Roth IRA Calculator
Tax-free growth projection — contributions + compounding.
Tax-free balance at age 65
$1,206,218
Roth IRA: contributions any time tax-and-penalty-free. Earnings tax-free if 59½+ AND account ≥5 years. No RMDs in your lifetime.
Year-by-year breakdownShow table ▾Hide ▴
| Age | Contributed | Growth | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 31 | $7,000 | $0 | $7,000 |
| 32 | $14,000 | $560 | $14,560 |
| 33 | $21,000 | $1,725 | $22,725 |
| 34 | $28,000 | $3,543 | $31,543 |
| 35 | $35,000 | $6,066 | $41,066 |
| 36 | $42,000 | $9,352 | $51,352 |
| 37 | $49,000 | $13,460 | $62,460 |
| 38 | $56,000 | $18,456 | $74,456 |
| 39 | $63,000 | $24,413 | $87,413 |
| 40 | $70,000 | $31,406 | $101,406 |
| 41 | $77,000 | $39,518 | $116,518 |
| 42 | $84,000 | $48,840 | $132,840 |
| 43 | $91,000 | $59,467 | $150,467 |
| 44 | $98,000 | $71,504 | $169,504 |
| 45 | $105,000 | $85,065 | $190,065 |
| 46 | $112,000 | $100,270 | $212,270 |
| 47 | $119,000 | $117,252 | $236,252 |
| 48 | $126,000 | $136,152 | $262,152 |
| 49 | $133,000 | $157,124 | $290,124 |
| 50 | $140,000 | $180,334 | $320,334 |
| 51 | $147,000 | $205,960 | $352,960 |
| 52 | $154,000 | $234,197 | $388,197 |
| 53 | $161,000 | $265,253 | $426,253 |
| 54 | $168,000 | $299,353 | $467,353 |
| 55 | $175,000 | $336,742 | $511,742 |
| 56 | $182,000 | $377,681 | $559,681 |
| 57 | $189,000 | $422,455 | $611,455 |
| 58 | $196,000 | $471,372 | $667,372 |
| 59 | $203,000 | $524,762 | $727,762 |
| 60 | $210,000 | $582,982 | $792,982 |
| 61 | $217,000 | $646,421 | $863,421 |
| 62 | $224,000 | $715,495 | $939,495 |
| 63 | $231,000 | $790,654 | $1,021,654 |
| 64 | $238,000 | $872,387 | $1,110,387 |
| 65 | $245,000 | $961,218 | $1,206,218 |
A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account you fund with after-tax dollars. You get no deduction the year you contribute, but qualified withdrawals in retirement, including every dollar of investment growth, come out completely tax-free.
This calculator projects what your account could be worth at retirement based on your current balance, annual contributions, years invested, and an assumed rate of return. It shows the split between what you put in and what compounding added.
Because the growth is never taxed if the rules are met, the Roth structure rewards a long time horizon. The younger you start and the longer the money compounds, the larger the tax-free portion becomes relative to your contributions.
How this calculator works
The projection uses standard future-value compounding. Each year the balance grows by your assumed return, and your annual contribution is added. In formula terms, a lump sum grows as FV = PV * (1 + r)^n, while recurring contributions grow as an annuity: FV = PMT * (((1 + r)^n - 1) / r). For example, contributing $7,000 a year for 30 years at a 7% annual return produces roughly $661,000, of which only $210,000 is your own contributions and about $451,000 is tax-free growth. Change the return or the number of years and the compounding effect shifts sharply.
What affects the number
- Contribution limits: for 2025 you can contribute up to $7,000, or $8,000 if you are age 50 or older, across all your IRAs combined.
- Income limits: the ability to contribute directly phases out at higher modified adjusted gross income; high earners often use a backdoor Roth instead.
- Rate of return: your actual return depends on your investments and is not guaranteed; small differences compound into large gaps over decades.
- Time horizon: more years invested dramatically increases the share of the balance that comes from tax-free growth rather than contributions.
- The 5-year rule: earnings are tax-free only if the account has been open at least five years and you are 59.5 or older.
- Contributions stay accessible: your own contributions (not earnings) can be withdrawn at any time without tax or penalty.
Frequently asked questions
Are Roth IRA withdrawals really tax-free?
Qualified withdrawals are fully tax-free, including all investment gains. To qualify, you must be at least 59.5 years old and have had a Roth IRA open for at least five years. Meeting both conditions means you owe no federal income tax on the money you take out.
Can I withdraw my Roth IRA contributions before retirement?
Yes. Because you already paid tax on the money you contributed, you can withdraw your contributions at any age with no tax and no penalty. The restriction applies only to earnings, which can be taxed and penalized if withdrawn before you meet the age and five-year rules.
How much can I contribute to a Roth IRA in 2025?
The 2025 limit is $7,000 if you are under 50 and $8,000 if you are 50 or older. This limit is shared across all your traditional and Roth IRAs combined. Your ability to contribute directly phases out at higher income levels.
Do Roth IRAs have required minimum distributions?
No. Unlike traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, a Roth IRA has no required minimum distributions during the original owner's lifetime. You can leave the money invested and growing tax-free for as long as you like, which makes the Roth useful for estate planning.
Is a Roth IRA better than a traditional IRA?
It depends on your tax situation. A Roth is generally better if you expect to be in the same or a higher tax bracket in retirement, since you pay tax now at a known rate and withdraw tax-free later. A traditional IRA can win if you expect a lower bracket in retirement, because you get the deduction today.
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.