Coast FIRE Calculator

Find your Coast FIRE number, Full FIRE number, Barista FIRE, Lean FIRE or Fat FIRE target — all in one free tool. Updated with 2026 IRS contribution limits.

Your Numbers

Current Age

Your age today. Money in most retirement accounts (401k, IRA) can’t be withdrawn penalty-free before age 59½, unless you use the Rule of 55 or a SEPP 72(t) plan — see the notes below.

Current Annual Expenses ($)

How much you actually spend per year today, not your income. This is used as your “Full FIRE” target and as the base for your Barista FIRE gap.

Current Investments ($)

Total of brokerage accounts, 401(k)/403(b), IRAs, and HSA balances earmarked for retirement. Don’t include home equity or your emergency fund.

Monthly Contribution ($)

How much you invest each month. In 2026, you can shelter up to $2,041/month ($24,500/yr) in a 401(k), plus $625/month ($7,500/yr) in an IRA, plus HSA room of $4,400 (self) or $8,750 (family).

Expected Annual Return (%)

Average yearly growth of your investments before inflation. The S&P 500’s long-run historical average is roughly 9–10% nominal. A diversified portfolio is often modeled more conservatively at 7–8%.

Expected Inflation (%)

Long-run US inflation has averaged close to 3%. The Federal Reserve targets 2%. This is subtracted from your return to get your “real” purchasing-power-adjusted growth rate.

Safe Withdrawal Rate (%)

The classic Trinity Study “4% Rule” is the traditional default. Updated research on longer retirements and current valuations often suggests a more conservative 3.5%–3.8% for early retirees with 40+ year horizons.

Tax Filing Status

Used to estimate how much you could withdraw from long-term capital gains in 2026 while paying $0 federal income tax, using the current standard deduction and 0% capital gains bracket.

FIRE Variant Settings

Lean FIRE Annual Expenses ($)

The stripped-down, no-frills budget you’d actually live on. The FIRE community commonly defines Lean FIRE as under $40,000/year, giving a smaller portfolio target and an earlier possible retirement date.

Fat FIRE Annual Expenses ($)

A more comfortable, higher-spending retirement budget. Fat FIRE is commonly defined as needing more than $100,000/year — a larger portfolio, but a less restricted lifestyle.

Barista FIRE Part-Time Income ($/yr)

Expected annual income from part-time or flexible work once you scale back (the “barista” job — often chosen for health insurance). This income covers part of your expenses, so your portfolio only funds the remaining gap.

Traditional Retirement Age

The age you could rely on Social Security or simply stop needing your portfolio to keep growing. Coast FIRE calculates how much you need invested today so compound growth alone gets you to your Full FIRE number by this age — with zero further contributions.

Your 5 FIRE Paths

Lean FIRE

Retire earliest by living on a minimal budget.

FIRE Number —

Time to Reach—

Age—

Coast FIRE

Save this much, then stop — compounding does the rest by your target retirement age.

Coast Number Needed Today —

Time to Reach—

Age—

Barista FIRE

Part-time income covers part of expenses; your portfolio covers the rest.

FIRE Number —

Time to Reach—

Age—

Full FIRE

Portfolio fully covers your current lifestyle — no work required.

FIRE Number —

Time to Reach—

Age—

Progress

Fat FIRE

A larger portfolio funding a more comfortable, higher-spending retirement.

FIRE Number —

Time to Reach—

Age—

Click “Calculate My FIRE Numbers” to see your personalized 2026 tax-free withdrawal estimate.

2026 Contribution Limits (IRS)

401(k) / 403(b) / 457 / TSP: $24,500/yr — plus $8,000 catch-up (age 50+) or $11,250 “super catch-up” (age 60–63)
Traditional / Roth IRA: $7,500/yr — plus $1,100 catch-up (age 50+)
HSA: $4,400 self-only / $8,750 family — plus $1,000 catch-up (age 55+)
High earners note: if your prior-year FICA wages exceeded $150,000, all catch-up contributions must now be made as Roth (after-tax) starting in 2026
Standard Deduction 2026: $16,100 (Single) / $32,200 (Married Filing Jointly)

Accessing Your Money Before 59½

Rule of 55: if you leave your job in or after the year you turn 55, you can withdraw penalty-free from that employer’s 401(k)
SEPP / 72(t): substantially equal periodic payments let you tap an IRA or 401(k) early without the 10% penalty, if followed strictly for 5 years or until age 59½
Roth Conversion Ladder: convert traditional IRA funds to Roth, then withdraw the converted principal tax- and penalty-free after a 5-year wait
Roth contributions: your original Roth IRA contributions (not earnings) can always be withdrawn tax- and penalty-free at any age
Social Security: full retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later; you can claim as early as 62 (permanently reduced) or delay to 70 for a higher benefit

This calculator is for educational purposes only and isn’t tax or financial advice. Figures reflect 2026 IRS inflation adjustments and are subject to change. Consult a licensed financial or tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

How to Use This Coast FIRE Calculator

Fill in your financial profile — current age, target retirement age, current investments, expected return, and safe withdrawal rate. These apply to every mode.
Choose your FIRE type using the tabs: Coast FIRE, Full FIRE, Barista FIRE, Lean FIRE, or Fat FIRE.
Enter the mode-specific inputs (annual spending, monthly contribution, or part-time income).
Click Calculate and review your FIRE number, years to retirement, and required monthly savings instantly.

What Is the FIRE Movement?

FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. The core idea: save and invest aggressively — typically 50-70% of income — until your investment portfolio generates enough passive income to cover all your living expenses indefinitely. At that point, paid work becomes entirely optional. The movement grew from ideas in the 1992 book “Your Money or Your Life” by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez, and was developed into a practical framework by Mr. Money Mustache and communities like r/financialindependence.

All FIRE Types Compared

Type	What It Means	Typical Annual Spending	Best For
Coast FIRE	Current savings will grow to your FIRE number by retirement without further contributions	Any amount	People who want to stop aggressive saving early and just coast
Full FIRE	Portfolio fully covers 100% of spending indefinitely	Any amount	Complete financial independence from all work
Barista FIRE	Portfolio covers most expenses; enjoyable part-time work covers the rest	Any amount minus part-time income	People who want to semi-retire with flexibility
Lean FIRE	Fully retired on a frugal, minimal budget	$25,000–$40,000/yr	Extreme savers, low-cost-of-living areas
Fat FIRE	Fully retired with a comfortable or luxurious lifestyle	$100,000+/yr	High earners who want no lifestyle compromise

What Is the 4% Rule?

The 4% Rule — formally called the Safe Withdrawal Rate — states that you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement, then adjust for inflation each subsequent year, and your money has historically lasted at least 30 years. It comes from the 1998 Trinity Study by three finance professors at Trinity University, analyzing US stock and bond market returns from 1926 to 1995. For early retirees planning a 40+ year retirement, many FIRE practitioners use 3.5% or 3.25% SWR for extra safety.

How Your FIRE Number Is Calculated

FIRE Number = Annual Retirement Spending / Safe Withdrawal Rate

Example: $50,000/year spending at 4% SWR = $50,000 / 0.04 = $1,250,000 FIRE number. At a 3.5% SWR, the same spending requires $1,428,571.

How Coast FIRE Is Calculated

Coast FIRE Number = FIRE Number / (1 + Annual Return)^Years to Retirement

Example: FIRE number $1,250,000, 7% real return, 20 years to retirement: $1,250,000 / (1.07^20) ≈ $323,000. If you have $323,000 invested today and leave it alone, compound growth takes it to $1,250,000 in 20 years — no further contributions needed.

2026 Contribution Limits — Maximize Your FIRE Journey

Maxing out tax-advantaged accounts is the single most effective FIRE accelerant. The confirmed 2026 IRS limits are:

401(k), 403(b), 457 plans: $24,500/year (up from $23,500 in 2025)
401(k) catch-up (age 50+): additional $8,000 — total $32,500
Super catch-up (age 60-63): additional $11,250 — total $35,750
IRA (Traditional or Roth): $7,500/year (up from $7,000 in 2025)
IRA catch-up (age 50+): additional $1,100 — total $8,600
SEP-IRA: $72,000 or 25% of compensation, whichever is less

A dual-income household maxing both 401(k)s and IRAs can shelter $64,000 from taxes in 2026 alone. One important 2026 change from SECURE 2.0: catch-up contributions for workers earning more than $150,000 in 2025 must now be made as Roth (after-tax) — check with your plan administrator. Full details at IRS.gov retirement contribution limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is my FIRE number?

Your FIRE number is your planned annual retirement spending divided by your safe withdrawal rate. At the standard 4% rule, multiply your annual spending by 25. If you plan to spend $50,000/year, your FIRE number is $1,250,000.

What is Coast FIRE?

Coast FIRE is reached when your current invested savings will grow to your full FIRE number by your target retirement age — without you contributing another dollar. You can then stop aggressive saving and let compounding do the rest.

What is the difference between Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE?

Coast FIRE focuses on whether current savings are enough to grow to your FIRE number without further contributions. Barista FIRE reduces the FIRE number itself by supplementing portfolio withdrawals with enjoyable part-time income, making the target smaller and faster to reach.

How much do I need to retire at 40?

At a 4% SWR, multiply planned annual spending by 25. For $60,000/year, that’s $1,500,000. Many FIRE planners targeting age 40 use 3.5% SWR given the longer horizon, requiring about $1,714,000 for the same spending level.

Is the 4% rule still valid in 2026?

Yes — it has held up through numerous market cycles since the original Trinity Study and remains the standard FIRE planning starting point in 2026. Some early retirees with 40+ year horizons use 3.5% for extra safety.

What is Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE?

Lean FIRE means retiring on a frugal $25,000–$40,000/year budget. Fat FIRE means retiring with $100,000+/year with no compromises. Most people fall in between, sometimes called Standard or Regular FIRE.

2026 contribution limits confirmed from the IRS announcement IR-2025-111. SECURE 2.0 Roth catch-up requirement per IRS SECURE 2.0 guidance.

More Free USA Financial Calculators

USA Financial Calculators Hub — every USA finance tool in one place
Retirement Calculator — traditional retirement savings planning
CD Calculator — put your emergency fund to work in a high-yield CD
Credit Card Payoff Calculator — eliminate high-interest debt first
ROI Calculator — compare investment returns side by side
Paycheck Calculator USA — see how much you can invest each month
Federal Income Tax Calculator — estimate your full annual tax bill

Built by Shivam, Software Engineer & Founder of SitNit.com

✅ Limits and rules verified against IRS.gov Notice 2025-67

🔄 Updated June 2026 with confirmed 2026 IRA limits

Was this calculator helpful? Rate it!

Rated by 0 users · Average: 0 / 5