Finance
FIRE Calculator
Plan your path to Financial Independence Retire Early. Get your FIRE number, years to FIRE, and target age based on your savings rate, expected return, and safe withdrawal rate.
Your FIRE plan
Your savings rate is 47.1%.
FIRE number
$1,125,000
Based on 4% safe withdrawal rate.
Years to FIRE
14.6 years
FIRE age
45
Monthly contribution
$3,333
Total contributed
$583,333
Investment gains
$498,193
Coast FIRE at 65
$533,829
Frequently Asked Questions about the FIRE Calculator
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule lets you withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement and adjust that amount for inflation each year after, with a high probability of lasting 30 years. William Bengen introduced it in 1994, and the 1998 Trinity study confirmed a 95%+ success rate over 30 years. This calculator uses it to set your FIRE number: annual expenses divided by the withdrawal rate (default 4%), which equals annual expenses x 25. Lower your withdrawal rate to 3.5% and your FIRE number rises to expenses x 28.6.
What is the difference between lean FIRE and fat FIRE?
Lean FIRE targets a bare-bones retirement budget, typically under $40,000 a year, which puts the FIRE number below $1,000,000 at a 4% rate. Fat FIRE targets $100,000 a year or more, requiring $2,500,000 or more. Most people land somewhere in between (sometimes called regular FIRE), with annual expenses in the $50,000 to $80,000 range and a corresponding portfolio of $1,250,000 to $2,000,000. These cutoffs are conventions, not fixed rules.
What is coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is the point at which your current savings will compound to your full FIRE number by traditional retirement age, with no further contributions needed. This calculator shows that figure by growing your current balance at the expected return rate until age 65 (adjustable). If that projected value exceeds your FIRE number, you have already coasted: you only need to cover living expenses, not add more to investments.
What is sequence-of-returns risk?
Sequence-of-returns risk means a market downturn in the first few years of retirement can permanently deplete your portfolio, even if long-run average returns are fine. Selling shares at low prices locks in losses that compounding cannot fully recover. Common defenses include holding 1-2 years of expenses in cash, using a flexible withdrawal strategy that cuts spending in down years, or targeting a withdrawal rate below 4%.
Is a 4% withdrawal rate still safe today?
For a 30-year retirement, the Trinity study found 4% had a 95%+ success rate. For early retirees with 40-50 year horizons, researchers such as Wade Pfau and Early Retirement Now suggest 3.3-3.5% to keep a similar safety margin. The right rate also depends on your spending flexibility: retirees willing to trim 10-15% of withdrawals in bad market years can tolerate a higher starting rate with lower risk of running out. This is an estimate, not personalized financial advice.