Calcs4All

APR 23 · 2026

Retirement calculator

Estimate inflation-adjusted monthly retirement income from savings and contributions.

What this calculator covers

Use this retirement calculator to connect the saving years before retirement with the monthly income those savings may support later.

The explanation keeps the real-return assumption visible so you can see how inflation changes a portfolio's spending power in retirement.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between pre-retirement and post-retirement return?
Pre-retirement return is the assumed annual growth rate while you are still accumulating savings. Post-retirement return is the assumed rate while you are drawing down in retirement. Most people reduce their assumed return in retirement to reflect a more conservative allocation, since the portfolio is now supporting withdrawals rather than just growing.
How does this model account for inflation?
The calculator converts the post-retirement return and the inflation rate into a single real return. Withdrawals are then based on that real rate, meaning the modeled monthly income figure maintains constant purchasing power throughout retirement rather than eroding over time.
What does "sustainable monthly income" mean here?
It is the level monthly withdrawal that, at the assumed real return, would reduce the retirement balance to zero by the entered life expectancy. It is an estimate based on an annuity payout formula, not a guarantee, and actual outcomes depend on investment returns, spending needs, and longevity.
What important factors does this model leave out?
The model ignores taxes, Social Security income, pension benefits, required minimum distributions, and investment fees. Including those factors would require a more detailed planning tool or advice from a financial professional.

Tool

Run the calculation

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RESULT · RETIREMENT INCOME

â„–082

Primary result

$10,396.91

$180,000.00 saved today with $1,200.00 added each month grows to about $2,333,489.26 by age 67 and supports roughly $10,396.91 per month in inflation-adjusted retirement income through age 92.

Balance at retirement
$2,333,489.26
Sustainable monthly income
$10,396.91
First-year real income
$124,762.92
Real annual return
2.44%
Total pre-retirement contributions
$388,800.00

Step-by-step solution

  1. 1.Accumulate the current savings and monthly contributions for 324 months using a 7% pre-retirement return assumption.
  2. 2.Convert the post-retirement return of 5% and inflation of 2.5% into a real annual return of 2.44%.
  3. 3.Use the annuity payout formula across 300 retirement months to estimate $10,396.91 per month of level real income.

Walkthrough

Visual walkthrough

This retirement calculator connects two stages: growing the nest egg before retirement, then converting that balance into level real income after retirement.

  1. 01

    Grow savings to retirement

    27 years = 324 monthly periods

    Current savings and monthly contributions compound until the retirement date.

    $2,333,489.26 at retirement

  2. 02

    Translate market return into real return

    ((1 + 5%) ÷ (1 + 2.5%)) - 1 = 2.44%

    Inflation reduces the spendable purchasing power of the portfolio, so the withdrawal formula uses a real return assumption.

  3. 03

    Solve the retirement paycheck

    The annuity payout formula spreads the retirement balance across the expected retirement years with a level inflation-adjusted withdrawal.

    $10,396.91 per month