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Roth IRA Calculator

Project how your Roth IRA grows to retirement with the 2026 contribution limit and catch-up applied, and see how much the tax-free growth is worth compared with investing the same money in a taxable account.

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How to use the Roth IRA calculator

  1. Enter your current Roth IRA balance, or 0 if you are opening one.
  2. Enter what you plan to contribute each year. Anything above the IRS limit for your age is capped.
  3. Enter your age at the end of 2026 and your retirement age.
  4. Enter your expected annual return.
  5. Enter your tax rate now, used to tax a taxable account's returns each year, and your tax rate in retirement.
  6. Read your Roth balance, how much is tax-free growth, and the comparison with a taxable account.

2026 Roth IRA limits

2026 figure Amount
Contribution limit $7,500
Catch-up at age 50 and over $1,100 (total $8,600)
Full contribution if MAGI is below: single or head of household $153,000
Phase-out range: single or head of household $153,000 to $168,000
Phase-out range: married filing jointly $242,000 to $252,000
Phase-out range: married filing separately (lived with spouse) $0 to $10,000

Limits from IRS Notice 2025-67 and the IRS announcement of the 2026 figures. Inside a phase-out range you can make a reduced contribution; above it you can't contribute directly. The limit is shared with any traditional IRA contributions, and you can't put in more than your earned income for the year. The calculator holds the limit at the 2026 level for later years, although the IRS raises it with inflation from time to time.

How the balance is calculated

Roth IRA, each year B = (B + contribution) × (1 + r) Taxable account, each year T = (T + contribution) × (1 + r × (1 − tax rate now)) Pre-tax match balance ÷ (1 − tax rate in retirement)

Contributions go in at the start of each year. Roth money is already taxed, so qualified withdrawals of both contributions and growth are tax-free. The taxable account starts with the same money, but each year's return is reduced by tax: a simple, slightly cautious model, since some stock gains are taxed only when you sell. The last line shows how big a pre-tax account, such as a traditional IRA, would need to be to give you the same spending money after tax.

Worked example

The defaults are a $10,000 balance, $7,500 a year from age 35 to 65 (30 contributions), a 7% return and a 22% tax rate now and in retirement.

  • 1.07^30 = 7.612255, so the starting $10,000 grows to $76,122.55
  • The contributions grow to $7,500 × (7.612255 − 1) ÷ 0.07 × 1.07 = $758,047.81
  • Roth IRA at 65: $834,170, of which $225,000 is contributions and $599,170 is tax-free growth
  • In a taxable account the return after 22% tax is 5.46%, which gives $618,234
  • The Roth comes out $215,936 ahead, and a pre-tax account would need $1,069,449 to match it after 22% tax

The catch-up never applies here because $7,500 is below the $8,600 limit from age 50. Enter $10,000 a year and the calculator caps it at $7,500 to age 49 and $8,600 after, for $863,747.

Roth rules worth knowing

  • Contributions can come out any time, tax- and penalty-free, because you already paid tax on them.
  • Earnings are tax-free once you are 59½ and the account has been open five years; earlier withdrawals of earnings can owe tax and a 10% penalty.
  • No required minimum distributions while you are alive, unlike a traditional IRA, so the money can keep growing. See the RMD calculator for accounts that do have them.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I put in a Roth IRA in 2026?

Up to $7,500, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older by the end of the year, as long as you have at least that much earned income. The limit falls to zero as your modified AGI rises through the phase-out range: $153,000 to $168,000 for single filers and $242,000 to $252,000 for married couples filing jointly.

Is a Roth IRA better than a traditional IRA?

A Roth is usually better if you expect a higher tax rate in retirement than now, and a traditional IRA if you expect a lower one. With equal rates they come out the same. The IRA calculator compares both with a taxable account.

Can I contribute to a Roth IRA and a 401(k)?

Yes. The 401(k) limit is separate, so in 2026 you can defer up to $24,500 into a 401(k) and still put $7,500 into an IRA, subject to the Roth income limits.

When is the deadline for 2026 contributions?

You can make 2026 IRA contributions until the tax filing deadline in April 2027, not counting extensions.

Related calculators

  • IRA Calculator — Traditional IRA, Roth IRA or taxable account? Compare the after-tax value of each from the same pre-tax savings.
  • 401(k) Calculator — Project your 401(k) balance with your employer match, salary raises and the 2026 IRS contribution limits.
  • Retirement Calculator — See what your savings grow to by retirement, how long they last, and how much more to save each month.
  • Compound Interest Calculator — How a starting balance and monthly contributions grow, with any compounding frequency.

Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial, tax or legal advice. See our disclaimer.