Retirement Withdrawal Calculator

Test a withdrawal rate, such as the 4% rule, against how long your savings last.

Retirement savings	$1,000,000
First-year withdrawal rate	4 %
Yearly return	6 %
Inflation (raise withdrawals by)	3 %
Years to show	35 years

Retirement savings

First-year withdrawal rate

Yearly return

Inflation (raise withdrawals by)

Years to show

years

Balance after 35 years

$800,010

Withdrawing $40,000 in year one, rising 3% a year, with 6% returns.

Savings and withdrawals

Year 35Balance $800,010Yearly withdrawal $109,276Point at the chart, or Tab to it and use ← →

BalanceYearly withdrawal

Year by year

Year	Withdrawal	Balance at year end
1	$40,000	$1,017,600
2	$41,200	$1,034,984
3	$42,436	$1,052,101
4	$43,709	$1,068,895
5	$45,020	$1,085,307
6	$46,371	$1,101,273
7	$47,762	$1,116,721
8	$49,195	$1,131,578
9	$50,671	$1,145,761
10	$52,191	$1,159,185
11	$53,757	$1,171,754
12	$55,369	$1,183,368
13	$57,030	$1,193,917
14	$58,741	$1,203,287
15	$60,504	$1,211,350
16	$62,319	$1,217,973
17	$64,188	$1,223,012
18	$66,114	$1,226,312
19	$68,097	$1,227,707
20	$70,140	$1,227,021
21	$72,244	$1,224,063
22	$74,412	$1,218,631
23	$76,644	$1,210,506
24	$78,943	$1,199,456
25	$81,312	$1,185,233
26	$83,751	$1,167,571
27	$86,264	$1,146,185
28	$88,852	$1,120,774
29	$91,517	$1,091,012
30	$94,263	$1,056,555
31	$97,090	$1,017,032
32	$100,003	$972,050
33	$103,003	$921,190
34	$106,093	$864,002
35	$109,276	$800,010

About the Retirement Withdrawal Calculator

Enter your savings, the first-year withdrawal rate, the yearly return, the inflation rate you'll raise withdrawals by, and how many years to show. The calculator shows the balance year by year and whether, and when, the money runs out.

The 4% rule withdraws 4% of savings in the first year, then raises the amount with inflation. Whether it lasts depends on returns, especially in the first few years of retirement (sequence risk). This projection uses a steady return.

The formula

Each year: balance = (balance − withdrawal) × (1 + return); withdrawal × (1 + inflation)

Worked example

1,000,000 saved, 4% withdrawal, 6% return, 3% inflation

Year 1: withdraw 40,000, rising 3% a year
After 35 years about 800,010 remains
At 6% withdrawal and a 5% return, the money runs out in year 20

Things to keep in mind

A steady return hides sequence risk; real portfolios can fail even when the average return looks enough.

Questions people ask

What's sequence risk?

Losses early in retirement hurt more because you're selling at low prices.

Can I spend more?

Flexible rules, such as cutting spending after bad years, allow higher starting rates.

Should I include the state pension?

Yes: subtract it from your spending, and only withdraw the rest.