RetireWise

Roth IRA calculator

See what steady Roth IRA contributions grow to by retirement, all of it tax-free, using the 2026 contribution limits.

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Capped at the IRS limit
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For the Traditional comparison

Tax-free at 65

$1,064,368

about $448,494 in today's dollars, from $284,000 of contributions.

Growth, never taxed
$780k
Same in Traditional, after 18% tax
$873k
$0$500k$1M$1.50M$2M3035404550556065
Roth (tax-free)Traditional after taxAge →

The Traditional line ignores the tax deduction you'd get upfront. For a fair like-for-like comparison, use the Roth vs Traditional calculator.

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.

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Year-by-year schedule

AgeContributionTotal put inBalanceTax-free growth
31$7,500$12,500$13,313$813
32$7,500$20,000$22,165$2,165
33$7,500$27,500$31,594$4,094
34$7,500$35,000$41,635$6,635
35$7,500$42,500$52,328$9,828
36$7,500$50,000$63,717$13,717
37$7,500$57,500$75,846$18,346
38$7,500$65,000$88,764$23,764
39$7,500$72,500$102,521$30,021
40$7,500$80,000$117,172$37,172
41$7,500$87,500$132,776$45,276
42$7,500$95,000$149,394$54,394
43$7,500$102,500$167,092$64,592
44$7,500$110,000$185,941$75,941
45$7,500$117,500$206,014$88,514
46$7,500$125,000$227,393$102,393
47$7,500$132,500$250,161$117,661
48$7,500$140,000$274,409$134,409
49$7,500$147,500$300,233$152,733
50$7,500$155,000$327,735$172,735
51$8,600$163,600$358,197$194,597
52$8,600$172,200$390,639$218,439
53$8,600$180,800$425,190$244,390
54$8,600$189,400$461,986$272,586
55$8,600$198,000$501,174$303,174
56$8,600$206,600$542,909$336,309
57$8,600$215,200$587,357$372,157
58$8,600$223,800$634,695$410,895
59$8,600$232,400$685,109$452,709
60$8,600$241,000$738,800$497,800
61$8,600$249,600$795,981$546,381
62$8,600$258,200$856,879$598,679
63$8,600$266,800$921,735$654,935
64$8,600$275,400$990,806$715,406
65$8,600$284,000$1,064,368$780,368

Roth IRA rules for 2026

Rule2026
Contribution limit$7,500
Catch-up at 50++$1,100
Phase-out, single$153,000–$168,000
Phase-out, married filing jointly$242,000–$252,000
Required minimum distributionsNone for the original owner

Source: IRS Notice 2025-67.

Why tax-free growth matters most for young savers

In a Roth, you pay tax on the money going in and never again. The longer the money sits, the bigger the untaxed growth becomes relative to what you put in: in the example above, most of the final balance is growth. That growth would be taxed as income in a Traditional IRA and as capital gains in a regular brokerage account.

Traditional IRA instead?

A Traditional IRA may give you a deduction today, but withdrawals are taxed and RMDs start at 73 or 75. If you expect a lower tax rate in retirement than now, Traditional can come out ahead. If you're thinking of moving old Traditional money into a Roth, try the Roth conversion calculator.

Questions people ask

How much can I put in a Roth IRA in 2026?

$7,500, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older (a $1,100 catch-up). The limit is shared across all your IRAs, Roth and Traditional combined, and you can't contribute more than your earned income for the year.

Is there an income limit for a Roth IRA?

Yes. For 2026 the amount you can contribute phases out between $153,000 and $168,000 of modified AGI for single filers, and between $242,000 and $252,000 for married couples filing jointly. Above that, people often use a "backdoor" Roth: a nondeductible Traditional contribution converted to Roth.

When can I take money out tax-free?

Your own contributions can come out any time, tax and penalty-free. Earnings are tax-free once you are 59½ and the account has been open at least five years. Roth IRAs have no required minimum distributions for the original owner.

What is a Traditional IRA calculator result, by comparison?

The same deposits in a Traditional IRA grow to the same balance, but every dollar withdrawn is taxed as income. Enter your expected retirement tax rate to see what the Traditional balance would be worth after tax.

How much does a Roth IRA grow in 10 years?

Contributing $500 a month ($6,000 a year) for 10 years at a 7% return grows to about $88,700, of which $60,000 is contributions and about $28,700 is tax-free growth. Use the yearly schedule on this page to see any combination.

How much should I put in my Roth IRA per month?

To max out in 2026 you need $625 a month ($7,500 a year), or about $716.67 a month at 50 and older. Switch the calculator to monthly to plan with your own amount.

Can I put $100,000 into a Roth IRA?

Not as a yearly contribution: the 2026 limit is $7,500 ($8,600 at 50+). Larger sums get into a Roth by converting Traditional IRA or old 401(k) money (a Roth conversion, which is taxed as income) or by rolling over a Roth 401(k).

What return should I use?

A long-term stock-heavy portfolio has historically returned around 6–8% a year before inflation, but with big swings. Use 6% for a cautious projection and check the result in today's dollars.