IRA calculator
Enter your balance, yearly contribution, ages and expected return to see what your IRA could grow to by retirement, how much is your own money vs growth, and whether a Traditional or Roth IRA leaves you more after tax.
Defaults to your region. Switch to compare any other scale.
$7 500 a year, $8 600 at age 50+ (catch-up $1 100). Source: irs.gov.
Verified on irs.gov. Edit when the IRS publishes a new year's limit.
Verified on irs.gov. Edit when the IRS publishes a new year's limit.
Set both to 0 to skip the Traditional vs Roth comparison.
Set both to 0 to skip the Traditional vs Roth comparison.
Result
$784 578
IRA balance at retirement
at age 65
- Starting balance$10 000
- Total contributions$225 000
- Total growth (investment earnings)$549 578
- Years of contributions30
- IRS limit at your current age$7 500
- Traditional IRA — after tax at withdrawal$666 892 (15%)
- Roth IRA — same pre-tax budget, tax-free withdrawal$611 971 (22%)
- Difference (Roth − Traditional)−$54 920
Projection, not financial advice
With these tax rates the Traditional IRA ends ahead, because your tax rate in retirement is lower than today. Projection only: real returns vary, and Roth income limits, deduction phase-outs, RMDs and early-withdrawal penalties are not modeled. Not financial or tax advice.
IRA balance by age
Year-by-year IRA growth
| Age | Year | Contribution | Growth | End balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 1 | $7 500 | $700 | $18 200 |
| 37 | 2 | $7 500 | $1 274 | $26 974 |
| 38 | 3 | $7 500 | $1 888 | $36 362 |
| 39 | 4 | $7 500 | $2 545 | $46 408 |
| 40 | 5 | $7 500 | $3 249 | $57 156 |
| 41 | 6 | $7 500 | $4 001 | $68 657 |
| 42 | 7 | $7 500 | $4 806 | $80 963 |
| 43 | 8 | $7 500 | $5 667 | $94 130 |
| 44 | 9 | $7 500 | $6 589 | $108 220 |
| 45 | 10 | $7 500 | $7 575 | $123 295 |
| 46 | 11 | $7 500 | $8 631 | $139 426 |
| 47 | 12 | $7 500 | $9 760 | $156 685 |
| 48 | 13 | $7 500 | $10 968 | $175 153 |
| 49 | 14 | $7 500 | $12 261 | $194 914 |
| 50 | 15 | $7 500 | $13 644 | $216 058 |
| 51 | 16 | $7 500 | $15 124 | $238 682 |
| 52 | 17 | $7 500 | $16 708 | $262 890 |
| 53 | 18 | $7 500 | $18 402 | $288 792 |
| 54 | 19 | $7 500 | $20 215 | $316 508 |
| 55 | 20 | $7 500 | $22 156 | $346 163 |
| 56 | 21 | $7 500 | $24 231 | $377 894 |
| 57 | 22 | $7 500 | $26 453 | $411 847 |
| 58 | 23 | $7 500 | $28 829 | $448 176 |
| 59 | 24 | $7 500 | $31 372 | $487 049 |
| 60 | 25 | $7 500 | $34 093 | $528 642 |
| 61 | 26 | $7 500 | $37 005 | $573 147 |
| 62 | 27 | $7 500 | $40 120 | $620 767 |
| 63 | 28 | $7 500 | $43 454 | $671 721 |
| 64 | 29 | $7 500 | $47 020 | $726 242 |
| 65 | 30 | $7 500 | $50 837 | $784 578 |
About this tool
What is an IRA?
An IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is a US tax-advantaged retirement account that you open yourself at a bank or broker, separate from an employer 401(k). Money inside it is invested (funds, stocks, bonds) and grows without yearly tax on dividends or gains.
Traditional vs Roth IRA
A Traditional IRA is tax-deferred: contributions may be deductible now, and withdrawals in retirement are taxed as income. A Roth IRA is the reverse: you contribute money that was already taxed, and qualified withdrawals (age 59½ and account at least 5 years old) are tax-free. If your tax rate in retirement will be lower than today, Traditional usually wins; if it will be higher, Roth usually wins. Roth contributions also have income limits.
2026 IRA contribution limits
For 2026 the IRS allows $7 500 in total across all your Traditional and Roth IRAs, or $8 600 if you are 50 or older (a $1 100 catch-up), or your taxable compensation if that is less. For 2025 the limit was $7 000 ($8 000 at 50+). The limits are editable fields in the calculator, so you can update them when the IRS announces a new year.
IRA formula and worked example
FV = P × (1 + r)^n + C × ((1 + r)^n − 1) / r, where P is the current balance, C the yearly contribution, r the annual return and n the years until retirement. With monthly or other contributions, r becomes r/m, n becomes n × m, and C is split into m payments.
Example: $10 000 today, $7 500 a year, 7% return, age 35 to 65 (n = 30). (1.07)^30 = 7.6123, so the balance grows to $76 123 and the contributions to $708 455, together $784 578. You put in $225 000; $549 578 is growth. At a 15% retirement tax rate the Traditional IRA leaves $666 892; paying 22% now on the same pre-tax money, the Roth leaves $611 971.
Disclaimer
This IRA calculator is an educational projection, not financial, investment or tax advice. Returns are not guaranteed. Check the current rules on irs.gov or with a qualified advisor before you decide.
Formula
FV = P × (1 + r/m)^(n·m) + (C/m) × ((1 + r/m)^(n·m) − 1) / (r/m)Annual (m = 1): FV = P(1+r)^n + C × ((1+r)^n − 1) / rGrowth = FV − P − C × nTraditional after tax = FV × (1 − retirement tax rate)Roth after tax = FV × (1 − current tax rate)
How it is calculated
- Enter your current IRA balance and how much you add per year.
- Pick how often you contribute; the yearly amount is split evenly and compounds at that frequency.
- Set your current age, retirement age and expected annual return.
- Check the IRS limit fields (2026: $7 500, +$1 100 at 50+); edit them for another year.
- Add current and retirement tax rates to compare Traditional vs Roth after tax, then read the year-by-year table and chart.
Questions
What is the IRA contribution limit for 2026?
$7 500 in total across all your Traditional and Roth IRAs, or $8 600 if you are 50 or older (a $1 100 catch-up), but never more than your taxable compensation for the year. Source: IRS, "Retirement topics – IRA contribution limits".
Is a Roth or Traditional IRA better?
It mostly depends on your tax rate now versus in retirement. With the same pre-tax budget, Roth wins if your retirement rate is higher than today, Traditional wins if it is lower, and they tie if the rates are equal. Roth also has no required minimum distributions for the owner, but has income limits for contributing.
How is the future value of an IRA calculated?
FV = P(1+r)^n + C × ((1+r)^n − 1) / r. With $10 000 today, $7 500 a year, 7% for 30 years, that is $76 123 + $708 455 = $784 578. For monthly contributions use r/12 and n × 12 with C/12 per month.
Can I open an IRA if I don't live in the US?
An IRA is a US account. You generally need US taxable compensation (US citizens and residents abroad may qualify), and many brokers require a US address. Elsewhere, look at your own country's pension options instead.
Is this IRA calculator financial advice?
No. It is an educational projection with a constant return and simplified taxes. Real returns vary, and income limits, deductibility rules and penalties depend on your situation. Confirm with irs.gov or a qualified advisor.