4% Rule / Safe Withdrawal Calculator
See how much you can withdraw from a portfolio each year and how long the money lasts with inflation-adjusted withdrawals.
For information and education only — not financial advice. Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter; check important decisions with a qualified professional.
How to use
- 1Enter your portfolio value and the withdrawal rate.
- 2Enter the expected return and inflation to see how long it lasts.
How it's calculated
Year-one withdrawal = portfolio × rate. Each later withdrawal rises with inflation. The balance grows by the return after each withdrawal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 4% rule?
Withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one and raise it by inflation each year; historically that lasted at least 30 years in US markets.
Why do returns vary so much in real life?
A bad market early in retirement (sequence-of-returns risk) hurts more than one later. This calculator uses a steady average return.
What can make withdrawals safer?
Spending flexibility — cutting withdrawals a little after bad years — greatly improves how long a portfolio lasts.