Early Retirement Calculator 2026 - FIRE Calculator
Calculate when you can retire early with our free FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) calculator. Calculate your FIRE number, years to financial independence, and plan your path to early retirement.
Your expected annual expenses in retirement
Percentage of income you save each year
Safe withdrawal rate (typically 3-4% for early retirement)
What is FIRE? Financial Independence, Retire Early
FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is a movement focused on achieving financial independence and retiring much earlier than traditional retirement age (often in your 30s, 40s, or 50s). The core principle is to save a large percentage of your income (typically 50-70%) and invest it to build enough wealth to cover your living expenses.
The 4% Rule: The FIRE movement typically uses the 4% rule, which states that you can safely withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually in retirement. This means you need 25 times your annual expenses saved to be financially independent. For example, if you spend $50,000 per year, you need $1.25 million to retire. Our calculator uses this rule to calculate your FIRE number. The 4% rule is based on research by financial planner William Bengen and later studies, including theTrinity Study.
FIRE Number: Your FIRE number is the total amount you need to save to achieve financial independence. It's calculated as your annual expenses divided by your withdrawal rate (typically 4%). Our calculator shows you exactly how much you need and when you can reach it based on your savings rate.
Savings Rate: The key to achieving FIRE is a high savings rate. The higher your savings rate, the faster you can reach financial independence. Many FIRE followers save 50-70% of your income, allowing them to retire in 10-20 years instead of 40+ years. Our calculator shows how your savings rate directly impacts your FIRE timeline.
Research Sources: The 4% rule is based on historical market data and retirement research. For more information on safe withdrawal rates, see theFederal Reserve research on the 4% rule and the originalBengen study.
Frequently Asked Questions - FIRE Calculator
The FIRE number is the total amount you need to save to achieve financial independence. It's calculated using the 4% rule: your annual expenses divided by 4% (or multiplied by 25). For example, if you spend $50,000 per year, your FIRE number is $1.25 million. This amount allows you to withdraw 4% annually to cover your expenses.
The 4% rule states that you can safely withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio in the first year, adjusted for inflation each year, and your money should last 30 years. This means you need 25 times your annual expenses saved to retire. The rule is based on historical market data and is commonly used in FIRE planning.
The higher your savings rate, the faster you can achieve FIRE. A 50% savings rate typically allows you to retire in about 17 years, while a 70% savings rate can get you there in about 8-10 years. Most FIRE followers save 50-70% of their income. Our calculator shows exactly how your savings rate affects your FIRE timeline.
The 4% rule was designed for 30-year retirements. For early retirement (40+ years), many people use a more conservative 3-3.5% withdrawal rate to account for longer time horizons. Our calculator allows you to adjust the withdrawal rate based on your risk tolerance and retirement timeline.