Is free money being left on the table? What your contribution rate means at retirement — and what capturing the full match would add.
"50% up to 6%" is the most common formula: contribute 6%, get 3% free.
The IRS employee deferral limit (2026: $24,500). Your contributions are capped here; the match doesn't count against it.
This 401(k) employer match calculator shows what your current contribution rate compounds to by retirement and, crucially, the value of any unclaimed match. Failing to contribute enough to earn the full match is one of the most expensive money mistakes there is.
The match is calculated from your contribution rate and your employer's formula — for example 50% of contributions up to 6% of salary — and capped at the formula's limit. The calculator then compounds both your contributions and the match to retirement, and highlights the value of any match you're leaving on the table by contributing below the threshold.
Your employer adds money to your account based on what you contribute — for example, 50% of your contributions up to 6% of salary. It is part of your compensation.
At least enough to reach your employer's match ceiling. Contributing below that line means forfeiting free money every paycheck.
Yes. It is an immediate, guaranteed return on your contribution that no other investment reliably offers, which is why capturing it usually comes first.
At least enough to reach your employer's match ceiling — often 6% of salary. Contributing below that line forfeits free money every single paycheck.
Yes. A 50% match is an instant, guaranteed 50% return on your contribution before any market growth — a return no ordinary investment reliably offers, which is why capturing it usually comes first.
More retirement & investing tools: Retirement Savings Planner · Compound Interest · Roth vs. Traditional · FIRE: Years to Independence · Coast FIRE · Social Security Break-Even · Net Worth · Savings Goal · Required Minimum Distribution · Lump Sum vs. Dollar-Cost Averaging · Dividend Income · College Savings
See them all on the Retirement & Investing Calculators page, or embed this calculator on your site →