Savings Withdrawal Calculator
Enter your balance, return and monthly withdrawal to see when the money runs out, or choose the years you want it to last.
Free, no sign-upRuns in your browserHow we calculate
Savings accounts pay less than stocks; use what your account earns.
Use about 3% to keep up with inflation.
- Interest-only withdrawal (never shrinks)
- $1,042 / month
- Total withdrawn
- $353,875
- Total interest earned
- $103,875
| Year | Withdrawn | Interest | Balance at year end |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $24,000 | $12,233 | $238,233 |
| 2 | $24,000 | $11,631 | $225,863 |
| 3 | $24,000 | $10,998 | $212,861 |
| 4 | $24,000 | $10,333 | $199,194 |
| 5 | $24,000 | $9,633 | $184,828 |
| 6 | $24,000 | $8,898 | $169,726 |
| 7 | $24,000 | $8,126 | $153,852 |
| 8 | $24,000 | $7,314 | $137,165 |
| 9 | $24,000 | $6,460 | $119,625 |
| 10 | $24,000 | $5,563 | $101,188 |
| 11 | $24,000 | $4,619 | $81,807 |
| 12 | $24,000 | $3,628 | $61,435 |
| 13 | $24,000 | $2,585 | $40,020 |
| 14 | $24,000 | $1,490 | $17,510 |
| 15 | $17,875 | $365 | $0 |
Returns are not guaranteed and taxes on withdrawals are ignored. Educational estimate, not financial advice.
How long will your savings last?
A savings withdrawal calculator shows how long a balance lasts when you take out a fixed amount every month while the rest keeps earning interest. Each month the interest is added, then the withdrawal is taken. $250,000 earning 5% a year with $2,000 withdrawn monthly lasts 177 months, or 14 years and 9 months, and you take out $353,875 in total, of which about $104,000 is interest.
How much can you withdraw?
Switch to the second mode to turn the question around: the monthly amount that empties the account in exactly the years you choose. The formula is the standard annuity payment: balance × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)−n), where r is the monthly rate and n the number of months. $100,000 at 5% over 10 years supports $1,060.66 a month. The same $250,000 spread over 20 years supports about $1,650 a month. If you only withdraw the monthly interest ($1,042 on $250,000 at 5%), the balance never shrinks.
Inflation and returns
A fixed withdrawal buys less every year. Enter a yearly increase of about 3% and the same savings run out much sooner, because each raise is taken from a smaller balance. Returns are also uneven: a bad market early in retirement hurts more than the same loss later, so a plan built on one average rate is optimistic. A savings account pays less than stocks but is far steadier; use the rate your money earns. Taxes on withdrawals from traditional retirement accounts are not included.
Common mistakes
Do not use a return that is higher than you will realistically earn after fees, and do not forget that the first years of withdrawals matter most. For retirement accounts, required minimum distributions can force larger withdrawals; see the RMD calculator. To see how savings grow before you start withdrawing, use the retirement savings calculator or the compound interest calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long will $250,000 last with $2,000 withdrawn per month?
At a 5% annual return it lasts 177 months, about 14 years and 9 months. At 0% return it would last 125 months.
How much can I withdraw per month from $100,000 over 10 years?
At a 5% annual return, $1,060.66 a month empties the account in exactly 10 years.
How do I make my savings last forever?
Withdraw no more than the interest. At 5% a year, $250,000 earns about $1,042 a month, so a smaller withdrawal never shrinks the balance (before inflation).
How does inflation change the answer?
If your withdrawals rise 3% a year to keep their buying power, the money runs out sooner. Enter the yearly increase to see it.
Are taxes included?
No. Withdrawals from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s are taxed as income, and interest in a taxable account is taxed too, so the usable amount is lower.