FIRE Calculator
Updated on 22 Oct 2026 · Checked by Aotob
Spending $40,000 a year, your FIRE number is $1,000,000. Saving $2,000 a month you reach it in 20 years 10 months at about age 50.
Returns are after inflation, so every figure is in today’s money. At a 4% withdrawal rate the pot should last 30 years or more in most historical markets.
Financially independent at
50years old
Every $1,000 less you spend a year lowers your number by $25,000.
Show the working
FIRE number = 40,000 ÷ 4% = 1,000,000
Each month: balance × (1 + 5% a year) + 2,000
Reached after 20 years 10 months
Your savings over time
Year by year
| Year | Age | Paid in | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 32 | 98,000 | 105,443 |
| 4 | 34 | 146,000 | 166,568 |
| 6 | 36 | 194,000 | 233,959 |
| 8 | 38 | 242,000 | 308,257 |
| 10 | 40 | 290,000 | 390,171 |
| 12 | 42 | 338,000 | 480,481 |
| 14 | 44 | 386,000 | 580,048 |
| 16 | 46 | 434,000 | 689,821 |
| 18 | 48 | 482,000 | 810,845 |
| 20 | 50 | 530,000 | 944,274 |
| 21 | 51 | 550,000 | 1,003,828 |
Questions people ask
What is the FIRE number?
The pot that can pay your yearly spending forever, or close to it: spending divided by your withdrawal rate. At 4% that is 25 times what you spend in a year.
Why is the return after inflation?
So every number is in today’s money and you can compare the target with your spending now. A 5% real return is roughly 7.5% before 2.5% inflation.
Is 4% safe for an early retirement?
The 4% rule was tested over 30 years. For 40 to 50 years many people use 3.25% to 3.5%, which raises the number by about a fifth.
Updated 22 Oct 2026Source: Trinity study and later research on safe withdrawal ratesChecked by AotobReturns vary year to year; this assumes a steady real return. Not financial advice.Report an issue