Roth IRA calculator
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
See how much a Roth IRA can grow tax-free by retirement, whether your income lets you contribute the full 2026 limit, and whether a Roth or Traditional IRA leaves you with more money.
- Your contributions
- $262,500
- Tax-free growth
- $895,234
- Starting balance
- $5,000
- Roth: spendable in retirement
- $1,109,351
- Traditional after 15% tax
- $942,948
- + 22% tax savings, invested
- $244,057
- Traditional: total
- $1,187,006
Traditional wins by $77,655 because your tax rate today is higher than in retirement.
Contributions are made at the start of each year at the 2026 limit ($7,500; $1,100 catch-up at 50+), held flat. You also need earned income at least equal to your contribution. The Traditional comparison assumes the deduction is allowed and the tax savings are invested at the same return without tax drag.
Year-by-year projection
| Age | Contribution | Total put in | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | $7,500 | $12,500 | $13,375 |
| 32 | $7,500 | $20,000 | $22,336 |
| 33 | $7,500 | $27,500 | $31,925 |
| 34 | $7,500 | $35,000 | $42,185 |
| 35 | $7,500 | $42,500 | $53,162 |
| 36 | $7,500 | $50,000 | $64,909 |
| 37 | $7,500 | $57,500 | $77,477 |
| 38 | $7,500 | $65,000 | $90,926 |
| 39 | $7,500 | $72,500 | $105,316 |
| 40 | $7,500 | $80,000 | $120,713 |
| 41 | $7,500 | $87,500 | $137,188 |
| 42 | $7,500 | $95,000 | $154,816 |
| 43 | $7,500 | $102,500 | $173,678 |
| 44 | $7,500 | $110,000 | $193,860 |
| 45 | $7,500 | $117,500 | $215,456 |
| 46 | $7,500 | $125,000 | $238,562 |
| 47 | $7,500 | $132,500 | $263,287 |
| 48 | $7,500 | $140,000 | $289,742 |
| 49 | $7,500 | $147,500 | $318,049 |
| 50 | $7,500 | $155,000 | $348,337 |
| 51 | $7,500 | $162,500 | $380,746 |
| 52 | $7,500 | $170,000 | $415,423 |
| 53 | $7,500 | $177,500 | $452,528 |
| 54 | $7,500 | $185,000 | $492,230 |
| 55 | $7,500 | $192,500 | $534,711 |
| 56 | $7,500 | $200,000 | $580,165 |
| 57 | $7,500 | $207,500 | $628,802 |
| 58 | $7,500 | $215,000 | $680,843 |
| 59 | $7,500 | $222,500 | $736,527 |
| 60 | $7,500 | $230,000 | $796,109 |
| 61 | $7,500 | $237,500 | $859,862 |
| 62 | $7,500 | $245,000 | $928,077 |
| 63 | $7,500 | $252,500 | $1,001,067 |
| 64 | $7,500 | $260,000 | $1,079,167 |
| 65 | $7,500 | $267,500 | $1,162,734 |
How to use the Roth IRA calculator
- Enter your age, retirement age, current Roth balance and how much you plan to contribute each year.
- Pick your filing status and modified AGI. The calculator applies the 2026 phase-out and caps your contribution.
- Choose an expected annual return.
- For the Roth vs Traditional comparison, enter your tax rate today (federal bracket plus state) and the rate you expect in retirement.
2026 Roth IRA contribution and income limits
| Filing status | Full contribution if MAGI under | No contribution at MAGI of |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $153,000 | $168,000 or more |
| Head of household | $153,000 | $168,000 or more |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000 | $252,000 or more |
| Married filing separately (lived with spouse) | $0 | $10,000 or more |
Contribution limit: $7,500 ($8,600 at 50+). Married filing separately and you didn't live with your spouse at any time during the year? Use the single range. Source: IRS Notice 2025-67.
Reduced contribution in the phase-out range
Round up to the next $10; if it's above $0 but under $200, you can contribute $200.
| Filing status | MAGI | Max 2026 contribution (under 50) |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $155,000 | $6,500 |
| Single | $160,500 | $3,750 |
| Single | $165,000 | $1,500 |
| Married filing jointly | $245,000 | $5,250 |
| Married filing jointly | $250,000 | $1,500 |
Roth vs Traditional: tax now or tax later
With the same yearly contribution, a Traditional IRA grows to the same pre-tax balance as a Roth, but every withdrawal is taxed. If you invest the tax deduction you get today, the Traditional is worth balance × (1 − tax later + tax now), while the Roth is worth the full balance. So:
- Tax rate later higher than now → Roth wins (common early in your career).
- Tax rate later lower than now → Traditional wins (common at peak earnings).
- Same rate → it's a tie.
Example: $7,500 a year from 30 to 65 at 7% grows to $1,109,351, all tax-free in a Roth. In a Traditional IRA taxed at 15% in retirement it's $942,948 after tax, plus $244,057 if the 22% tax savings were invested — $1,187,006 total. Traditional IRA deductions are themselves limited if you have a workplace plan: in 2026 they phase out at $81,000–$91,000 (single) and $129,000–$149,000 (married filing jointly, contributor covered), or $242,000–$252,000 if only your spouse is covered.
Roth IRA growth at the $7,500 limit
| Years | Contributed | 6% return | 7% return | 8% return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $75,000 | $104,787 | $110,877 | $117,341 |
| 20 | $150,000 | $292,445 | $328,989 | $370,672 |
| 30 | $225,000 | $628,513 | $758,048 | $917,594 |
| 40 | $300,000 | $1,230,358 | $1,602,072 | $2,098,358 |
Contributions at the start of each year, limit held at the 2026 level, no catch-up.
Disclaimer: Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice. Returns are not guaranteed. Withdrawal rules, the five-year rule and backdoor Roth conversions have details not modeled here.
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Frequently asked questions
How much can I contribute to a Roth IRA in 2026?
$7,500, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older (the catch-up rose to $1,100). The limit is shared across all your Traditional and Roth IRAs, and you can't contribute more than your earned income for the year.
What are the 2026 Roth IRA income limits?
Your contribution limit phases out with modified AGI between $153,000 and $168,000 for single and head-of-household filers, $242,000–$252,000 for married filing jointly, and $0–$10,000 for married filing separately if you lived with your spouse.
Is a Roth or Traditional IRA better?
It comes down to tax rates. If your tax rate in retirement will be higher than today, the Roth wins; if it will be lower, the Traditional deduction wins; if they're equal, both give the same after-tax money (assuming you invest the Traditional tax savings). Roths also have no required minimum distributions.
When can I withdraw from a Roth IRA tax-free?
Your contributions can come out any time, tax- and penalty-free. Earnings are tax-free once you are 59½ and the account has been open at least five years; earlier withdrawals of earnings may owe tax plus a 10% penalty, with some exceptions.
What is the deadline for 2026 Roth IRA contributions?
The tax-filing deadline in 2027 — normally April 15, 2027. You can contribute for 2026 any time from January 1, 2026 until then.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.