🌔 Coast FIRE Calculator
Find out exactly how much you need saved today to stop worrying about retirement forever.
Yrs
Yrs
$
Total in 401k, IRA, Brokerage, etc.
$
In today's dollars
%
Return AFTER inflation (Stock market average is ~7%).
%
The standard Trinity Study rule is 4%.
You are not Coast FI yet.
Your Coast FIRE Number
$0
You need this amount invested today to coast.
0% to Coast FI
Total FIRE Number Needed
$0
At age 65
Current Investments
$0
Growing for 35 years
What does "Coast FIRE" mean?
Coast FIRE is a milestone in the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement. It means you have already front-loaded enough money into your retirement accounts that you never have to contribute another cent. Compound interest alone will grow your current balance into your full retirement goal.
When you reach Coast FI, you only need to earn enough money from your job to cover your day-to-day living expenses. You can "coast" to retirement by taking a lower-paying dream job, working part-time, or starting a risky business without worrying about your future.
How is the Coast FIRE number calculated?
- Step 1: Calculate your Full FIRE Number. By dividing your expected annual retirement spending by your Safe Withdrawal Rate (usually 4%). For example, $60k / 0.04 = $1.5 Million.
- Step 2: Discount it to today. We take that $1.5 Million and work backwards using the "Real Rate of Return" (growth after inflation) over the number of years you have left until retirement.
- Formula:
Coast FIRE Number = Full FIRE Number ÷ (1 + Rate) ^ Years
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a "Real" Return? +
A real return is your investment growth rate minus inflation. The S&P 500 historically returns about 10% per year. However, inflation averages about 3%. So your "Real Return" is 7%. Using real returns allows you to think about all numbers in "today's dollars" without worrying about how much milk will cost in 30 years.
Should I include my house in my current investments? +
Usually, no. Your primary residence is not a liquid investment that you will sell to buy groceries in retirement. Only include income-producing or liquid assets like a 401(k), IRA, taxable brokerage accounts, or rental properties.