IRA Calculator
See what your IRA grows to, which type wins at your tax rates, and how much you may contribute in 2026.
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2026 limit: $7,500, or $8,600 at 50+ (all IRAs combined).
Sets the value of the traditional IRA deduction.
Applied to traditional IRA withdrawals.
- Traditional IRA after tax
- $552,596
- Roth IRA after tax (same out-of-pocket cost)
- $538,426
- Better choice at these tax rates
- Traditional IRA
- Tax saved this year by the deduction
- $1,800
- 2026 limit for age 35
- $7,500
How this was calculated
- Years to retirement: 30. Growth factor (1 + 7%)^30 = 7.6123.
- Balance at retirement before tax: $708,455.90 (same in a traditional or Roth IRA when the deposit is the same).
- Traditional after 22% tax on withdrawals: $708,455.90 × 0.7800 = $552,595.60.
- Roth for the same out-of-pocket cost: the deposit is $5,700.00 a year (tax now 24%), growing to $538,426.48, all tax free.
Educational estimate, not tax or financial advice. Deduction eligibility and Roth income limits are not checked here.
What this IRA calculator shows
An individual retirement account (IRA) lets savings grow with a tax advantage, and this IRA calculator projects the balance you will have at retirement from your yearly deposit, expected return and age. It then compares the two kinds: a traditional IRA, where the deposit may be deductible now and withdrawals are taxed later, and a Roth IRA, where you pay tax now and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. The headline figure is the pre-tax balance; the stats below show what each account is worth after tax.
2026 IRA contribution limit
For 2026 the IRS limit is $7,500 across all your traditional and Roth IRAs combined, plus a $1,100 catch-up if you turn 50 or older in the year, for $8,600. You also cannot contribute more than you earned. Roth contributions phase out at higher incomes, and the traditional deduction phases out if you or your spouse are covered by a workplace plan; check the Roth rules with the Roth IRA calculator, which includes the income phase-out. Source: IRS, Notice 2025-67 and Publication 590-A.
Traditional or Roth: the tax-rate rule
Compare money for money. Depositing $7,500 into a traditional IRA at a 24% rate costs you $5,700 after the deduction; the same $5,700 buys a $5,700 Roth deposit. Both grow at the same return, so the Roth wins when your tax rate in retirement is higher than today’s, the traditional IRA wins when it is lower, and they tie when the rates match. At 7% for 30 years, $7,500 a year grows to $708,000 before tax; with a 22% retirement rate that is about $552,000 after tax in the traditional account.
Limits of the estimate
The calculator assumes a steady return, a flat tax rate and yearly deposits, whereas real returns vary and withdrawals can span several tax brackets. It ignores required minimum distributions, which start for traditional IRAs at age 73 or 75 depending on birth year (see the RMD calculator), and the 10% penalty on early withdrawals. For employer plans use the 401(k) calculator. Educational, not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IRA contribution limit for 2026?
$7,500 across all your traditional and Roth IRAs combined, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older by the end of the year. You cannot contribute more than your earned income.
Should I choose a traditional or a Roth IRA?
Compare tax rates: a Roth wins when your tax rate in retirement is higher than now, a traditional IRA wins when it is lower, and they tie when equal, assuming the same out-of-pocket cost and return.
How much will my IRA be worth at retirement?
Contributing $7,500 at the end of every year for 30 years at 7% grows to about $708,456, of which $225,000 is contributions.
Are traditional IRA contributions always deductible?
No. If you or your spouse are covered by a workplace retirement plan, the deduction phases out at higher incomes. The calculator assumes the full deduction; check IRS Publication 590-A for your case.
When do I have to start taking money out?
Traditional IRAs require minimum distributions starting at age 73, or 75 if you were born in 1960 or later. Roth IRAs have no required distributions during the owner's life.