How Long Will My Money Last? Retirement Withdrawal Calculator
See how long your retirement savings will last. Enter your balance, how much you plan to withdraw each month, and your expected return, and the calculator shows the age your money runs out — or whether it lasts indefinitely.
Withdrawals rise with inflation each year so your spending power stays the same, which is how most retirees actually spend. The calculator also works backward to the largest monthly withdrawal that would make your money last a set number of years.
Calculator
Withdrawals rise with inflation each year so your spending power stays constant. Use what you need from savings after Social Security and any pension.
Your money lasts
20y 10m
Savings run out around age 85.
- First-year withdrawal rate
- 6.0%
- First-year withdrawals
- $48,000
- Max monthly to last 30 years
- $3,019
- Total withdrawn
- $1,357,331
To last 30 years, start closer to $3,019 a month — or plan on a higher return or later start.
Balance over time
Assumes a constant average return. In real markets, a downturn early in retirement shortens how long money lasts even when the long-run average is the same (sequence-of-returns risk), so many planners build in a cushion. Ignores taxes on withdrawals. Educational estimate, not financial advice.
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Calculation Formulas
The remaining balance earns the monthly return, then that month’s withdrawal is taken.
Your withdrawal rises once a year to maintain purchasing power.
The 4% rule refers to this first-year rate.
Example:
$40,000 ÷ $1,000,000 = 4%.
Found by searching for the withdrawal that exactly exhausts the balance in that time.
Key Figures
| Figure | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Simulation horizon | 60 years | Money that lasts longer is shown as lasting indefinitely. |
| Return | Constant | A steady average return; real returns vary. |
Note: Results are estimates for planning purposes. Rates, fees, taxes, and insurance vary by lender and location — confirm exact figures with a licensed professional before making financial decisions.
Standards & Sources
Last verified: October 2026
- Withdrawal-rate research
The 4% guideline traces to William Bengen’s 1994 study and the later Trinity study of historical U.S. returns; it assumes inflation-adjusted withdrawals over 30 years.
- Educational projection
Ignores taxes on withdrawals, fees, and market volatility. Use it to compare scenarios, not as a guarantee.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your retirement savings and the monthly amount you plan to withdraw in today’s dollars.
- Enter an expected annual return and inflation rate.
- Enter your current age and how many years the money needs to last.
- Read how long your savings last, your withdrawal rate, and the maximum sustainable monthly withdrawal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will $1 million last in retirement?
Withdrawing $4,000 a month (rising 3% a year with inflation) from $1 million earning 5% lasts about 28 years. Withdrawing $3,333 a month — the classic 4% rule — lasts about 36 years at the same assumptions. Lower returns or a market drop early in retirement shorten that.
What is the 4% rule?
A guideline that you can withdraw 4% of your savings in the first year of retirement, then raise that dollar amount with inflation each year, and have a high chance of the money lasting 30 years. It comes from historical U.S. market studies; some researchers now suggest a range of about 3.5% to 4.5% depending on your mix of investments and flexibility.
Why do my withdrawals increase each year?
To keep your spending power constant. If prices rise 3%, you need 3% more dollars to buy the same things. Set inflation to 0% to model flat withdrawals instead.
What is sequence-of-returns risk?
The risk that poor market returns early in retirement, while you are withdrawing, permanently shrink your portfolio — even if the long-run average return is fine. This calculator uses a constant return, so consider a cushion or a lower withdrawal rate.
Guides to go with this calculator
When to Claim Social Security: 62, FRA, or 70?
The age you claim Social Security locks in your benefit for life. Here’s how much each year of waiting is worth, your full retirement age, and the break-even math behind the decision.
2027 Social Security COLA: 3.6% Raise & New Numbers
Social Security and SSI payments rise 3.6% in 2027, the biggest bump since 2023. Here is what it adds to your check, when it arrives, and every limit that changed with it.
$6,000 Senior Deduction: Who Gets It, What It Saves
If you are 65 or older, a new $6,000 deduction can cut your federal taxes through 2028 — but it phases out at higher incomes and doesn’t make Social Security tax-free.
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