FIRE Calculator
Your Financial Independence number + years to FIRE at current savings rate.
Years to Financial Independence
18
Savings rate is the lever. 50% saved = 17 years to FIRE. 25% = 32 years. 10% = 51 years. Cut expenses to compound the effect (lower number AND faster growth).
Year-by-year breakdownShow table ▾Hide ▴
| Year | Contributed | Growth | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $75,000 | $0 | $75,000 |
| 1 | $105,000 | $7,350 | $112,350 |
| 2 | $135,000 | $17,315 | $152,315 |
| 3 | $165,000 | $30,077 | $195,077 |
| 4 | $195,000 | $45,832 | $240,832 |
| 5 | $225,000 | $64,790 | $289,790 |
| 6 | $255,000 | $87,175 | $342,175 |
| 7 | $285,000 | $113,228 | $398,228 |
| 8 | $315,000 | $143,204 | $458,204 |
| 9 | $345,000 | $177,378 | $522,378 |
| 10 | $375,000 | $216,044 | $591,044 |
| 11 | $405,000 | $259,517 | $664,517 |
| 12 | $435,000 | $308,134 | $743,134 |
| 13 | $465,000 | $362,253 | $827,253 |
| 14 | $495,000 | $422,261 | $917,261 |
| 15 | $525,000 | $488,569 | $1,013,569 |
| 16 | $555,000 | $561,619 | $1,116,619 |
| 17 | $585,000 | $641,882 | $1,226,882 |
| 18 | $615,000 | $729,864 | $1,344,864 |
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. The idea is to save and invest aggressively until your portfolio is large enough to cover your living expenses indefinitely, so paid work becomes optional.
Your FIRE number is the size of that portfolio. The standard rule of thumb is 25 times your annual spending, which is the inverse of a 4% withdrawal rate. Someone who spends $40,000 a year targets $1,000,000.
The bigger lever on your timeline is your savings rate, meaning the percentage of your take-home income you invest. Cutting spending helps twice: it lowers the number you need and raises the amount you save each year.
How this calculator works
First find your FIRE number: annual expenses divided by your planned withdrawal rate, or equivalently expenses x 25 at 4%. So $40,000 / 0.04 = $1,000,000. To estimate years to FIRE, the calculator projects your current savings forward with compound growth while adding your annual contributions: future value = current balance x (1 + r)^n + annual savings x [((1 + r)^n - 1) / r], where r is your real (after-inflation) return and n is years. It solves for the n where that total reaches your FIRE number. Savings rate drives everything: at a 50% savings rate you are both living on half your income (a smaller target) and banking the other half, which historically points to roughly 15-17 working years from zero; a 15% rate can take 40+ years.
What affects the number
- Savings rate: the single biggest factor. Higher rate shrinks your target and grows your contributions at the same time.
- Annual expenses: your number scales directly with spending. Every $1,000/year of expenses adds about $25,000 to the target at 4%.
- Assumed real return: FIRE math uses returns net of inflation, often 4-7% real for a stock-heavy portfolio. Lower assumptions push the date out.
- Withdrawal rate chosen: 4% gives 25x; a more conservative 3.5% gives about 28.6x, meaning a larger number for a longer or safer retirement.
- Current portfolio and windfalls: a larger starting balance compounds sooner and pulls the finish line closer.
- Lean vs fat FIRE: 'lean FIRE' targets a bare-bones budget while 'fat FIRE' funds a comfortable lifestyle, changing the number substantially.
Frequently asked questions
How is the FIRE number calculated?
Multiply your expected annual expenses in retirement by 25. That is the same as dividing expenses by a 4% withdrawal rate. For example, $50,000 of annual spending implies a $1,250,000 FIRE number. If you prefer a safer 3.5% rate, multiply by about 28.6 instead, which gives roughly $1,430,000.
Why does my savings rate matter more than my income?
Your savings rate determines both how fast you accumulate money and how little you need to live on. A high earner who saves 10% can take longer to reach FIRE than a modest earner who saves 50%, because the aggressive saver has a smaller target and a bigger yearly contribution. This is why FIRE communities focus on the gap between income and spending rather than income alone.
Is the 25x rule safe for early retirement?
The 25x/4% guideline comes from studies of 30-year retirements. Early retirees may face 40 to 50 years, so many use a more conservative 3.3% to 3.7% rate, which raises the target. Flexibility (cutting spending in down markets) and some part-time income also improve the odds materially.
Does the FIRE number include Social Security or a pension?
The basic 25x number assumes your portfolio covers all expenses on its own. If you expect Social Security or a pension later, those payments reduce the portfolio-funded portion of your spending, so you may need a smaller nest egg. A common approach is to size the portfolio to bridge the years before those benefits start, then let benefits offset spending afterward.
This calculator provides general estimates for educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or investment advice. Your actual results depend on your specific situation, tax rules, market returns, and the current year's IRS limits.