Is this Roth IRA calculator free?

Yes — completely free with no registration required. All calculations happen instantly in your browser.

Yes — all calculations happen in your browser. NerdyTools does not store or transmit any of your inputs. Your data never leaves your device.

How accurate is this Roth IRA calculator?

This calculator uses established formulas and verified figures checked against official sources.

Does this work on mobile?

Yes — fully responsive and works on any modern browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile. No app download needed.

💰 Finance & Money

Roth IRA Calculator

See how your Roth IRA could grow tax-free by retirement. Enter your age, contributions and expected return to project your balance with a year-by-year breakdown.

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Roth IRA Calculator

Enter your details below and see how your after-tax Roth contributions could compound tax-free over time. The 2026 contribution limit is $7,500 (or $8,600 if you're 50 or older).

Your Current Age

Retirement Age

Current Roth IRA Balance ($)

Annual Contribution ($)

2026 limit: $7,500 (under 50) or $8,600 (50+)

Expected Annual Return (%)

Historical S&P 500 average: ~10% nominal, ~7% after inflation

Your Retirement Tax Rate (%) — for comparison

Used to show how much tax you'd owe if this were a taxable account

Projected Balance at Retirement

Total Contributed

Investment Growth

Years of Growth

Growth Multiple

0×

ContributionsTax-Free Growth

Tax-Free Advantage

saved vs a taxable account at your retirement tax rate

Age	Year	Contribution	Growth	Balance

2026 Roth IRA Limits: Contribution limit is $7,500 (or $8,600 if 50+). Income phase-outs: $153,000–$168,000 for single filers, $242,000–$252,000 for married filing jointly. Above the upper limit, you cannot contribute directly but may use a backdoor Roth conversion.

What is a Roth IRA Calculator?

A Roth IRA calculator projects how much your Roth IRA could be worth at retirement based on your current balance, annual contributions, expected investment returns, and the number of years until you retire. Because Roth IRA growth is tax-free — you pay taxes on contributions now and owe nothing when you withdraw in retirement — the compounding effect can be dramatic over decades. This calculator shows you the projected balance, the split between what you contributed and what the market grew, and exactly how much you save by not paying taxes on the growth.

Whether you're just opening a Roth IRA, deciding how much to contribute this year, or weighing Roth vs. Traditional, this tool gives you the numbers to make an informed decision. For a broader view of your retirement readiness, pair it with the retirement calculator.

How is Roth IRA Growth Calculated?

The calculation applies compound growth — similar to what the investment return calculator shows — to your starting balance plus each year's contribution. Each year, the existing balance grows by your expected return rate, and your annual contribution is added at the start of the year (front-loaded for a conservative estimate — contributing earlier in the year means more compounding time).

For each year:
Balance = (Previous Balance + Annual Contribution)
× (1 + Return Rate)

Example: $15,000 balance + $7,500 contribution at 7%
= ($15,000 + $7,500) × 1.07 = $24,075 after year 1

Repeat for each year until retirement.
All growth is tax-free at withdrawal.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your current age and the age you plan to retire. Add your current Roth IRA balance (enter zero if you're starting fresh), your planned annual contribution, and the average annual return you expect. A common assumption is 7% (the historical inflation-adjusted average of the S&P 500) or 10% (the nominal average). Optionally enter your expected retirement tax rate to see the tax-free advantage. Hit Calculate and the tool shows your projected balance, contributions vs. growth, and a year-by-year table.

2026 Roth IRA Contribution Limits

For 2026, the IRS raised the Roth IRA contribution limit to $7,500 for savers under 50, and $8,600 for those 50 and older (a $1,100 catch-up contribution). This is the combined limit across all your IRAs — Roth and Traditional together. If you also contribute to a workplace plan, use the 401(k) calculator to project that side separately. Roth eligibility is income-based: single filers phase out between $153,000 and $168,000 of modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), and married couples filing jointly phase out between $242,000 and $252,000. Above the upper limit, you cannot contribute directly but can still use a backdoor Roth conversion.

Why a Roth IRA is Powerful

The Roth IRA's core advantage is that all qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free — including decades of compounded growth. In a taxable account, you'd owe capital gains tax on the same growth. In a Traditional IRA, you'd owe income tax on every dollar you withdraw. The Roth eliminates both, which means the amount you see in this calculator's projection is what you actually keep. Over 30+ years, the tax savings alone can be worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, as the Tax-Free Advantage figure above shows.

💡 Even small contributions add up dramatically over time. Contributing $7,500 per year at 7% return for 35 years produces over $1.1 million — of which more than $840,000 is pure tax-free growth. The earlier you start, the more compounding works in your favour.

Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA

The fundamental difference is when you pay tax. With a Traditional IRA, you may deduct contributions now (reducing today's tax bill) but pay income tax on every withdrawal in retirement. With a Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax money now and pay nothing on withdrawals. The Roth tends to win if your tax rate will be the same or higher in retirement than it is today — which is likely for younger earners whose income will grow, and for anyone who believes tax rates may rise in the future. The calculator's "Tax-Free Advantage" figure estimates the concrete dollar difference.

Roth IRA Income Limits and Backdoor Roth

If your income exceeds the Roth IRA phase-out range, you can't contribute directly. The standard workaround is a backdoor Roth conversion: contribute to a non-deductible Traditional IRA, then convert it to a Roth. This is legal and widely used, though the tax rules around conversions can be complex if you hold other pre-tax IRA balances (the "pro-rata rule"). Consult a tax professional if your situation involves multiple IRA types or large pre-tax balances.

Tips to Maximise Your Roth IRA

Contribute early in the year: investing your annual contribution in January gives it the most compounding time.
Max it out: the limit is only $7,500/$8,600 — try to contribute the full amount each year. Use a savings goal calculator to plan how to free up the cash.
Choose low-cost index funds: lower fees mean more of your returns compound rather than being eaten by expenses.
Start young: a 25-year-old contributing $7,500/year at 7% retires at 65 with over $1.5 million; a 35-year-old with the same numbers reaches about $750,000. The decade matters enormously.
Don't withdraw early: early withdrawals on earnings can trigger a 10% penalty plus taxes, erasing the Roth advantage.

Assumptions and Limitations

This calculator uses a constant annual return rate, which is an average — real markets fluctuate year to year. It assumes contributions are made at the start of each year and doesn't account for inflation (use a 7% return to approximate inflation-adjusted growth, or 10% for nominal). It doesn't model income phase-outs, required minimum distributions (Roth IRAs don't have them for the original owner), or estate-planning considerations. For personalised advice, consult a financial advisor. This tool is for educational estimation only and does not constitute financial advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I contribute to a Roth IRA in 2026?

The 2026 limit is $7,500 if you're under 50, or $8,600 if you're 50 or older (includes a $1,100 catch-up contribution). This is the combined limit across all your IRAs — Roth and Traditional. Your ability to contribute phases out at higher incomes: $153,000–$168,000 for single filers and $242,000–$252,000 for married filing jointly. Use the salary calculator to check your gross and net income figures.

What return rate should I use?

The S&P 500 has historically returned about 10% per year on average (nominal) or about 7% after inflation. Use 7% for a conservative, inflation-adjusted projection, or 10% for a nominal one. Your actual return depends on your investment choices and market conditions. This calculator lets you try different rates to see how they affect your outcome.

Is Roth IRA growth really tax-free?

Yes. Qualified withdrawals from a Roth IRA — taken after age 59½ and at least five years after your first Roth contribution — are completely free of federal income tax, including all the growth. You already paid tax on the money when you earned it; the Roth's benefit is that decades of compounded returns come out tax-free.

What happens if I withdraw early?

You can always withdraw your contributions (the money you put in) tax- and penalty-free, since you already paid tax on them. However, withdrawing earnings before age 59½ (or before the five-year rule is met) typically triggers a 10% penalty plus income tax on the earnings portion. There are exceptions for first-time home purchases, disability, and other situations.

Should I choose a Roth IRA or Traditional IRA?

It depends on your current and expected future tax rates. If you expect your tax rate to be the same or higher in retirement, a Roth is generally better — you pay tax now at a lower rate and withdraw tax-free later. If you're in a high bracket now but expect a lower one in retirement, the Traditional's upfront deduction may save more. Many people contribute to both to diversify their tax exposure.

What if I earn too much for a Roth IRA?

High earners above the income phase-out can use a backdoor Roth conversion: contribute to a non-deductible Traditional IRA and then convert it to a Roth. This is legal and widely used. Be aware of the pro-rata rule if you have existing pre-tax IRA balances, which can make part of the conversion taxable. A tax professional can help navigate this.

Does this calculator account for inflation?

Not directly. To see inflation-adjusted (real) values, use a return rate of about 7% instead of 10%. The historical S&P 500 average is roughly 10% nominal and 7% real. The projected balance will then reflect today's purchasing power, which is more useful for retirement planning.

Do Roth IRAs have required minimum distributions?

No — unlike Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs have no required minimum distributions (RMDs) during the original owner's lifetime. Your money can stay invested and growing tax-free for as long as you live, which makes the Roth uniquely powerful for estate planning and for retirees who don't need to draw down immediately.

Is my data private?

Yes. All calculations run entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded, stored, or sent anywhere. You can use this calculator with your real financial numbers in complete privacy, and it works offline once the page has loaded.