Coast FIRE Calculator
When can you stop saving and still retire early? Find your Coast FIRE number, FIRE age, and all FIRE types — Coast, Barista, Lean, Standard, Fat. Free, instant, inflation-adjusted.
Coast FIRE is the amount you need invested today so compound growth alone — with no new contributions — reaches your full FIRE number by traditional retirement age.
See the formula & example
Coast number = FIRE number ÷ (1 + real return)years — where FIRE number = annual spending × 25 (the 4% rule). Example: $40,000/yr spending, 35 years to retirement, 3.9% real return — Coast number ≈ $265,000. Enter your numbers above to calculate your Coast FIRE target instantly.ⓘ Educational estimates based on your inputs — not financial advice.
How it works
This tool uses standard, public-domain math. Your FIRE number is your target annual spending divided by your safe withdrawal rate (with the default 4% that's spending × 25). We project your investments forward each year using a real rate of return (return minus inflation), adding your savings, until the balance reaches your FIRE number — that's your years to FI and FIRE age. Coast FIRE is the amount you'd need invested today to grow to your number by traditional retirement age with no new contributions. Days of freedom shows how many days a year your current portfolio could already cover at your safe withdrawal rate.
Types of FIRE explained
FIRE comes in three sizes by how much you spend — Lean, Standard and Fat. Coast and Barista aren't extra sizes: they're two strategies you can apply to any of them.
| FIRE type | What it means | Typical target (4% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| By how much you spend — pick one | ||
| Lean FIRE | Retire on a frugal, low-spend lifestyle. | ~$25k/yr × 25 = ~$625k |
| Standard FIRE | Retire on a typical middle-class lifestyle. | ~$40k/yr × 25 = ~$1.0M |
| Fat FIRE | Retire with a high-spend, no-compromise lifestyle. | ~$100k/yr × 25 = ~$2.5M |
| Strategies you can add to any size above | ||
| Coast FIRE | Save enough early that growth alone reaches your number by traditional retirement age — then stop saving. | Less now; grows on its own |
| Barista FIRE | Semi-retire: part-time income covers part of spending, so your portfolio target is smaller. | (Spending − part-time) × 25 |
Enter your own numbers above — the calculator detects which type fits you.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to retire early?
A common rule of thumb is the Rule of 25: multiply your expected annual spending by 25 (the same as dividing by a 4% safe withdrawal rate). $40,000/yr of spending works out to a FIRE number of about $1,000,000.
How is my FIRE number calculated?
FIRE number = target annual spending ÷ safe withdrawal rate (SWR). At the default 4% SWR that equals spending × 25. Spend less or use a higher SWR and the number drops.
What is Coast FIRE vs Barista, Lean and Fat FIRE?
Coast FIRE: enough invested today to grow to your full number by traditional retirement age without adding more. Barista FIRE: part-time income covers part of spending, so your target is smaller. Lean = low-spend, Standard = typical, Fat = high-spend.
Does this account for inflation?
Yes — by default it shows everything in today's dollars using a real rate of return (return − inflation), so the numbers reflect purchasing power you understand now.
Is the 4% rule safe for a 40–50 year retirement?
The 4% rule was studied for a 30-year retirement. For very long early retirements, historical success rates fall, so many people use a 3.25–3.75% withdrawal rate. This is educational, not financial advice.
What is sequence-of-returns risk?
It's the danger that poor market returns in the first few years of retirement permanently shrink your portfolio, even if average returns are fine. Two people with identical average returns can have very different outcomes depending on the order those returns arrive. It's why a fixed-percentage withdrawal can be risky early on, and why a cash buffer or flexible spending helps. This simple calculator uses a steady average return and does not model this risk.
What FIRE type am I — Coast, Barista, Lean, Standard or Fat?
Enter your numbers and the calculator labels your FIRE type automatically. Your spending sets the tier: Lean (frugal, under ~$40k/yr), Standard (typical), or Fat (high-spend, ~$100k/yr+). On top of that you can be Coast FIRE — what you've already invested will grow to your number by traditional retirement age with no new saving — or Barista FIRE, where part-time income covers part of your spending.
What return and inflation rate should I use?
The default 7% annual return and 3% inflation are common long-run estimates for a diversified, stock-heavy portfolio. Subtracting inflation gives a real return of about 3.9%. You can adjust both values — a conservative scenario might be 6% return with 3% inflation. All results are shown in today's dollars (inflation-adjusted) regardless of what you enter.
Does this include Social Security or a state pension?
No — the calculator only models your investment portfolio, making results conservative (you may need less than shown). A practical workaround: if you expect, say, $15,000/yr from Social Security, enter your annual spending minus that amount (e.g. $40,000 − $15,000 = $25,000/yr) to reflect only the gap your portfolio needs to fill.
Can I retire on $1 million?
It depends on your annual spending. Using the Rule of 25 (4% withdrawal rate): $1,000,000 supports about $40,000/yr. At $30,000/yr, a million is more than enough; at $60,000/yr you'd need $1.5M. Enter your target spending above to see your personal FIRE number.
What is a safe withdrawal rate (SWR)?
The safe withdrawal rate is the percentage of your portfolio you withdraw each year. The classic '4% rule' (Trinity Study, 1998) found that withdrawing 4% of your starting portfolio — adjusted for inflation each year — survived 30 years in nearly all historical windows. For longer early retirements (40–50 years), many FIRE practitioners use 3.25–3.75% for a higher historical success rate.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides general educational estimates only, based on the assumptions you enter and standard formulas (such as the 4% rule / Rule of 25). It is not financial, investment, or tax advice and does not account for your individual circumstances. Assumed returns do not guarantee future results. Consult a qualified financial professional before making decisions.