Calculator
Savings Years, Withdrawal Rate and Retirement Age From Your Own Spending
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How the FIRE Calculator works
This FIRE calculator estimates when you could reach financial independence and retire early. Enter your expected yearly spending, a safe withdrawal rate, what you have invested, what you save each year and a real return, and it gives your FIRE number, the years to reach it and your age at that point.
FIRE calculator formula
Your FIRE number is the portfolio that can fund your spending at the chosen withdrawal rate. The FIRE calculator uses:
FIRE number = yearly spending ÷ withdrawal rate
It then grows your current savings at the real return, adds the yearly savings at the end of each year, and counts how many years it takes to reach the target. A real return, after inflation, keeps everything in today's money.
Worked example: the 4% rule
Spending 40,000 a year at a 4% withdrawal rate needs 1,000,000. With 100,000 invested, 30,000 saved a year and a 5% real return from age 30, you get there in 17 years, at age 47.
Worked example: a cautious plan
Spending 60,000 a year at 3.5% needs 1,714,285.71. Starting at 40 with 250,000 invested, saving 40,000 a year at a 4% real return, it takes 20 years, reaching FIRE at 60. The table shows how many times your spending you need at each rate.
FIRE reference table
The FIRE number for yearly spending from 20,000 to 80,000 at withdrawal rates of 3%, 3.5%, 4% and 5%.
| Yearly spending | At 3% | At 3.5% | At 4% | At 5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20,000.00 | 666,666.67 | 571,428.57 | 500,000.00 | 400,000.00 |
| 22,500.00 | 750,000.00 | 642,857.14 | 562,500.00 | 450,000.00 |
| 25,000.00 | 833,333.33 | 714,285.71 | 625,000.00 | 500,000.00 |
| 27,500.00 | 916,666.67 | 785,714.29 | 687,500.00 | 550,000.00 |
| 30,000.00 | 1,000,000.00 | 857,142.86 | 750,000.00 | 600,000.00 |
| 32,500.00 | 1,083,333.33 | 928,571.43 | 812,500.00 | 650,000.00 |
| 35,000.00 | 1,166,666.67 | 1,000,000.00 | 875,000.00 | 700,000.00 |
| 37,500.00 | 1,250,000.00 | 1,071,428.57 | 937,500.00 | 750,000.00 |
| 40,000.00 | 1,333,333.33 | 1,142,857.14 | 1,000,000.00 | 800,000.00 |
| 42,500.00 | 1,416,666.67 | 1,214,285.71 | 1,062,500.00 | 850,000.00 |
| 45,000.00 | 1,500,000.00 | 1,285,714.29 | 1,125,000.00 | 900,000.00 |
| 47,500.00 | 1,583,333.33 | 1,357,142.86 | 1,187,500.00 | 950,000.00 |
| 50,000.00 | 1,666,666.67 | 1,428,571.43 | 1,250,000.00 | 1,000,000.00 |
| 52,500.00 | 1,750,000.00 | 1,500,000.00 | 1,312,500.00 | 1,050,000.00 |
| 55,000.00 | 1,833,333.33 | 1,571,428.57 | 1,375,000.00 | 1,100,000.00 |
| 57,500.00 | 1,916,666.67 | 1,642,857.14 | 1,437,500.00 | 1,150,000.00 |
| 60,000.00 | 2,000,000.00 | 1,714,285.71 | 1,500,000.00 | 1,200,000.00 |
| 62,500.00 | 2,083,333.33 | 1,785,714.29 | 1,562,500.00 | 1,250,000.00 |
| 65,000.00 | 2,166,666.67 | 1,857,142.86 | 1,625,000.00 | 1,300,000.00 |
| 67,500.00 | 2,250,000.00 | 1,928,571.43 | 1,687,500.00 | 1,350,000.00 |
| 70,000.00 | 2,333,333.33 | 2,000,000.00 | 1,750,000.00 | 1,400,000.00 |
| 72,500.00 | 2,416,666.67 | 2,071,428.57 | 1,812,500.00 | 1,450,000.00 |
| 75,000.00 | 2,500,000.00 | 2,142,857.14 | 1,875,000.00 | 1,500,000.00 |
| 77,500.00 | 2,583,333.33 | 2,214,285.71 | 1,937,500.00 | 1,550,000.00 |
| 80,000.00 | 2,666,666.67 | 2,285,714.29 | 2,000,000.00 | 1,600,000.00 |
Quick answers
- At a 4% withdrawal rate you need 25 times yearly spending.
- At 3.5% you need about 28.6 times yearly spending.
- At 3% you need about 33.3 times yearly spending.
- Cutting spending lowers the target and frees more to save.
- Use a real return so the target stays in today's money.
FAQ
What is the 4% rule?
It comes from studies of historical US market returns which found that withdrawing 4% of a portfolio in the first year, then adjusting for inflation, lasted at least 30 years in most periods. Early retirees often use a lower rate for longer retirements.
What real return should I use?
A real return is the expected investment return minus inflation. For a diversified portfolio many planners use somewhere between 3% and 6%. A lower figure is more cautious and pushes the FIRE date later.
Does this include pensions or state benefits?
No. If you expect a pension or other income later, subtract it from your yearly spending for the years it applies, or plan in two stages. The simple FIRE number assumes the portfolio covers all spending.
Does it account for tax?
No. Enter spending that includes any tax you will pay on withdrawals, and use returns after fees. Tax rules differ by country and account type, so the calculator leaves them to you.
See also: all Saving tools, Pay, Bills, Property, Debt, Investing.
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