401(k) Contribution Calculator
Free 401(k) contribution calculator: turn a percentage into dollars per paycheck, see the match you capture or miss, and check the 2026 IRS limit.
Before tax, e.g. 60,000
Your own deferrals, before the match
Sets your 2026 limit (catch-up from 50)
50 = 50¢ per $1 you put in
% of salary you contribute
Projection to retirement
After fees; hypothetical
For the today’s-dollars figure
About this calculator
Deciding how much to put into a 401(k) usually comes down to one number on a payroll form: a percentage of pay. This 401(k) contribution calculator turns that percentage into dollars per paycheck and per year, shows how much of your employer’s match you capture and how much you leave on the table, and checks the total against the 2026 IRS limit for your age.
It also works in reverse. If you have a dollar target — maxing out at $24,500, or a round figure such as $10,000 a year — it tells you the percentage to enter with payroll and what comes out of each paycheck.
Below the paycheck numbers, a projection shows what your contribution rate could grow to by retirement, with your employer match and annual raises included.
How much should you contribute to a 401(k)?
Start with the match. An employer match is the highest guaranteed return available to most savers: a 50% match is an instant 50% return on every matched dollar. Contributing at least enough to get the full match is the first priority for almost everyone who can afford it.
Beyond the match, a common rule of thumb is to save around 15% of pay for retirement, including the employer’s contribution. The right figure for you depends on when you started, what else you have saved, your other goals and when you want to retire — the projection below lets you test different rates.
The ceiling is the IRS limit: $24,500 of employee deferrals in 2026, plus $8,000 if you are 50 or older ($32,500 in total) or $11,250 if you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 this year ($35,750 in total). The limit is per person across all your 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Employer contributions are on top, subject to a total limit of $72,000.
IRS contribution limits for 2026
| Limit (2026) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Employee elective deferrals — 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457(b) | $24,500 |
| Catch-up contribution, age 50 and over | $8,000 |
| Higher catch-up, ages 60, 61, 62 and 63 | $11,250 |
| Total annual additions (employee + employer) — 401(k), 403(b) | $72,000 |
| Maximum compensation counted for employer contributions | $360,000 |
| Prior-year wages above which catch-up contributions must be Roth | $150,000 |
Limits are the IRS figures for tax year 2026, last checked October 5, 2026. Projections hold them flat in later years; the IRS normally raises them for inflation, so a capped projection is on the conservative side.
Sources: IRS: 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026 · IRS: COLA increases for dollar limitations on benefits and contributions · IRS: Retirement topics — catch-up contributions · IRS: Section 457(b) plans — catch-up contributions
How to use it
- Choose what to work out: dollars from a percentage you already contribute, or the percentage needed for a target dollar amount.
- Enter your annual salary and how often you are paid. Twice a month means 24 paychecks; every two weeks means 26.
- Enter your contribution percentage, or your target annual contribution. “Use the maximum for my age” fills in the 2026 limit, including catch-up if your age qualifies.
- Enter your age; it sets your limit. Enter the employer match rate and the share of salary it applies to — for “100% of the first 4%”, enter 100 and 4.
- Read the per-paycheck amount, the match captured and missed, and the limit check.
- Optionally fill in the projection fields — current balance, retirement age, return and raises — to see where this contribution rate leads.
How the calculation works
From a percentage to dollars
annual contribution = salary × contribution % per paycheck = annual ÷ paychecks per yearWith a $60,000 salary, 6% is $3,600 a year: $150 on each of 24 paychecks or about $138.46 on each of 26. Bonuses may also be subject to your deferral percentage, depending on the plan.
From a target to a percentage
contribution % = target ÷ salaryTo defer the 2026 maximum of $24,500 on a $120,000 salary you need $24,500 ÷ $120,000 ≈ 20.42%. Payroll systems often accept whole percentages only; rounding up can put you over the limit, so many plans stop deferrals automatically once you reach it.
Match captured and missed
match = match rate × min(contribution, match cap × salary) missed = match rate × match cap × salary − matchWith a 50% match on the first 6% of a $60,000 salary, the most the employer adds is 50% × $3,600 = $1,800. Contributing 4% ($2,400) earns $1,200, leaving $600 a year unclaimed.
Projection
balance = balance × (1 + r) + (E + M) ÷ 12 each month, r = (1 + R)^(1/12) − 1The same engine as the 403(b) calculator, with your percentage applied to a salary that grows every year and contributions capped at the 2026 limit.
Worked examples
Example 1: contributing 4% when the match goes to 6%
You earn $65,000, are paid every two weeks (26 paychecks) and contribute 4%. Your employer matches 50% of contributions on the first 6% of pay.
- Annual contribution: 4% × $65,000 = $2,600, which is $100.00 per paycheck.
- Match captured: 50% × $2,600 = $1,300.
- Full match available: 50% × (6% × $65,000) = $1,950, so $650 a year is left on the table.
- At 6% you would contribute $3,900 a year ($150.00 per paycheck) and capture the full match.
- Projection: starting at age 28 with $5,000, a 6% return and 2.5% raises, retiring at 67: $859,349 at 4% versus $1,264,765 at 6%.
Result: Moving from 4% to 6% adds $405,416 to the projected balance at 67. The extra cost per paycheck is smaller than it looks, because traditional 401(k) contributions also lower your taxable income.
Example 2: maxing out at age 52
You are 52, earn $140,000, are paid twice a month (24 paychecks) and want to contribute the maximum allowed for 2026.
- Your limit: $24,500 + the $8,000 catch-up for age 50+ = $32,500.
- Required percentage: $32,500 ÷ $140,000 = 23.21%.
- Per paycheck: $32,500 ÷ 24 = $1,354.17.
- Employer match (100% of the first 4% of pay) adds $5,600, on top of your $32,500 — it does not use up any of your limit.
Result: Enter 23.21% with payroll (about $1,354 per paycheck). If your plan only takes whole percentages, check whether it stops deferrals at the limit; if it does not, rounding up could create an excess contribution that must be corrected.
Assumptions
- The paycheck figures divide the annual contribution evenly across your pay periods. Your plan may calculate deferrals on each paycheck’s gross pay, including bonuses and overtime.
- The match is a single tier. For a multi-tier formula such as “100% of the first 3% plus 50% of the next 2%”, enter an equivalent: 80% up to 5% gives the same maximum match.
- Some employers match per paycheck, not per year. If you reach the limit early in the year, you may miss matches on later paychecks unless your plan has a “true-up”.
- The projection uses a constant hypothetical return after fees, contributions at a fixed percentage of a salary that rises yearly, and 2026 limits held flat.
- Taxes and vesting schedules are not modelled.
What the result means
The per-paycheck figure is the reduction in your gross pay, not your take-home pay. A traditional (pre-tax) contribution reduces take-home pay by less than its face value, because it lowers federal and usually state income tax. Roth contributions reduce take-home pay by the full amount.
Match left on the table is employer money you could have had for the cost of contributing a little more. It compounds for decades: the example above shows how a two-point increase changes the balance at retirement.
The limit check uses the 2026 figures for your age. If you also contribute to a 403(b) in the same year, the two together must stay under the limit; a 457(b) has its own separate limit — see the 457(b) calculator.
Common mistakes
- Contributing less than the match cap. It is the most common and most expensive 401(k) mistake.
- Front-loading without a true-up. If you max out by September and your employer matches per paycheck, you lose the match on the last few months’ pay.
- Exceeding the limit after a job change. Your new employer does not know what you deferred at the old one. Add both together and keep the total under $24,500 (plus catch-up).
- Rounding the percentage up when targeting the maximum, then going over. Check whether your plan stops at the limit.
- Forgetting the higher catch-up at 60–63. In those years you can contribute $35,750 in 2026, not $32,500.
- Looking only at the per-paycheck cost. Pre-tax contributions cost less than their face value in take-home pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I contribute to a 401(k) in 2026?
Up to $24,500 of employee deferrals, up from $23,500 in 2025. If you are 50 or older by year-end you can add $8,000 ($32,500 in total), and if you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 in 2026, $11,250 ($35,750 in total). Employer contributions are separate, within a total annual additions limit of $72,000.
How do I calculate my 401(k) contribution per paycheck?
Multiply your salary by your contribution percentage and divide by the number of paychecks in a year: 52 for weekly, 26 for every two weeks, 24 for twice a month and 12 for monthly. For example, 5% of $70,000 is $3,500 a year, or about $134.62 per biweekly paycheck.
What percentage do I need to max out my 401(k)?
Divide the limit for your age by your salary. Under 50 in 2026, that is $24,500 ÷ salary — about 24.5% on $100,000. Use the “Percentage for a target amount” mode and the “Use the maximum for my age” button to get your exact figure and per-paycheck amount.
Does the employer match count toward the 401(k) limit?
No. The $24,500 limit applies only to your own deferrals. Employer contributions count toward the overall annual additions limit of $72,000 for 2026 (excluding catch-up).
Should I contribute pre-tax or Roth?
Pre-tax contributions lower your tax now and are taxed when withdrawn; Roth contributions are taxed now and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. The limit is the same either way. Many people split contributions. This is a tax question that depends on your current and expected future tax rates.
What happens if I contribute more than the limit?
Excess deferrals should be returned to you, usually by April 15 of the following year, and are taxable income. If they are not corrected in time, the excess can be taxed twice. Tell your plan as soon as you notice, especially after changing jobs mid-year.
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Disclaimer
This calculator is for education and illustration only. Results are hypothetical projections that depend entirely on the inputs and the constant rate of return you enter; real investment returns vary from year to year and can be negative. Nothing on this page is investment, tax or legal advice. Check your plan’s documents and consider speaking with a qualified financial professional or tax adviser before making decisions.