How this calculator works
Your FIRE number is annual expenses divided by your safe withdrawal rate; at 4% that's 25 times spending. Your investments grow each year at the real return you enter, plus your annual savings, until they reach the target.
Worked example
With the example values below: Your FIRE number, $1,250,000 (reached in about 21 years). Change any number above to run your own.
What you enter
| Input | Example |
|---|---|
| Annual expenses | $50,000 |
| Safe withdrawal rate | 4% |
| Current investments | $80,000 |
| Annual savings | $30,000 |
| Real annual return | 5% |
What FIRE means
FIRE stands for financial independence, retire early. You're financially independent when your investments can cover your living expenses indefinitely. The FIRE number is the portfolio size that makes that possible: annual expenses divided by a safe withdrawal rate. At 4%, that's 25 times spending; $60,000 a year needs $1.5 million.
People pursuing FIRE often save 40% to 70% of their income, which can cut decades off a traditional working life.
Savings rate is the biggest lever
How fast you reach FIRE depends far more on your savings rate than your income. With a 5% real return and starting from zero, saving 10% of take-home pay takes about 51 years; 25% takes about 32 years; 50% takes about 17 years; 70% takes about 8.5 years. Higher savings rates help twice: more goes in, and you need less because you're used to spending less.
Flavors of FIRE
- Lean FIRE: a minimal budget, often under about $40,000 a year.
- Fat FIRE: a comfortable budget, often $100,000 a year or more.
- Barista FIRE: part-time work covers some expenses or health insurance.
- Coast FIRE: enough saved that growth alone reaches your target.
Planning issues for early retirees
Retiring decades early means a longer horizon, so many use a 3.25% to 3.5% withdrawal rate. Plan for health insurance before Medicare at 65, and for accessing retirement accounts before 59½ through Roth conversion ladders, 72(t) payments or taxable savings.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my FIRE number?
Divide your expected annual expenses by your safe withdrawal rate. At 4%, multiply annual spending by 25: $50,000 a year means $1.25 million.
What withdrawal rate should I use for early retirement?
4% is the classic guideline for 30-year retirements. For 40 or 50 years, many planners suggest 3.25% to 3.5%, or using flexible spending rules.
How long does it take to reach FIRE?
Mainly a function of your savings rate. With a 5% real return, saving 50% of take-home pay takes about 17 years from zero; saving 25% takes about 32 years.
What is the difference between FIRE and Coast FIRE?
FIRE means you can stop working now and live on withdrawals. Coast FIRE means you can stop saving for retirement but still work to cover current expenses.
How do early retirees get health insurance?
Common options are ACA marketplace plans, where premiums are based on income, a spouse's employer plan, COBRA for up to 18 months, or part-time work with benefits.
Grow what this calculator projects.
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Estimates for planning only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Tax tools use 2026 federal figures (brackets, $16,100 / $32,200 standard deduction, $19,000 gift exclusion, $15M lifetime exemption). Rates shown as defaults are examples; replace them with quotes you actually receive.