Free Calculator · 2026
How Much Do I Need to Retire?
Your FIRE numberis the total portfolio value at which you can safely retire forever. Enter your annual expenses and we'll calculate exactly how much you need — and how long it'll take.
The Math Behind Your Retirement Number
The most reliable formula for calculating how much you need to retire comes from the Trinity Study (1994), which analyzed historical stock and bond returns and found that withdrawing 4% annually from a balanced portfolio survived 95%+ of all 30-year periods in market history.
The formula is elegantly simple: FIRE Number = Annual Expenses ÷ 0.04, or equivalently, Annual Expenses × 25. If you spend $60,000/year, you need $1.5 million. Spend $80,000/year? You need $2 million.
What makes FIRE planning powerful is understanding the compounding effect of your investments. Every dollar you invest today doesn't just grow — it grows exponentially. Starting early is the single biggest lever in reaching financial independence. See Coast FIRE →
Your Numbers
Assumptions
Real return: 4.5%— results in today's dollars
Your FIRE Results
Updates in real time.
Your FIRE Number
$1.50M
$1,500,000 · 4% SWR
Still Needed
$1.42M
Years to FIRE
32 yrs
FIRE at age 64
Spending Scenarios
Lean FIRE
75%$1.13M
7% there
Standard
You$1.50M
5% there
Fat FIRE
150%$2.25M
4% there
What does this mean?
Saving $18,000/year at a 7% return, you'll reach $1,500,000 in 32 years at age 64. After that, you can withdraw $60,000/year without ever touching the principal.
Already hit Coast FIRE?
If your savings can grow to your FIRE number on their own, you only need to cover living expenses — not save for retirement.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about your retirement number.
How much do I need to retire?
The most widely used rule is the 25x rule: multiply your expected annual expenses by 25. This corresponds to a 4% safe withdrawal rate, backed by the Trinity Study, which found a 4% annual withdrawal from a diversified portfolio has a 95%+ success rate over 30 years. For example, if you spend $60,000/year, your FIRE number is $1.5 million.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule states that you can safely withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio each year without running out of money over a 30-year retirement. It comes from the 1994 Trinity Study. Critics argue 3.5% is safer for early retirees with longer horizons; optimists suggest 5% is fine with flexible spending. We recommend 4% as the baseline.
What's the difference between Lean FIRE, Standard FIRE, and Fat FIRE?
Lean FIRE targets a minimal, frugal lifestyle — typically $25,000–$40,000/year. Standard FIRE targets your current spending. Fat FIRE targets a high income in retirement — $100,000+/year — requiring a much larger portfolio, often $2.5M+. Our calculator shows all three scenarios simultaneously so you can see how lifestyle choices affect your target.
Should I include Social Security in my FIRE number?
For early retirees, it's conservative not to count on Social Security, since rules may change and you may not receive full benefits until your 60s. If you're planning to retire at a traditional age (62–67), you can subtract your expected Social Security income from annual expenses before calculating your FIRE number.
How do taxes affect my FIRE number?
Your withdrawal rate needs to account for taxes. In taxable accounts, withdrawals may be subject to capital gains tax; in traditional IRAs/401(k)s, withdrawals are taxed as income. A common rule of thumb is to gross up your annual expense target by 10–20% to account for taxes, or focus on building tax-advantaged accounts (Roth IRA, HSA) to minimize future tax burden.