Roth IRA Calculator
This Roth IRA calculator does two things. First, it applies the 2026 IRS rules to your filing status, age and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) to find how much you can contribute: up to $7,500, or $8,600 if you're 50 or older, reduced or eliminated at higher incomes. Then it projects your balance at retirement from your yearly contribution, current balance and an assumed return.
Updated
Results
- Contribution counted this year
- Full limit for your ageBefore the income phase-out
- Income phase-out
- Total contributions
- Investment growth
| Age at year end | Total contributed | Balance |
|---|
Results are estimates. See the methodology below.
How to use the calculator
- Enter your current age and the age you plan to retire.
- Choose your tax filing status and enter your estimated MAGI for 2026.
- Enter the yearly contribution you plan to make. If it's above your limit, the calculator uses the limit.
- Add your current Roth IRA balance and an expected annual return, net of fund fees.
The table shows your total contributions and balance at the end of each year until retirement.
How the limit and projection work
2026 contribution limit
- Base limit: $7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up from age 50.
- Phase-out: the limit shrinks in a straight line across these MAGI ranges and reaches zero at the top.
| Filing status | Phase-out range |
|---|---|
| Single, head of household | $153,000 to $168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000 to $252,000 |
| Married filing separately | $0 to $10,000 |
Inside the range, the reduced amount is rounded up to the next $10, and if it's more than zero but under $200 you may still contribute $200. The married-filing-separately range isn't adjusted for inflation.
Projection
Each contribution is made at the start of the year and grows at your constant annual return. The limit is recalculated each year for your age, so the catch-up applies from 50 if you enter a contribution high enough to use it. The calculator holds 2026 limits and your MAGI constant, even though the IRS adjusts limits for inflation in most years. It doesn't check that you have enough taxable compensation, which your contribution can't exceed, or count contributions to traditional IRAs, which share the same annual limit.
Worked examples
1. Age 35, single, MAGI $95,000
You're below the phase-out, so the full $7,500 is allowed. Starting with $10,000 and contributing $7,500 a year at a 7% return, you put in $225,000 by 65 and growth adds $599,170, for a balance of $834,170. At a 5% return the result is $566,425.
| Age | Contributed | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | $75,000 | $130,549 |
| 55 | $150,000 | $367,686 |
| 65 | $225,000 | $834,170 |
2. Age 35, single, MAGI $160,000
You're $8,000 below the top of the range, so the limit is $7,500 × 8,000 ÷ 15,000 = $4,000. From 50 the reduced catch-up limit is $4,590. With the same balance and return, you contribute $128,850 by 65 and end with $496,279.
3. Age 52, married filing jointly, MAGI $245,000
The full limit is $8,600, reduced to $6,020. With $60,000 already saved and a 6% return, you reach $292,322 at 67 after contributing $90,300. At a MAGI of $180,000 the full $8,600 applies and the balance would be $355,977.
Reading the result
Roth contributions aren't deductible, but qualified distributions, including earnings, are tax-free. The balance is shown in future dollars and isn't adjusted for inflation; returns aren't guaranteed, so try several rates. This is not tax or investment advice. For your situation, see IRS Publications 590-A and 590-B or a tax professional.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I contribute to a Roth IRA in 2026?
Up to $7,500, or $8,600 if you're 50 or older, as long as your MAGI is below the phase-out range for your filing status and you have at least that much taxable compensation. The same limit is shared across all your traditional and Roth IRAs.
What are the Roth IRA income limits for 2026?
Contributions phase out between $153,000 and $168,000 of MAGI for single filers and heads of household, and between $242,000 and $252,000 for married couples filing jointly. At or above the top of the range, you can't contribute directly.
How is a reduced contribution calculated?
Your limit is multiplied by the share of the range still above your MAGI, then rounded up to the next $10, with a $200 floor. For a single filer under 50, a MAGI of $167,500 allows $250; a MAGI of $167,800 works out to $100, which the $200 floor lifts to $200.
Why is the limit so low if I'm married filing separately?
The phase-out range for married filing separately is $0 to $10,000 and isn't indexed for inflation. A MAGI of $9,500 allows only $380.
When can I withdraw Roth IRA money tax-free?
A distribution of earnings is qualified when it's made after age 59½ and after the 5-year period that begins with the first tax year you contributed to a Roth IRA. You can also leave the money in the account for as long as you live.
Is it worth starting with a small amount?
Time matters more than the size of the first contributions. At age 25 and a 7% return, $3,000 a year grows to $640,829 by 65; the full $7,500 a year grows to $1,602,072. You can keep contributing after age 70½ if you have compensation.
Sources
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes and is not tax, legal or investment advice. Your actual limit depends on your final MAGI and compensation for the year.