For 2026 you can contribute up to $7,500 to a Roth IRA, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older. Investing $7,500 at the end of each year at a 7% return grows to about $708,456 after 30 years. Qualified withdrawals are tax-free, and Roth IRAs have no required minimum distributions while the owner is alive. Your contribution phases out at incomes of $153,000–$168,000 (single) and $242,000–$252,000 (married filing jointly).
Savers use it to compare contribution habits before retirement. For a traditional IRA style projection with the same annual engine, see the IRA calculator. For workplace plans, try the 401k calculator. For Roth 401(k) rules and 2026 limits, read the 401(k) limits guide. To project savings across all your accounts, use the retirement calculator.
2026 Roth IRA limits
| Rule | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Contribution limit, under 50 | $7,500 |
| Catch-up, 50 and older | $1,100 (total $8,600) |
| Phase-out, single / head of household | $153,000–$168,000 |
| Phase-out, married filing jointly | $242,000–$252,000 |
Source: IRS IR-2025-111. Roth IRAs have no required minimum distributions while the original owner is alive (IRS RMD FAQs).
Roth IRA growth at the 2026 limit (7%, year-end deposits, starting from $0)
| Years | $7,500/year | $8,600/year (50+) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $103,623 | $118,821 |
| 20 | $307,466 | $352,561 |
| 30 | $708,456 | $812,363 |
At 6% instead of 7%, $7,500 a year for 30 years grows to about $592,936. Returns are not guaranteed. Assumptions should always be rerun with a cautious rate as well as an optimistic one.
How the formula works
The calculator compounds once per year: FV = P(1+r)^t + PMT × (((1+r)^t – 1) ÷ r). The starting balance grows for each year at rate r. Each annual contribution also grows for the remaining years. Adding those pieces gives the projected end balance under a constant rate assumption.
Worked example
Principal $20,000, an example annual contribution of $7,000 (not the limit), rate 7 percent, years 30. Projected balance ≈ $813,471.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Current balance | $20,000 |
| Annual contribution (example) | $7,000 |
| Annual return | 7% |
| Years | 30 |
| Projected balance | ~$813,471 |
How to use the fields
- Current balance is what the Roth already holds.
- Annual contribution is the yearly amount you plan to add.
- Annual return is your assumed percentage growth rate.
- Years is the projection length.
Common mistakes
- Entering a monthly contribution in an annual field
- Assuming the legal maximum never changes
- Contributing more than the year’s limit
- Ignoring fees by using a gross return that is too high
- Treating one projection as a guarantee
Contribution planning
Check the 2026 limits table above for the maximum you can contribute. If cash flow is tight, model a lower annual contribution and a longer timeline. If you expect raises, run a second scenario with a higher pmt later rather than forcing one number forever.
Roth versus traditional context
Growth engines can look similar while tax timing differs. Compare equal contribution and rate assumptions on the IRA page, then bring tax questions to a qualified advisor. This calculator stays focused on future value math.
Reading the $813,471 scenario
Of the default $813,471, $152,245 comes from growth on the starting $20,000 and $661,226 from the yearly deposits. The $7,000 contribution is an example contribution, not a limit; the 2026 maximum is $7,500, or $8,600 at 50 and older. That result assumes steady 7 percent returns and uninterrupted deposits for 30 years. Real markets bounce and cash flow can pause, so run a second case at a lower rate for a more cautious landing zone.
If you can only fund $4,000 some years, model that lower amount instead of pretending the maximum is automatic. Honest inputs beat optimistic screenshots.
Monthly saving: $7,500 a year is $625 a month. This calculator treats deposits as yearly, so monthly saving grows slightly more in practice.
Fees and net return
A 7 percent gross market assumption with 1 percent annual fees is not the same as a 7 percent net experience. If fees are meaningful in your account, enter a lower rate so the projection stays closer to spendable reality.
Product changes, fund switches, and advisory fees all affect the net rate. Revisit the assumption when your portfolio costs change.
Horizon and age context
Thirty years fits many mid career savers. If your horizon is 15 years, rerun with years = 15 instead of mentally scaling the 30 year result. Compounding is nonlinear, so half the time is not half the balance.
Near retirement, pair accumulation sketches with withdrawal planning rather than staring only at a peak balance number.
Limitations
Results ignore inflation, sequence of returns risk, contribution phase outs, and conversion strategies. There is no income or limit check, so confirm your eligibility against the table above. Recalculate when your balance, funding plan, or assumed rate changes.