Roth IRA Calculator

Check your 2026 contribution room and project qualified tax-free retirement growth.

Planning depth

Quick projection Five inputs with full-eligibility planning assumptions Detailed plan Check MAGI eligibility, other IRA deposits, fees, inflation, and withdrawal assumptions

Your Roth IRA plan

Current Age

Your age at the start of the projection. The 2026 IRA catch-up contribution becomes available at age 50.

years

Retirement Age

The age at which the projection ends. Qualified Roth earnings generally require age 59½ and satisfaction of the five-tax-year rule.

years

Annual Roth IRA Contribution

Your planned annual deposit. Traditional and Roth IRA contributions share one combined annual limit, and Roth eligibility can be reduced at higher MAGI.

$ USD

The current age-based IRA limit is applied before income and compensation limits.

Expected Annual Return

The average annual return assumed for stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, or other investments held inside the Roth IRA. Returns are not guaranteed.

Current Roth IRA Balance

The amount already invested in the Roth IRA. Existing money continues to grow even when income rules reduce new direct contributions.

$ USD

Quick projection assumptions

Assumes full 2026 Roth eligibility, sufficient taxable compensation, no other IRA contributions, 0.5% annual fees, 2.5% inflation, no annual contribution increase, a 4% withdrawal rate, and satisfaction of the qualified-distribution rules by retirement.

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Projected Roth IRA balance at retirement

In today’s dollars—

Estimated monthly retirement income—

Future contributions—

Net investment growth—

Estimated fees—

Maximum direct 2026 contribution—

First-year excess or unused room—

Qualified-withdrawal check—

Return scenarios

Conservative · return −2 points—

Expected · selected return—

Optimistic · return +2 points—

Enter your details to check eligibility and project Roth IRA growth.

Projection assumptions will appear here.

Year-by-year Roth IRA projection

Future contribution limits are estimated from the 2026 limit using inflation. They are not official future IRS limits.

Year / age	Contribution	Growth	Fees	Ending balance	Today’s dollars
Projection	—	—	—	—	Enter your details above

Investing in stocks and ETFs inside a Roth IRA

A Roth IRA is an account with special federal tax treatment, not a stock, ETF, or mutual fund. After money enters the account, it can usually be invested in assets offered by the brokerage or custodian, including individual stocks, exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, bonds, certificates of deposit, and cash.

The investments determine risk and return. A diversified stock ETF may provide broad market exposure with one holding, while individual stocks can create greater company-specific risk. Bond funds may reduce volatility but can have lower expected growth. Enter a long-term portfolio return and include fund expense ratios or advisory costs in the annual-fee field. The calculator does not forecast markets or select investments.

2026 eligibility and qualified Roth withdrawals

The detailed calculator estimates the maximum direct Roth IRA contribution from age, filing status, MAGI, taxable compensation, and contributions made to other IRAs. The current shared IRA limit and the eligible age-based catch-up are resolved from the IRS baseline. Income can reduce or eliminate a direct Roth contribution.

Investment growth is potentially tax-free, but tax-free earnings are not automatic. The qualified-distribution check uses retirement age and the first Roth contribution year as a planning indicator; exceptions and ordering rules can require individual tax analysis.

Review Roth IRA contribution rules in IRS Publication 590-A and distribution rules in IRS Publication 590-B.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Roth IRA?

A Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars. Investments can grow without annual federal taxation inside the account, and qualified withdrawals can be tax-free. Contribution eligibility and qualified-distribution rules still apply.

What is the Roth IRA contribution limit for 2026?

The IRS sets a shared annual IRA limit, with an additional amount available from age 50. Your direct Roth contribution can be reduced or eliminated by filing status and modified adjusted gross income.

What is the difference between a Roth and Traditional IRA?

Traditional IRA contributions may be deductible today and taxable when withdrawn. Roth contributions are not deductible, while qualified withdrawals can be tax-free. The better strategy depends on eligibility, current and future tax rates, and whether Traditional tax savings are reinvested.

Can I withdraw from my Roth IRA early?

Roth IRA ordering rules generally treat regular contributions as withdrawn before conversions and earnings. A distribution of earnings normally needs the five-tax-year test and a qualifying condition, such as reaching age 59½, to be tax-free. Exceptions and conversion rules can require individual analysis.

What is a backdoor Roth IRA?

A so-called backdoor Roth generally involves a nondeductible Traditional IRA contribution followed by a Roth conversion. Existing pre-tax IRA balances, the pro-rata rule, timing, and reporting can create tax consequences, so this projection does not automatically recommend or calculate that strategy.

Can I buy stocks or ETFs in a Roth IRA?

Usually, yes. A Roth IRA opened with a brokerage can commonly hold stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, CDs, or cash. The investments determine market risk, expected return, diversification, and fees; the Roth IRA determines the account's tax treatment.