Early Retirement Calculator
How much do you need to retire early — and when can you get there? Enter your numbers to see your FIRE age, retirement number, and whether you can stop saving today. Covers all FIRE types. Free and instant.
To retire early you need roughly 25 times your annual spending invested — the Rule of 25 (equivalent to a 4% safe withdrawal rate). If you plan to spend $40,000/yr, your early retirement number is $40,000 × 25 = $1,000,000.
See the formula & example
ⓘ Educational estimates based on your inputs — not financial advice.
How much you need to retire early — by target age
The table below shows how much you need to save per year to hit a $1,000,000 FIRE number (equivalent to $40,000/yr spending at a 4% withdrawal rate), starting from $0 at age 25 and investing at a 7% nominal annual return (3% inflation). All amounts are in today's dollars.
| Retire at | Years of saving | Annual savings needed | Monthly equivalent | Savings rate (on $100k income) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 40 | 15 years | $50,000/yr | $4,200/mo | 50% |
| Age 45 | 20 years | $34,000/yr | $2,830/mo | 34% |
| Age 50 | 25 years | $24,400/yr | $2,030/mo | 24% |
| Age 55 | 30 years | $18,200/yr | $1,520/mo | 18% |
| Age 60 | 35 years | $13,900/yr | $1,160/mo | 14% |
Assumptions: $0 starting portfolio at age 25, FIRE number $1,000,000 ($40k/yr ÷ 4% SWR), 7% nominal return, 3% inflation (≈3.9% real return). Starting with existing savings reduces all these amounts. Enter your actual portfolio above to see a personalised result.
How to retire early at 40
Retiring at 40 requires 15 years of aggressive saving. Starting from $0 at age 25, you need roughly $50,000/yr (about 50% of a $100k income) to hit a $1M FIRE number. Starting with existing savings cuts this dramatically — enter your current portfolio in the calculator to see your actual target. The key insight: each $10,000 already invested saves roughly $1,200–1,600/yr in required future savings.
How to retire early at 45 or 50
Retiring at 45 requires about $34,000/yr from $0 at 25 — a high but achievable savings rate for dual-income households. Retiring at 50 drops to $24,400/yr, a savings rate accessible to many professionals. These ages are the most common FIRE targets in the community. Enter your income and current portfolio above to see whether you are on track.
How to retire early at 55 or 60
Retiring at 55 requires about $18,200/yr — roughly 18% of a $100k income, well within typical FIRE saving rates. Retiring at 60 drops further to $13,900/yr, achievable on a median income with reasonable discipline. Many investors find that Coast FIRE — investing a lump sum early and then letting growth do the work — is the most efficient path to a 55–60 target. Check your Coast FIRE number on the main calculator.
Can I retire early?
Yes — if you accumulate 25 times your annual retirement spending. The only real question is when. Your FIRE date is determined by three inputs: (1) how much you already have invested, (2) how much you save per year, and (3) how much you plan to spend in retirement. A higher savings rate or lower target spending accelerates your date far more than chasing higher returns. The calculator above models all of this with a single number: your FIRE age.
A practical example: Maya is 35, has $80,000 invested, saves $30,000/yr on a $90,000 income (33% savings rate), and plans to spend $50,000/yr in retirement. Her FIRE number is $1,250,000. At a 7% nominal return (3% inflation), she reaches it by approximately age 49 — 14 years from now. Enter your own numbers above to find your date.
How to retire early with little or no money saved
Starting from zero or near zero, the most powerful lever is spending less — not earning more. Cutting your annual retirement target from $50,000 to $35,000 reduces your FIRE number from $1,250,000 to $875,000 — a $375,000 difference that shaves years off your timeline.
Practical starting steps:
- Lower your target spending first. Housing is usually the biggest cost; reducing it 30–40% can cut 5–7 years off your timeline.
- Automate investing from your first paycheck. Even $200/mo at age 22 becomes over $50,000 by 32 at 7% — momentum compounds.
- Track your savings rate, not your balance. A 25% savings rate reaches FIRE in about 32 years regardless of income level. A 50% rate cuts it to about 17 years.
- Consider Lean FIRE or Barista FIRE as a first milestone. A lower target number ($625,000 at $25k/yr spending) is reachable faster — use the Lean FIRE calculator or Barista FIRE calculator to model it.
Why this is a complete early-retirement calculator
Most early-retirement calculators give you one number: a FIRE date. This tool models your full picture:
| Feature | Most calculators | This tool |
|---|---|---|
| All 5 FIRE types in one place | Usually 1 type | Coast, Barista, Lean, Standard, Fat |
| Rich–Broke–Dead Monte Carlo | Rarely included | Built-in — shows survival probability |
| Country-specific longevity | Rarely included | World Bank data, 195 countries |
| Inflation-adjusted results | Often nominal only | Always real (today's dollars) |
| Days of Freedom metric | Rarely included | Shows partial FI progress today |
| Language support | English only | English, Ukrainian, Polish, Russian |
Early retirement — frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to retire early?
To retire early you need roughly 25 times your annual spending invested — the Rule of 25, based on a 4% safe withdrawal rate. If you plan to spend $40,000/yr, your early retirement number is $1,000,000. The exact amount depends on your spending, withdrawal rate, and how long your retirement may last. Use the calculator above to see your personal number.
Can I retire early?
Yes — if you save and invest consistently. Someone saving $30,000/yr starting at age 25 with a 7% nominal return can reach a $1,000,000 FIRE number in about 20 years, retiring at 45. The key variable is your savings rate: a 25% rate reaches FI in roughly 32 years; a 50% rate in about 17 years. Enter your numbers above for a precise result.
How early can I retire?
At $40,000/yr spending (FIRE number $1,000,000) starting from $0 at age 25: save $50,000/yr to retire at 40; $34,000/yr to retire at 45; $24,400/yr to retire at 50. A higher existing portfolio reduces these targets significantly. The calculator above uses your actual portfolio and savings rate to give a personalised answer.
How much do I need to save to retire early?
At $40,000/yr retirement spending (FIRE number $1,000,000, real return ≈3.9%), starting from $0 at age 25: to retire at 40 save about $50,000/yr; to retire at 45, $34,000/yr; to retire at 50, $24,400/yr; to retire at 55, $18,200/yr. Each $10,000 already invested today reduces required annual savings by roughly $1,200–1,600.
What is the earliest age I can retire?
There is no single earliest age — it depends entirely on your FIRE number and how quickly you accumulate it. The FIRE community's simple rule: once your portfolio equals 25 times your annual spending, withdraw 4% per year and historically your money has lasted 30+ years. Aggressive savers have retired in their 30s; most early retirees target their 40s or 50s.
Is the 4% rule safe for a 40-year retirement?
The original 4% rule (Trinity Study, 1998) was tested for 30-year retirements. For a 40–50 year early retirement, the historical success rate declines slightly, which is why many FIRE practitioners use 3.25–3.75%. The Rich–Broke–Dead Monte Carlo simulation in this tool shows your personalised survival probability at any withdrawal rate.
How to retire early with little or no money saved?
Starting from zero, the most powerful lever is reducing target spending — not chasing higher returns. Cutting retirement spending from $50k to $35k/yr drops your FIRE number by $375,000. Automate any amount you can invest today and let compounding work. See the Lean FIRE calculator for low-spend scenarios or Barista FIRE if you plan to keep part-time income.