Retirement Withdrawal Calculator
See how long a portfolio funds inflation-adjusted withdrawals under a steady return, with a yearly balance chart and table. Free, with no signup.
Reviewed October 25, 2026
Short answer
A withdrawal estimate needs a time horizon, not just a percentage. At the defaults, $1 million funds $40,000 a year in today's purchasing power for 30 years and ends with about $141,359. That is a deterministic estimate, not a safe-withdrawal guarantee.
Free to use. No signup. Results update as you edit.
Includes any taxes or fees you need to fund; rises with inflation.
Every modeled withdrawal is funded. This is not a guarantee beyond the selected horizon.
Scale: $0 to $1,000,000. Exact values in the table below.
Yearly withdrawals and balances
Scroll horizontally on small screens.
| Year | Withdrawn | Unfunded | End balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $40,000 | $0 | $978,641 |
| 2 | $40,000 | $0 | $956,867 |
| 3 | $40,000 | $0 | $934,670 |
| 4 | $40,000 | $0 | $912,042 |
| 5 | $40,000 | $0 | $888,975 |
| 6 | $40,000 | $0 | $865,460 |
| 7 | $40,000 | $0 | $841,488 |
| 8 | $40,000 | $0 | $817,051 |
| 9 | $40,000 | $0 | $792,140 |
| 10 | $40,000 | $0 | $766,744 |
| 11 | $40,000 | $0 | $740,856 |
| 12 | $40,000 | $0 | $714,465 |
| 13 | $40,000 | $0 | $687,561 |
| 14 | $40,000 | $0 | $660,135 |
| 15 | $40,000 | $0 | $632,177 |
| 16 | $40,000 | $0 | $603,675 |
| 17 | $40,000 | $0 | $574,620 |
| 18 | $40,000 | $0 | $545,001 |
| 19 | $40,000 | $0 | $514,807 |
| 20 | $40,000 | $0 | $484,027 |
| 21 | $40,000 | $0 | $452,649 |
| 22 | $40,000 | $0 | $420,661 |
| 23 | $40,000 | $0 | $388,053 |
| 24 | $40,000 | $0 | $354,811 |
| 25 | $40,000 | $0 | $320,924 |
| 26 | $40,000 | $0 | $286,379 |
| 27 | $40,000 | $0 | $251,163 |
| 28 | $40,000 | $0 | $215,263 |
| 29 | $40,000 | $0 | $178,666 |
| 30 | $40,000 | $0 | $141,359 |
All results are in today's dollars. Withdrawals occur at the beginning of each year; returns apply afterward. The model stops at your selected horizon (1–100 years).
This is an educational estimate, not tax or financial advice. Figures reflect the law year shown and the inputs you provide. Consult a qualified professional before acting.
Sources
- Compound Interest Calculator — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
The future-value compounding relationship used to carry today's portfolio to retirement age.
Accessed September 3, 2026
- Determining Withdrawal Rates Using Historical Data — Journal of Financial Planning
Why a withdrawal rate is an assumption grounded in historical sequences, not a guaranteed safe rate.
Accessed September 3, 2026
How it’s calculated
- Convert nominal return and inflation to real growth: (1 + return) ÷ (1 + inflation).
- At the start of each year, withdraw the smaller of the portfolio and the inflation-adjusted spending need. Show any unfunded amount separately.
- Apply real growth to what remains. Repeat for the selected number of years, keeping the portfolio at or above zero.
- Report the first year the balance reaches zero separately from the first year a withdrawal cannot be fully funded.
Worked 30-year drawdown example
- Starting savings
- $1,000,000
- First withdrawal
- $40,000
- Return / inflation
- 5% / 3%
- Horizon
- 30 years
Result
About $141,359 remains in today's dollars after 30 years; all 30 withdrawals are funded.
With g = 1.05 ÷ 1.03, the independent annuity formula is $1,000,000 × g^30 − $40,000 × g × (g^30 − 1) ÷ (g − 1). The extra g reflects beginning-of-year withdrawals.
What this calculator does not cover
- No sequence-of-returns risk or probability of success. A negative return can be tested, but returns remain constant every year.
- No Social Security, pensions, tax calculation, RMDs, account-access rules, or bequest target. Include any taxes and fees in the withdrawal amount yourself.
- A funded final withdrawal does not imply money remains afterward or that a longer retirement is funded.
Frequently asked
- Are withdrawals fixed or inflation-adjusted?
- They are fixed in purchasing power. Their nominal dollar amount rises with inflation; the table converts everything back to today's dollars.
- Is this the 4% rule?
- No. You choose both the withdrawal and return assumptions. Historical withdrawal research considers changing returns, while this tool uses one smooth path.
Related reading
Explore more worked examples on the retirement planning blog.