Financial Independence · Retire Early

Calculate Your FIRE Number

Find your target nest egg and how many years until financial independence. Enter your annual expenses, savings rate, and current portfolio — get years to FI, projected date, and progress percentage.

4% Safe Withdrawal Rate — Trinity Study benchmark 25× Rule — Standard FIRE target 100% Free — No account required

Your Financial Snapshot

Annual Expenses Your current yearly spend

Current Portfolio Value Investments, 401k, etc.

Monthly Savings $0

Expected Annual Return 7%

Expected Annual Income $0

Expected Annual Inflation Rate 3%

Assumptions

4% Safe Withdrawal Rate25× expenses = FIRE number

Real returns (after inflation)Nominal return − inflation rate

Compound frequencyMonthly

CalculationFuture value projection

Enter your details and click
"Calculate My FIRE Number"

How the Calculator Works

The FIRE framework is built on three pillars: the 4% rule, compound growth, and savings rate math.

25×

Your FIRE Number

Multiply your annual expenses by 25. This is your target nest egg. At the 4% safe withdrawal rate, a well-diversified portfolio should sustain 30+ years of withdrawals with low depletion risk.

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Compound Growth

Your existing portfolio grows via investment returns. As it grows, returns apply to a larger base — accelerating over time. Income, inflation, and real vs. nominal returns all feed into the projection.

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Savings Rate Impact

Your savings rate (income minus expenses, divided by income) is the single biggest driver of years-to-FI. Going from 10% to 30% savings can cut your timeline by decades. The math is unforgiving but clear.

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Conservative Buffer

The calculator shows a 33× conservative target (3% SWR) alongside the 25× standard. If you retire early, plan for 30+ years of withdrawals, or have variable expenses — use the conservative figure as your planning anchor.

FIRE Calculator FAQ

Answers to the most common questions about FIRE math and planning.

What is a FIRE number?

Your FIRE number is 25 times your annual expenses — based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate (SWR) derived from the Trinity Study. At this level, historically, your portfolio could sustain 30+ years of withdrawals with minimal depletion risk.

Why 25x — what if I want a 3% withdrawal rate?

25x assumes the 4% SWR. If you want extra safety margin (e.g., early retirement before 65, healthcare costs, sequence-of-returns risk), use 33x for a 3% SWR. The calculator shows both — your target and a conservative variant.

How does compound growth get me to FIRE?

Compound growth (your money earning returns, which then earn returns) is the primary engine. With a high savings rate, your contributions are small relative to the growth on existing savings. The calculator projects your portfolio at each year until it hits 25x expenses.

Should I include Social Security in my annual expenses estimate?

Yes — but treat it conservatively. Many FIRE practitioners plan expenses net of Social Security, treating the benefit as a bonus buffer. Estimate your inflation-adjusted benefit at retirement age and subtract from total expenses to get your true 'portfolio-funded' expense figure.

What return should I assume?

The calculator defaults to 7% (inflation-adjusted, after-inflation historical stock market average). Use a conservative 5% if you want to account for lower future expected returns, longer market cycles, or high bond allocation. Never use 10%+ for planning — that's nominal, not real.

Does inflation affect my FIRE number?

Yes — in two ways. First, your expenses will be higher in the future, making your FIRE number larger. Second, your current savings will buy less in future dollars. The calculator applies inflation to both your annual expenses and growth projections so the years-to-FI estimate stays realistic.