Roth IRA Calculator
A Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars, so your money grows tax-free and qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free — no taxes on decades of growth, which is an enormous advantage over a taxable account and a key reason the Roth IRA is one of the most powerful retirement savings vehicles available. This calculator projects your Roth IRA balance based on your current balance, the annual contribution you plan to make, your expected annual return, and the years until withdrawal, so you can see how decades of tax-free compounding add up. The 2026 contribution limit is $7,000 per year, or $8,000 if you're 50 or older (a catch-up that helps older savers accelerate), though high earners face income limits that phase out or eliminate direct contributions. Enter your current balance, planned annual contribution, expected return, and years to withdrawal, and the calculator returns your projected tax-free balance, total contributions, and growth. The Roth is especially powerful for younger savers, who are likely in the lowest tax bracket they'll ever occupy and who have decades of tax-free growth ahead, and for anyone who expects to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement than they are now. Another advantage is flexibility: you can withdraw your direct contributions (not earnings) at any time tax- and penalty-free, since you already paid tax on them, which makes the Roth a useful secondary emergency fund. If your income is too high for direct Roth contributions, the backdoor Roth strategy — contributing to a Traditional IRA and converting to a Roth — can still capture the benefit, though it requires care with the pro-rata rule. Pair this calculator with our Traditional IRA calculator to compare the two and decide which fits your situation, or diversify across both to hedge against future tax-rate changes.
Roth IRA Calculator
Project your Roth IRA balance — all tax-free growth and withdrawals.
Tax-free balance
$551,292
All withdrawals tax-free
Total contributions
$195,000
Tax-free growth
$356,292
Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars, so qualified withdrawals are completely tax-free. The 2026 contribution limit is $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+), subject to income limits.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your current Roth IRA balance.
- 2Enter your planned annual contribution.
- 3Enter your expected annual return.
- 4Enter the years until you withdraw.
- 5Read your projected tax-free balance.
Why It Helps
- ✓Projects tax-free retirement growth.
- ✓Shows the power of decades of compounding.
- ✓Helps you max out contributions.
- ✓Useful for Roth vs. Traditional decisions.
About This Calculator
A Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars, so your money grows tax-free and qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax-free — no taxes on decades of growth, which is an enormous advantage over a taxable account and a key reason the Roth IRA is one of the most powerful retirement savings vehicles available. This calculator projects your Roth IRA balance based on your current balance, the annual contribution you plan to make, your expected annual return, and the years until withdrawal, so you can see how decades of tax-free compounding add up. The 2026 contribution limit is $7,000 per year, or $8,000 if you're 50 or older (a catch-up that helps older savers accelerate), though high earners face income limits that phase out or eliminate direct contributions. Enter your current balance, planned annual contribution, expected return, and years to withdrawal, and the calculator returns your projected tax-free balance, total contributions, and growth. The Roth is especially powerful for younger savers, who are likely in the lowest tax bracket they'll ever occupy and who have decades of tax-free growth ahead, and for anyone who expects to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement than they are now. Another advantage is flexibility: you can withdraw your direct contributions (not earnings) at any time tax- and penalty-free, since you already paid tax on them, which makes the Roth a useful secondary emergency fund. If your income is too high for direct Roth contributions, the backdoor Roth strategy — contributing to a Traditional IRA and converting to a Roth — can still capture the benefit, though it requires care with the pro-rata rule. Pair this calculator with our Traditional IRA calculator to compare the two and decide which fits your situation, or diversify across both to hedge against future tax-rate changes.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or investment advice. Results depend on assumptions that may not reflect your actual situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 Roth IRA contribution limit?
$7,000 per year, or $8,000 if you are 50 or older. High earners face income limits that phase out or eliminate direct contributions.
Are Roth IRA withdrawals really tax-free?
Qualified withdrawals (after age 59½ and a five-year holding period) are completely tax-free, including all growth.
What if my income is too high for a Roth IRA?
You may use the backdoor Roth strategy: contribute to a Traditional IRA (nondeductible) and convert to a Roth. Consult a tax advisor.
Can I withdraw my contributions before retirement?
Yes. You can withdraw your direct contributions (not earnings) at any time tax- and penalty-free, since you already paid tax on them.
Roth or Traditional IRA — which is better?
Roth wins if you expect a higher tax bracket in retirement; Traditional wins if you expect a lower one. Diversifying across both can hedge tax risk.
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Written by
James MitchellSenior Financial Analyst & Personal Finance Expert
Certified Financial Planner (CFP) • MBA in Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business