Retirement Withdrawal Calculator: Will It Last?

What this calculator can help you understand

How long your savings could last at a given monthly withdrawal.
The monthly withdrawal that would last a chosen number of years.
Your first-year withdrawal rate.

When it’s useful

When you’re close to retirement and planning your income.
When you’re deciding when to retire.
Each year in retirement, to check whether your withdrawals still fit.

Who it’s for

People nearing retirement or already retired.
Anyone checking whether a savings goal is enough.

What to enter

Input	What it means	Where to find it
Savings at retirement	Total invested savings you’ll draw from	Your account statements
Monthly withdrawal	What you’d take each month, before it rises with inflation	Your spending minus other income
Return per year	An assumed steady return, after fees	Your own assumption
Inflation per year	How fast you expect prices to rise	Your own assumption
Years it needs to last	How long you want your savings to last	Your plans

How to use it

Enter your savings and the monthly amount you’d withdraw.
Enter assumed returns and inflation.
Enter how many years the money needs to last.
Read how long your savings would last, and the withdrawal that would last your chosen number of years.
Try a lower return to see how sensitive the result is.

Understanding your results

Your savings would last is how long until the balance reaches zero, with withdrawals rising each year by inflation.
Monthly withdrawal that lasts is the starting monthly amount that runs out at exactly your chosen number of years.
First-year withdrawal rate = 12 × monthly withdrawal ÷ savings.

A worked example

Suppose you retire with $600,000 and want to withdraw $3,000 a month, rising 3% a year. You assume a steady 5% return and want the money to last 30 years.

First-year withdrawal rate: 6.0%.
How long it lasts: about 20 years, 7 months.
To last 30 years: you could start at about $2,230 a month.
At $2,500 a month, it would last 25 years, 10 months.
At a 3% return, $3,000 a month would last 17 years.

Common mistakes

Using a high return assumption. Try a lower one too.
Forgetting inflation. A fixed withdrawal loses buying power every year.
Ignoring taxes on traditional account withdrawals.
Planning for an average lifespan. Many people live well beyond it.

What to do with your result

If savings run short, consider a later retirement date, part-time income or lower withdrawals.
Project how much you’ll have at retirement with the retirement calculator.
Check Social Security estimates at ssa.gov, and subtract them from what you need to withdraw.

Limitations to keep in mind

The calculator uses one steady return and one inflation rate. Real markets vary, and the order of returns matters when you’re withdrawing. It doesn’t include taxes, required minimum distributions, Social Security, pensions or annuities. This isn’t financial or retirement advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 4% rule?

A rule of thumb from research by financial planner William Bengen in the 1990s: withdrawing 4% of savings in the first year, then adjusting for inflation, historically lasted at least 30 years in US markets. It’s a starting point, not a guarantee.

Why do withdrawals rise each year?

To keep your spending power steady as prices rise. A $3,000 monthly withdrawal growing 3% a year would be about $5,261 a month in year 20.

How much does the return assumption matter?

A lot. In our example, $600,000 lasts 20 years, 7 months at a steady 5% return, but 17 years at 3%.

Why might savings run out sooner than this shows?

The calculator uses a steady return. In reality, returns vary, and a market drop early in retirement, while you’re withdrawing, can shorten how long savings last even if the average return is the same.

Should I include Social Security?

Withdrawals here come from savings only. Subtract Social Security, pensions and other income from your spending to get the monthly amount you’d need from savings.

Are withdrawals taxed?

Withdrawals from traditional 401(k)s and IRAs are usually taxed as income; qualified Roth withdrawals are not. Taxes aren’t included here, so withdraw enough to cover them.

Retirement withdrawal calculator: how long could your savings last?