FIRE Calculator

Find your number for financial independence

FIRE means having enough invested that work becomes optional. Enter your annual spending, what you've invested so far, how much you add each year, and your expected return — the calculator shows your FIRE number, how many years until you reach it, and your Coast FIRE milestone along the way.

How the math works

Your FIRE number is annual spending ÷ withdrawal rate. At a 4% withdrawal rate, $40,000 of spending needs a $1,000,000 portfolio (25×). Lower your spending or your withdrawal rate and the target moves. From there it's compounding: your current investments plus yearly contributions grow at your expected return until they cross the line.

The Coast FIRE shortcut

• Coast FIRE comes before full FIRE — it's when your invested money alone will reach the goal by 65.
• After Coast FIRE you can ease off saving and just cover current bills, letting compounding finish the job.
• Tax-advantaged accounts like a traditional or Roth IRA make the path faster by sheltering growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a FIRE number?

Your FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) number is the portfolio size that lets you live off withdrawals indefinitely. It is your annual spending divided by your safe withdrawal rate — at the common 4% rate, that is 25× your yearly expenses.

What is the 4% rule?

A rule of thumb from retirement research: if you withdraw about 4% of your portfolio in the first year and adjust for inflation after, the money has historically lasted 30+ years. Some people use a more conservative 3.5%, especially for very early retirement. Adjust the withdrawal rate in the calculator to see the effect.

What is Coast FIRE?

Coast FIRE is the point where your existing investments will grow into your full FIRE number by traditional retirement age (around 65) without any further contributions. Once you hit it, you only need to earn enough to cover today's expenses — your retirement is already funded by compounding.