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Roth IRA Calculator – Tax-Free Growth to Retirement

Estimate how much a Roth IRA could grow by retirement and how much more you could have than in a regular taxable account. Enter your yearly contribution, age and expected return; the current IRS contribution limit is filled in for you.

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How to use the Roth IRA calculator

  1. Enter your yearly contribution — the current IRA limit is filled in.
  2. Enter any current Roth IRA balance.
  3. Enter your age and retirement age.
  4. Enter the expected yearly return.
  5. For the comparison, enter the tax rate on gains in a regular taxable account.

You’ll see your tax-free balance at retirement, how it splits between contributions and growth, and how much less the same money would be in a taxable account.

How it is calculated

Each year your contribution is added and the account grows:

Roth balance = (Balance + contribution) × (1 + return)

For the taxable account, part of each year’s growth is lost to tax:

Taxable balance = (Balance + contribution) × (1 + return × (1 − tax rate))

This is a simple model: real taxes depend on dividends, holding periods and when you sell.

Worked example

  • $7,500 a year from age 30 to 65 (35 years)
  • 7% return, 15% tax on gains in the taxable account
AccountBalance at 65
Roth IRAabout $1,109,000
Taxable accountabout $876,000

Contributions total $262,500. The Roth’s tax-free growth is about $847,000, and it ends about $233,000 ahead.

Roth IRA rules to know

  • Earned income needed: you can contribute up to the limit or your earned income for the year, whichever is lower.
  • Income limits: above certain modified adjusted gross income levels, the amount you can contribute is reduced or removed. The IRS publishes these each year.
  • Deadline: you can usually contribute for a tax year until the tax filing deadline the following April.
  • No required minimum distributions for the original owner.

Starting small still works

You don’t need to contribute the full limit for a Roth IRA to be worthwhile. Investing $200 a month — $2,400 a year — for 35 years at a 7% return grows to roughly $355,000, all of it tax-free in retirement if you follow the rules. Many people start with a small automatic monthly contribution and raise it each time their pay goes up. If you are self-employed or have side income, you can still contribute as long as you have earned income, and a spouse with little or no income can often contribute through a spousal IRA.

Next steps

See how a workplace plan adds up with the 401(k) calculator, check your whole plan with the retirement calculator, or test other rates with the compound interest calculator. Limits are from IRS Notice 2025-67; this is not tax advice — see our disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Roth IRA contribution limit for 2026?

$7,500 for 2026, plus a $1,100 catch-up if you are 50 or older. The limit is shared across all your traditional and Roth IRAs. Higher earners can contribute less or nothing, depending on income.

How much will a Roth IRA grow?

Contributing $7,500 a year for 35 years at a 7% return grows to about $1.11 million. Your contributions total $262,500; the other $847,000 or so is growth you can withdraw tax-free in retirement if you follow the rules.

How does a Roth IRA compare with a taxable account?

In the example above, the same savings in a taxable account where 15% of each year’s gains goes to tax grow to about $876,000 — roughly $233,000 less than the Roth.

When can I withdraw from a Roth IRA?

You can take out your contributions at any time. Earnings are tax-free and penalty-free after age 59½ once the account has been open at least five years. Other early withdrawals of earnings may be taxed and penalised.

Roth or traditional IRA?

A Roth is funded with taxed money and grows tax-free. A traditional IRA may give a deduction now but withdrawals are taxed. If you expect your tax rate to be the same or higher in retirement, a Roth is often the better choice.

Can I have a Roth IRA and a 401(k)?

Yes. Many people contribute enough to their 401(k) to get the full employer match, then fund a Roth IRA, then add more to the 401(k).

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