IRA Calculator
Project what your IRA could be worth at retirement, then see how a Roth and a Traditional account compare once tax is paid.
Enter your age, what you have saved, how much you add each year and the return you expect to project your IRA balance at retirement. Because a Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars and a Traditional IRA is taxed when you withdraw, this ira growth estimator shows both the pre-tax balance and what each account actually leaves you to spend at your retirement tax rate.
Your IRA plan
Balance at retirement
$1,223,207
After 35 years at 7% a year
- You contribute
- $260,000
- Investment growth
- $963,207
After-tax at withdrawal
Roth (tax-free)
$1,223,207
Traditional after 15% tax
$1,039,726
Roth keeps $183,481 more because your retirement tax rate is lower than the tax already paid on Roth dollars — but a Traditional contribution cuts this year's tax bill by about $1,540.
Balance at retirement
$1,223,207
- Contributions21%
- Growth79%
Assumes a steady return and level contributions; real markets and future tax rates vary. Roth vs Traditional also turns on income limits, RMDs and whether you invest the Traditional deduction. Estimates only, not financial advice.
How it works
- 1
Enter your age and balance
Add your current age, the age you plan to retire and what your IRA holds today.
- 2
Add contributions and return
Set how much you contribute each year and the annual return you expect the account to earn.
- 3
Compare Roth and Traditional
Enter your tax rate now and in retirement to see the after-tax result for each type of IRA.
Instant & 100% private — nothing is uploaded
Every calculation runs locally in your browser. The income, balances and goals you enter stay on your own device and are never sent to a server — nothing is stored, logged or shared.
Frequently asked questions
- How much can I contribute to an IRA?
- For 2025 the IRS limit is $7,000 a year, rising to $8,000 once you reach 50 thanks to a $1,000 catch-up. The calculator will still project higher figures if you enter them, but contributions above the limit are not allowed in a real IRA.
- Should I pick a Roth or Traditional IRA?
- It mostly comes down to when your tax rate is higher. A Roth IRA is funded with money you have already paid tax on and comes out tax-free, so it wins if you expect a higher rate in retirement. A traditional IRA gives you the deduction now and is taxed on withdrawal, which suits a lower expected retirement rate. Enter both rates above to see the gap in dollars.
- What return should I assume?
- There is no guaranteed number. A broad stock-and-bond mix has historically averaged somewhere around 6% to 7% a year before inflation over long periods, but any single year can be well above or below that. Try a few rates to see how sensitive the result is.
- Does this account for inflation or investment fees?
- No. The balance is shown in future dollars, so remember that prices rise over time and the same amount buys less later. Fund fees and taxes on any non-IRA investments are also left out, so treat the figure as a planning estimate rather than a promise.
Important
For information and planning only — not financial, tax or legal advice. These figures are estimates; rates, fees and rules vary, so confirm anything that affects a real decision with a qualified professional or the official source.
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