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Roth IRA calculator
Check how much you can put in a Roth IRA for 2026 at your income, then see what the account could grow to by the age you choose.
StockEducation Editorial Team · Updated · 12 min read · How we check our tools
The calculator
Check your 2026 Roth IRA limit and growth
Output Calculated from your inputs
Your Roth IRA assumptions
Check an estimated 2026 contribution limit, then project tax-free account growth if eligibility and inputs stay as shown.
Illustration, not a forecast or an eligibility decision. The model keeps MAGI and 2026 rules fixed, applies the age-based cap and phase-out, then subtracts other IRA contributions. Returns compound monthly at annual rate ÷ 12; deposits arrive after growth. Taxable compensation, fees and qualified-withdrawal rules are not checked. Full method · IRS 2026 limits.
| Age | Allowed | Contributed | Growth | End balance |
|---|
Educational estimate only. MAGI and 2026 limits are held constant. The calculator does not determine taxable compensation or qualified-distribution status.
How to use it (three steps)
Enter your age, income and filing status, then press Check eligibility and project. The calculator applies the 2026 income limits first, then grows only what you are allowed to put in. Not sure what to enter? Load an example.
- 1Enter your age, income and filing status
- 2Press Check eligibility and project to see what you can contribute
- 3Compare the tax free balance with a taxable account at the same return
Your result in words
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How much can I put in a Roth IRA in 2026?
Up to $7,500, or $8,600 if you are 50 or older, as long as you have at least that much earned income.1 The limit shrinks as income rises. For single filers it phases out between $153,000 and $168,000 of modified adjusted gross income. For married couples filing jointly the range is $242,000 to $252,000. In the default example, a 35 year old earning $100,000 can put in the full $7,500 a year and reaches $965,394 by 65, of which $715,394 is growth you may never pay tax on.
Checked against IRS · see sources
- Tax now, not later. No deduction going in; qualified withdrawals come out tax free.
- 2026 limit. $7,500, or $8,600 from age 50.
- Income limits. Single filers phase out from $153,000 to $168,000; joint filers from $242,000 to $252,000.
- Shared limit. Traditional and Roth IRA contributions count toward the same yearly limit.
- Contributions are flexible. You can take them back any time. Earnings wait for 59½ and five years.
- Start early. $3,000 a year from age 22 grows to about $819,000 at 7%.
The income limitsWhat changes the resultTaking money outTest yourself
Part 1 of 3 · How it works
How does a Roth IRA work?
A Roth IRA is an account you open yourself, at a brokerage or bank. You pay tax on the money before it goes in. After that, growth is not taxed and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax free.
What makes a Roth different?
With a traditional IRA or 401(k) you get a tax break now and pay tax on everything you take out later. A Roth flips that: no break now, no tax later on qualified withdrawals. The longer the money grows, the more that matters, because the growth is the part that escapes tax.
In the default example you put in $225,000 over 30 years plus a $25,000 starting balance. The account reaches $965,394. In a Roth, the $715,394 of growth can come out tax free after 59½. In a taxable account, much of it would be taxed along the way.
Who can contribute, and how much?
You need earned income, such as wages or self employment income, at least equal to what you contribute. Then your income decides how much of the limit you get:
| Filing status | Full limit up to | Phased out by |
|---|---|---|
| Single or head of household | $153,000 | $168,000 |
| Married filing jointly | $242,000 | $252,000 |
| Married filing separately, lived with spouse | Reduced from $0 | $10,000 |
Source: IRS, 2026 limits. The full limit is $7,500, or $8,600 at 50 or older.
A single filer with $160,000 of modified AGI is 7,000 into a 15,000 wide range, so the limit drops from $7,500 to $4,000. At $170,000 it is $0. The calculator does this for you and shows the result as Full limit, Reduced or Not eligible.
How does this calculator work?
- It works out your 2026 limit from your age, filing status and modified AGI.
- It subtracts any traditional IRA contributions, because both share one yearly limit.
- It contributes the smaller of your planned amount and your allowed amount each year, rising to the age 50 catch up limit when you reach 50.
- It grows the balance monthly at your yearly return divided by 12, until your projection age.
Pay the tax now on a small amount, and the growth on top can be yours tax free.
Part 2 of 3 · What moves the result
What changes your Roth IRA balance the most?
Your income sets how much you can put in. After that, time and how much you actually contribute decide most of the result.
How much does starting early matter?
Balance at 65, by starting age and yearly amount
The age 22 example is the one to remember: $3,000 a year, $250 a month, grows to more than $800,000 because it has 43 years.
What if my income is near the limit?
At $170,000 nothing new can go in, so the balance is just the $25,000 starting amount growing for 30 years. The calculator holds your income and the 2026 rules fixed, so treat this as a snapshot. Raises can push you into the phase out later.
| Input | Change | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Starting age | 35 to 25, from $0: +$675,114 | Large |
| Expected return | 7% to 8%: +$239,474; 7% to 6%: −$187,008 | Large |
| Yearly contribution | $7,500 to $3,000: −$457,489 | Large |
| Income (single) | $100,000 to $160,000: −$340,241 | Medium |
| Other IRA contributions | $0 to $2,500: −$225,105 | Medium |
All figures from this calculator on October 15, 2026. Illustrations, not forecasts or recommendations.
Contribute what you are allowed, every year, as early as you can.
Part 3 of 3 · Rules to know
What does this calculator not check?
The calculator handles the income limits. A few other rules decide whether your Roth works the way you expect.
Do I need a job to contribute?
You need taxable compensation, such as wages, salary or self employment income, at least equal to what you put in. A married couple filing jointly can use one spouse’s earnings to fund both spouses’ IRAs. The calculator does not check this, so make sure your earned income covers your contribution.
When can I take money out?
You can take out your contributions at any time without tax or penalty. Earnings come out tax free once you are 59½ and your first Roth IRA has been open at least five tax years. Take earnings out before then and you may owe income tax plus a 10% additional tax, unless an exception applies.3
In the default example, $225,000 of contributions is always yours to withdraw. Only the $715,394 of growth has to wait. That makes a Roth a forgiving first account for someone who is not sure they will leave the money alone.
What is the deadline?
You can make 2026 contributions until the tax filing deadline in April 2027. Unlike a traditional IRA, there are no required minimum distributions from a Roth IRA during your lifetime.3
Compare it with your workplace plan. The 401(k) calculator shows what an employer match adds. Many people take the full match first, then fund a Roth IRA.
Open the 401(k) calculator Free, no signup.Contributions are always yours to take back. Earnings wait for 59½ and five years.
Mistakes to avoid
Three mistakes to avoid, and what to do instead
Missing the income limits
Above the phase out range direct contributions are not allowed. Check this before you contribute, not after.
Withdrawing earnings early
Contributions can come out any time; earnings before age 59½ and the five year rule can mean tax and a penalty.
Choosing Roth or traditional by habit
Roth wins when your tax rate in retirement will be higher than today. Think about which way yours is likely to go.
Quick check
Three quick questions and one why
1. You are 52. What is the most you can put in a Roth IRA for 2026 if your income is well within the limit?
2. A single filer has $175,000 of modified AGI in 2026. How much can they contribute to a Roth IRA directly?
3. Which part of a Roth IRA can you withdraw at any age without tax or penalty?
Why: why does the age 22 saver with $3,000 a year come so close to the age 35 saver with $7,500?
Time. The age 22 saver has 43 years of growth, so even the first $3,000 doubles about four times at 7%. The age 35 saver puts in far more money but each dollar has 13 fewer years to grow.
Common questions
Roth IRA Calculator FAQ
Roth IRA or traditional IRA?
A Roth suits you if you expect your tax rate in retirement to be the same or higher than today, which is common for people early in their careers. A traditional IRA gives you a deduction now, if you qualify. Our lesson on Roth IRA, 401(k) or brokerage account compares the options.
What is modified AGI?
Your adjusted gross income from your tax return with certain items added back. For many people it is close to their AGI. The IRS explains the exact calculation in its guide to IRA contributions.
Can I have a Roth IRA and a 401(k)?
Yes. The limits are separate: up to $24,500 in a 401(k) and up to $7,500 in IRAs for 2026, before catch up amounts. A common order is the 401(k) match first, then a Roth IRA, then more 401(k).
What should I invest in inside a Roth IRA?
A Roth IRA is an account, not an investment. Inside it you choose funds or stocks. Many beginners start with a low cost index fund. The calculator’s 7% return is an assumption, not a promise.
Does the calculator decide if I am eligible?
No. It estimates your limit from the inputs you give it under 2026 rules. It does not check your earned income or your tax return. Check the IRS rules or a tax professional before contributing near the limits.
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Your Roth IRA on one card, and where to go next
- Step 1 · DoneHow a Roth IRA works
See it on one card
- Tax now, not later. No deduction going in; qualified withdrawals come out tax free.
- 2026 limit. $7,500, or $8,600 from age 50.
- Income limits. Single filers phase out from $153,000 to $168,000; joint filers from $242,000 to $252,000.
- Shared limit. Traditional and Roth IRA contributions count toward the same yearly limit.
- Contributions are flexible. You can take them back any time. Earnings wait for 59½ and five years.
- Start early. $3,000 a year from age 22 grows to about $819,000 at 7%.
- 2Step 2 · NowAdd your workplace plan
See how an employer match and a 401(k) work alongside your Roth.
Open the 401(k) calculator Free, no signup. - 3Step 3Follow the learning pathThe learning pathFree
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Sources and assumptions
- IRS: 401(k) limit increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA limit increases to $7,500. Sets the $7,500 IRA limit, the $1,100 catch up and the 2026 Roth IRA income phase out ranges.
- IRS: Retirement topics, IRA contribution limits. The yearly limit is shared between traditional and Roth IRAs and cannot exceed taxable compensation.
- IRS: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (Publication 590B). Rules for qualified Roth distributions, the five year rule and the 10% additional tax.
Method: the calculator estimates the 2026 Roth IRA limit from age, filing status and modified AGI, reduces it within the phase out range, and uses the lower of that limit or the annual IRA cap minus other IRA contributions. It then contributes the smaller of the planned and allowed amounts each year. Income and the 2026 rules are held fixed for future years, and the limit rises to the catch up amount from age 50. The balance grows monthly at the yearly return divided by 12, with deposits after growth. The default example is age 35, projection to 65, a $25,000 balance, $7,500 a year, single, $100,000 of modified AGI, no other IRA contributions and a 7% return. Worked figures were checked against the calculator at publication. Enter whole-year ages. For the 2026 limit check, use the age you reach by December 31. Long-range projections apply the catch-up when the model year starts at age 50 or more; table rows show the age at the end of that year. Birthday timing within a year is not modelled. Results exclude fees and do not check taxable compensation or withdrawal rules. All amounts are in U.S. dollars.
Page history. October 21, 2026: V7 page published with checked 2026 contribution limits, projections, validation and sharing controls.
StockEducation provides general education, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Results are illustrations based on the assumptions you enter, not forecasts or promises of any return. Investing involves risk, including the loss of money you invest.
