FIRE Calculator

Financial Independence, Retire Early. Find your FIRE number, see exactly when your portfolio hits each milestone, and discover how your savings rate shapes your path to never needing to work again.

This determines your FIRE number (expenses × 25)

S&P 500 historical avg ~10% nominal, ~7% real

Historical avg ~3%. Used to calculate real return.

4% is the classic rule (Trinity Study). Conservative planners use 3–3.5%. Higher rates carry more risk of running out.

What Is FIRE — Financial Independence, Retire Early?

FIRE is a financial movement built around one idea: accumulate enough invested wealth that your portfolio generates enough passive income to cover your expenses indefinitely — so you never have to work for money again. The math is simple. Your FIRE number is your annual expenses divided by your safe withdrawal rate. At the classic 4% withdrawal rate, that's your annual expenses multiplied by 25. If you spend $50,000 per year, your FIRE number is $1,250,000. Once your portfolio hits that number, you're financially independent.

The Three Types of FIRE

  • Lean FIRE — Retiring on a minimal budget of $40,000/year or less. Requires a smaller portfolio ($1M at 4%) but demands a frugal lifestyle. Popular with minimalists and those in low cost-of-living areas.
  • FIRE — The standard target based on your current annual expenses. Maintains your existing lifestyle indefinitely without working.
  • Fat FIRE — Retiring with $100,000+ per year in spending. Requires a larger portfolio ($2.5M+ at 4%) but allows for a comfortable, flexible retirement.
  • Coast FIRE — The point at which you have enough invested that, even without any more contributions, compound growth alone will carry your portfolio to your FIRE number by traditional retirement age. Once you hit Coast FIRE, you only need to cover your current expenses — no more saving required.

The 4% Rule Explained

The 4% rule comes from the Trinity Study, which analyzed historical stock and bond market data and found that a portfolio withdrawing 4% per year had a very high probability of lasting 30+ years. More conservative planners use 3% or 3.5% — especially for very early retirees with 50+ year time horizons. This calculator lets you adjust the withdrawal rate to see how it changes your FIRE number and timeline.

How to Use This Calculator

  • Enter your current age and total invested savings across all accounts (401k, IRA, brokerage, etc.).
  • Enter your annual expenses — this is the most important number. It determines your FIRE number directly.
  • Enter your monthly savings and investment contributions.
  • Set your expected annual return. The S&P 500 has historically returned ~10% nominal, or ~7% after inflation. This calculator uses the real (inflation-adjusted) return for all projections.
  • Adjust the safe withdrawal rate if desired. 4% is the standard; lower is more conservative.
  • Click Calculate FIRE to see all four FIRE milestones, a year-by-year chart, and a progress table.

The Fastest Way to Reach FIRE

Your savings rate is the single most powerful lever in FIRE. Someone saving 10% of their income takes 40+ years to reach FIRE. Someone saving 50% can get there in under 17 years. Someone saving 70% can retire in under 9 years — regardless of income level. Reducing expenses has a double impact on your FIRE timeline: it lowers your FIRE number AND increases the amount you can save each month.

This calculator is for educational and planning purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Investment returns are not guaranteed and past performance does not predict future results. Consult a financial advisor for personalized guidance.

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Adjust the URL parameters to prefill the calculator for your users.