Use our free retirement calculator to see how big your pension pot could grow, what income it could pay and whether your money lasts. Adjust the sliders below and it updates instantly, in today’s money as well as future pounds.
Retirement Calculator
Project your retirement pot, stress-test against inflation, and see when your money runs out.
| Age | Phase | Contributions | Growth | Withdrawal | Nominal Balance | Real Balance |
|---|
How to Use This Retirement Calculator
Step 1: Set Your Ages
Enter your current age, when you want to retire and how long you want your money to last. Planning to 90 or beyond is sensible, as many people now live well into their 90s.
Step 2: Add Your Savings and Contributions
Add the total of your pensions and long term investments, then what goes in each month. Remember to include your employer’s contributions and tax relief, not just what comes out of your pay.
Step 3: Choose Your Assumptions
The expected return and inflation rate drive the result. The calculator uses them to work out your real return, which is growth after inflation. Being cautious here gives you a more realistic picture.
Step 4: Pick How You Will Take an Income
Choose a withdrawal rate, such as the popular 4% rule, or set a fixed yearly income target. The chart then shows whether your pot lasts to your chosen age or runs out early.
How Much Do You Need to Retire in the UK?
Pensions UK publishes the Retirement Living Standards, which show what different lifestyles cost each year. These 2026 figures are after tax and exclude rent or mortgage costs.
| Lifestyle | Single person | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | £13,900 | £22,500 |
| Moderate | £32,700 | £45,400 |
| Comfortable | £45,400 | £62,700 |
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026/27, or about £12,550 a year. That covers most of the minimum standard on its own, so your private pension only needs to fill the gap. Our guide to the State Pension increase explains what is coming next. Our State Pension history chart shows how that compares with every rate since 1948.
What the Retirement Calculator Assumptions Mean
Expected Return
This is the average yearly growth of your investments before inflation. Many people use somewhere between 4% and 7% a year, depending on how much of their money is in shares. A lower figure gives you a more cautious result.
Inflation
Inflation reduces what your money buys. The calculator shows a real balance in today’s pounds, which is the most useful number for planning.
The 4% Rule
The 4% rule suggests you can withdraw 4% of your pot in the first year, then rise with inflation, with a good chance of it lasting around 30 years. It is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee. If you retire early, a lower rate is safer.
How to Close a Retirement Shortfall
If the calculator shows a shortfall, small changes add up. Paying in a little more each month, working one or two years longer or reducing fees can all make a big difference over decades.
You could also lock in a guaranteed income for part of your pot. Our guide to annuities in the UK shows what £100,000 buys in 2026, and our decade by decade wealth guide covers what to prioritise at each age.
Retirement Calculator FAQs
Does This Retirement Calculator Include the State Pension?
No. It projects your own savings only. Add your expected State Pension separately when comparing your income with your target.
Is the Result Guaranteed?
No. Investment returns vary from year to year, so treat the result as a guide. Run it again with a lower return to see a more cautious picture.
When Can I Access My Private Pension?
Currently from age 55, rising to 57 from April 2028. The State Pension age is separate and is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028.
See how decades of investing add up in a game. Play the Investing Time Machine game and grow a pot from 22 to 67. Or browse all our free money games.