Retirement Withdrawal Calculator
Plan retirement withdrawals with the 4% rule. See how long your portfolio will last with projected returns and inflation.
By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: IRS
Annual Withdrawal
$40,000.00
Monthly Withdrawal
$3,333.33
Withdrawal Rate
4.00%
Sustainability Estimate
89%
Balance After 30 Years
$2,427,262.47
Portfolio Depleted
Never (within horizon)
Projected Portfolio Balance
| Year 1 | $1,030,000.00 (withdrawal: $40,000.00) |
| Year 5 | $1,159,274.07 (withdrawal: $45,020.35) |
| Year 10 | $1,343,916.38 (withdrawal: $52,190.93) |
| Year 15 | $1,557,967.42 (withdrawal: $60,503.59) |
| Year 20 | $1,806,111.23 (withdrawal: $70,140.24) |
| Year 25 | $2,093,777.93 (withdrawal: $81,311.76) |
| Year 30 | $2,427,262.47 (withdrawal: $94,262.62) |
The 4% Rule
The widely cited 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in year one, then adjusting for inflation each year. This historically provided a high probability of lasting 30 years. Your withdrawal rate of 4.00% is at or below this guideline.
Use the Retirement Withdrawal Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.
How It Works
Drawing income from a retirement portfolio without running out is the core challenge this tool addresses, built around the well-known 4% rule. The return and inflation rate you assume together decide how long your savings hold up. Enter your portfolio size, the withdrawal you have in mind, and your expected growth, and you can see how the balance plays out year by year.
The engine starts your first withdrawal at the rate or dollar amount you enter (4% of the starting portfolio by default) and raises that draw for inflation each year, over the time horizon you choose. Every period, the remaining balance grows by your projected investment return before the inflation-adjusted withdrawal comes out, following the compounding relationship New_Balance = (Old_Balance * (1 + Return_Rate)) - (Previous_Withdrawal * (1 + Inflation_Rate)).
The 4% rule is a planning benchmark rather than a promise, and a poorly timed market downturn early in retirement can undermine it. Taxes are the detail most people miss: withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts shrink your net income and speed up depletion. Building in a cushion for surprises such as major healthcare costs also helps, since those expenses can unravel even a carefully mapped withdrawal plan.
Example: A $1,000,000 Portfolio at 4%
- 1 Input: a $1,000,000 portfolio, a 4% first-year withdrawal ($40,000), a 7% expected return, 3% inflation and a 30-year horizon, the calculator's defaults.
- 2 Year 1: $1,000,000 × 1.07 − $40,000 = $1,030,000. Year 2's withdrawal rises to $40,000 × 1.03 = $41,200, and the balance becomes $1,030,000 × 1.07 − $41,200 = $1,060,900.
- 3 After 30 years the balance is about $2,427,262, the year-30 withdrawal is $94,263, and the depletion line reads 'Never (within horizon)'. Because the 7% return minus the 4% withdrawal equals the 3% inflation rate, the balance keeps exactly its starting purchasing power: $2,427,262 in 30 years buys what $1,000,000 buys today.
- 4 The projection assumes the same return every year, and the 89% Sustainability Estimate is a rule-of-thumb score from the gap between the withdrawal rate and the real return, not a probability from simulated markets. A run of losses early in retirement can drain a plan that looks safe here; the sequence-of-returns calculator shows that effect.
Source: IRS · Last updated: September 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals?
How long will $1 million last in retirement?
Should I withdraw from my 401(k) or IRA first?
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