RetireWise

FIRE calculator: your number and your date

Find the portfolio that would cover your spending for good, and how many years your savings rate needs to get there.

$
Per year, after tax
$
$
%
%
%
4% = 25× spending

Your FIRE number

$1,125,000

Reachable in 18 years, at age 48, saving 47% of your income.

Lean FIRE ($31k/yr)
$787k · 14 yrs
Your FIRE ($45k/yr)
$1.13M · 18 yrs
Fat FIRE ($72k/yr)
$1.80M · 26 yrs
$0$500k$1M$1.50M$2M3035404550FIRE numberIndependent
Portfolio, today's dollarsAge →

Ask about your result

An AI reads the numbers above and explains what they mean for you, in plain English. It only runs when you press the button.

0/400

Your savings rate vs years to freedom

Using your income, starting balance and returns. Watch how each 10 points of savings rate cuts years off.

Savings rateSpendingFIRE numberYears to FI
10%$76,500$1,912,50054
20%$68,000$1,700,00039
30%$59,500$1,487,50029
40%$51,000$1,275,00022
50%$42,500$1,062,50017
60%$34,000$850,00012
70%$25,500$637,5009

How the FIRE maths works

Your FIRE number is your yearly spending divided by the withdrawal rate you trust. The calculator then grows your invested money at the real return (your return minus inflation) and adds what you save each year, which is your take-home income minus spending, until the balance reaches the number. Because everything is in today's dollars, the target doesn't move.

Flavours of FIRE

  • Lean FIRE: a bare-bones budget; here, 70% of your current spending.
  • Fat FIRE: room for travel and extras; here, 160% of your spending.
  • Coast FIRE: save enough early that growth alone reaches your number by traditional retirement age. See the Coast FIRE calculator.
  • Barista FIRE: leave full-time work early and cover part of your costs with part-time income. See the Barista FIRE calculator.

Before you quit

Plan for health insurance before Medicare at 65, the 10% penalty on retirement-account withdrawals before 59½ (a Roth conversion ladder or rule of 55 can help), and a withdrawal rate suited to a 50-year horizon. Stress-test the plan with the Monte Carlo calculator.

Questions people ask

What is FIRE?

FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. You are financially independent when your investments can pay your living costs indefinitely, usually defined as a portfolio of about 25 times your yearly spending (a 4% withdrawal rate). After that, work becomes optional.

How do I calculate my FIRE number?

Divide your yearly spending by your safe withdrawal rate. At 4%, that is spending × 25; at 3.5%, spending × 28.6. Someone spending $50,000 a year needs $1.25 million at 4%.

What are Lean FIRE and Fat FIRE?

Lean FIRE means reaching independence on a frugal budget, often under about $40,000 a year. Fat FIRE means a comfortable or generous budget, often $100,000 or more. Regular FIRE sits in between. The maths is the same; only the spending changes.

Why does my savings rate matter so much?

Your savings rate does double duty: a higher rate means more invested each year and a lower spending level to replace. Someone saving 50% of take-home pay can reach independence in roughly 17 years from zero at a 5% real return; at 15% it takes over 40.

Is 4% safe for an early retirement?

The 4% rule was tested for 30 years. For a 40 to 60-year retirement, many in the FIRE community use 3.25% to 3.5% for more margin.