FIRE Calculator

Plan your path to Financial Independence and Early Retirement. Combine historical market data with your savings plan to model different scenarios and understand when you can achieve FIRE.

For the best experience viewing charts, rotate your device to landscape mode.

Positive amounts add to your investments, negative amounts withdraw. Recurring items are treated as monthly flows.

One-off events Log single cash inflows or expenses that happen in a specific month; use negative amounts for withdrawals.
Recurring income or expenses Track ongoing monthly contributions or bills; they repeat on the schedule you set until their optional end date.
FIRE reach Shows the first month your portfolio is projected to meet or exceed the FIRE number. If it never does, we note the shortfall. —
Portfolio at horizon Portfolio value at the final month of the simulation based on your current plan. —
Required monthly contribution Minimum monthly contribution needed to hit your FIRE number in the target year, given returns and cash-flow events. —
Coast-FIRE Indicates whether compounding alone can reach the FIRE number by the target date without further contributions. —
Retirement withdrawals Summarises cumulative withdrawals taken during retirement along with the average annual amount. —

Progress Towards Your Goal

Current
$0
FIRE Target
$0
Advanced metrics Have an idea? Request a feature →

Goal completion Compares your projected portfolio, target-year balance, and Coast-FIRE buffer against the required FIRE number.

Final portfolio vs FIRE target 0%
Target year projection 0%
Coast buffer 0%

Savings rate Measures what share of your monthly income is invested and provides guidance on the strength of that savings rate.

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Savings rate comparison Compares your current savings rate (monthly contribution as % of income) to the required rate needed to reach your FIRE goal on time.

Current 0%
Required 0%

Peak burn rate Highlights the largest projected withdrawal so you can spot stressful periods in the plan.

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Return profile Displays the annualized return, volatility, and inflation assumptions behind this projection.

Nominal annual return Annualized growth rate of the portfolio before accounting for inflation.
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Real annual return Annualized return after subtracting the inflation assumption.
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Annual volatility Standard deviation of annual returns implied by the projection.
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Inflation assumption The inflation rate used to convert nominal projections into real dollars.
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Click on any timeline event to highlight it on the chart above

Wealth Sources

Annual Returns Heatmap

Click to enlarge

Sharpe Ratio Risk-adjusted return: (Avg Annual Return − Inflation) / Annual Volatility. Higher is better, showing more return per unit of risk.

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Best & Worst Year Highlights the highest and lowest annual returns in your projection to show the range of outcomes.

Best —
Worst —

Portfolio Stability Percentage of months with positive real (inflation-adjusted) returns. Higher means more consistent growth.

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Portfolio Drawdowns

What Is A FIRE Calculator? (& How Is Ours Different)

A FIRE Calculator helps you understand how long it will take to reach Financial Independence using inputs like your current portfolio, monthly contributions, expected returns, inflation, and your chosen Safe Withdrawal Rate (SWR).

This FIRE Calculator goes far beyond traditional tools.

It doesn’t just show a simple projection — it lets you:

  • Compare forecast vs. real historical S&P 500 returns
  • Test whether you’ll reach FIRE by a specific Target Year
  • Check your Coast-FIRE status instantly
  • Run goal-seek calculations to discover how much you must invest monthly
  • View inflation-adjusted (real) results
  • Zoom into charts and explore historical market events
  • Analyse your portfolio with advanced metrics such as Savings Rate, Efficiency, Timeline Milestones, Best/Worst Years, Stability Index, and more
  • Explore Monte-Carlo simulations to understand the probability of success under randomized return sequences

Note: This calculator is fully reusable — every scenario you create can be saved and returned to through a shareable URL. Simply adjust your numbers, copy the URL, and revisit it anytime (or share it with your partner or planner). Your exact inputs and settings will load instantly, making long-term FIRE tracking effortless.

Enter your numbers above to see exactly where you stand — and how close you actually are to early retirement.

Quick Start Guide to the FIRE Calculator

Follow these simple steps to get instant results:

Choose Your Mode:

  • Forecast Mode = smooth fixed return
  • Historical Mode = real S&P 500 year-by-year data
  • Monte-Carlo Mode = randomized return paths to test success probabilities

Enter Your Numbers:
Starting portfolio, monthly contributions, expected FIRE spending, and SWR.

Pick Your Target Year:
See whether you reach FIRE exactly by that year — or how far off you are.

Use the Toggles:

  • Real (inflation-adjusted) values
  • Compound-only growth
  • Coast-FIRE status
  • Historical events
  • Heatmap / analytics overlays
  • Timeline markers

Read Your Results:

You’ll get:

  • FIRE reached / not reached
  • Your FIRE number
  • Your portfolio trajectory
  • Required monthly contribution (goal-seek)
  • Coast FIRE gap or confirmation
  • KPI cards and advanced analytics

How to Use the FIRE Calculator (Step-by-Step)

For a detailed breakdown of every input and toggle, check out our step-by-step guide (will be released on December 11th), where we walk you through each setting and show you exactly how to customize the calculator for your own FIRE plan.

Your FIRE Number (How It’s Calculated)

Your FIRE Number is the invested capital required so that a sustainable annual withdrawal funds your living expenses.

Formula:

FIRE Number = ( Monthly FIRE Expenses × 12 SWR )

Example:

If you plan 30.000 annual spending and choose an SWR of 4 %, then:
30.000 ÷ 0,04 = 750.000.
Crossing this line means your portfolio could, historically in many scenarios, sustain those withdrawals over long retirement horizons.

Tip: A lower SWR (e.g., 3,5 %) increases safety but raises the target. A higher SWR lowers the target but raises risk.

How Forecast vs. Historical Works

Forecast Mode

  • Adds contributions annually
  • Applies your chosen fixed return
  • Optional: divides values by cumulative inflation
  • Best for straightforward projections

Historical Mode

  • Uses real annual returns + inflation
  • Shows volatility, crashes, recoveries
  • Excellent for stress-testing your plan
  • Goal-seek finds the exact contribution needed to hit FIRE in your Target Year under that historical sequence

Monte-Carlo Mode (NEW)

  • Creates randomized sequences of returns based on historical return distributions
  • Runs hundreds or thousands of scenarios
  • Shows your probability of reaching FIRE
  • Helps you evaluate risk instead of relying on a single timeline

Tips to Get the Most Out of the FIRE Calculator

Stress-Test Your Plan

Compare:

  • Forecast
  • Historical
  • Monte-Carlo

Use Goal-Seek: Find your ideal monthly contribution in seconds.

Use Real Values: Inflation is one of the biggest long-term risks in FIRE planning.

Check Coast-FIRE Often: You might be closer than you think — or missing only a small gap.

Explore the Heatmap and Analytics: They highlight where your plan is strongest or most vulnerable.

FIRE Calculator FAQs

Here are the most common questions and simple answers to help you use the calculator effectively.

What SWR Should I Use?

Commonly cited values range from 3–4 % for long retirements. Lowering SWR (e.g., 3,5 %) increases robustness but raises your target. Pick a rate aligned with your risk tolerance, horizon, asset mix, and flexibility.

What’s The Difference Between Nominal And Real Values?

Nominal values ignore inflation. Real values adjust for inflation so you see results in today’s purchasing power. Toggle “Show real values” to compare.

Why Does The Historical Mode Feel So Different From Forecast?

Because it uses the actual sequence of ups and downs year by year. The order of returns matters—bad early years can delay FI even if the long-term average is similar.

How Does Goal-Seek Work Here?

The calculator searches for the exact constant monthly contribution that would make your portfolio equal your FIRE Number in the Target Year.

What Is Coast-FIRE And How Do I Read That Box?

Coast-FIRE asks: If I stop contributing now, will compounding alone carry me to my FIRE Number by my Target Year?
If yes, you’re free to reduce or stop contributions.
If no, the calculator shows how far you are and (when possible) what lump sum you would have needed today to coast.

My Target Year Shows “Outside Range.” What Does That Mean?

Your Target Year must lie inside the simulation window (from the first to the last chart year). Either reduce Simulation Years, change Start Year (Historical), or pick a different Target Year.

Can I Rely On This For Retirement Decisions?

This is an educational tool — speak with a professional before making major decisions.

Do Higher Contributions Always Beat Higher Returns?

You can’t control markets, but you can control savings. Increasing Contribution/Month is the most reliable lever to reach FI faster—use goal-seek to quantify how much is needed.

More Freebies For Your Financial Independence Journey

A financial graph visualizing the path to Coast FIRE, showing the relationship between the Coast FIRE number, portfolio growth, and the FIRE number of €750,000. The graph highlights the Coast FIRE point at age 36.9, with a confirmation message indicating that investments are sufficient to reach Coast FIRE. This is part of the online freebies and provides a clear visual representation to help users track their financial independence journey.

Coast FIRE Calculator

Discover your path to Coast FIRE with our free interactive Coast FIRE Calculator! Easily project your financial journey, calculate your FIRE Number, and see how close you are to financial independence. Start optimizing your investments today!

Retirement withdrawal strategy calculator chart using the 4% Rule from 1975 to 1995 with a starting portfolio of $110,000 over 21 years. The green line shows portfolio growth from around $140,000 to over $420,000 despite annual withdrawals. Blue bars represent withdrawals increasing from about $4,400 to over $12,000, demonstrating the long-term sustainability of the 4% Rule for financial independence and early retirement planning.

Retirement Withdrawal Strategy Calculator

Not sure how to make your savings last through retirement? Our Retirement Withdrawal Strategy Calculator lets you test proven withdrawal methods, see how they would have performed in real markets, and find the strategy that keeps your income steady for life.

A Barista FIRE Calculator illustrating the growth of a portfolio with and without Barista FIRE. The green line represents the portfolio with Barista FIRE, while the dashed gray line shows the portfolio without it. A yellow marker indicates the

Barista FIRE Calculator

Discover your path to Barista FIRE with our free interactive calculator. Plan your transition from full-time work to part-time freedom, visualize portfolio growth, and ensure financial independence with tailored projections based on your financial situation. Start crafting your dream lifestyle today!

Flamingo FIRE projection dashboard showing savings efficiency, achievement breakdown, and portfolio growth. The chart highlights a 60% savings rate, reaching Flamingo FIRE in 7 years with 810,366, Full FIRE with 1,362,681, and Coast FIRE not yet achieved. The line graph shows portfolio value rising from 200,000 in 2025 to nearly 2 million by 2050, marking key milestones for financial independence.

Flamingo FIRE Calculator

Wondering if you really need to save the full FIRE number? Our Flamingo FIRE Calculator shows you how to stop at 50% of your goal, let compounding do the rest, and still reach full financial independence. Run your own numbers and see how Flamingo FIRE could let you shift to part-time work or semi-retirement years earlier.

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Simple Bare Bones Budget Calculator

Wondering how to survive a period of lower income or high expenses? This free calculator helps you plan a budget you can actually live on — even with debt or big savings goals.

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Compound Interest Calculator

What’s possible for my money if I invest a large amount on the stock market? Watch your portfolio grow and compound over time until part of your retirement is funded. You can use it as a Coast FIRE Calculator.

Laptop displaying investment growth chart for frugal living, financial independence, and semi-retirement planning.

Investment Growth Calculator

See what’s possible for your money when you start investing at least a portion of your money in the stock market every month. How could this increase your retirement income?

We Upgrade Your Favorite FIRE Tools! 🔥

Illustration of a friendly cartoon builder wearing a yellow hard hat, waving, and holding a wrench.

We’ve are busy behind the scenes!

🚧 What’s in progress:

We’re currently fine-tuning the Barista FIRE Calculator to include the advanced features, export functionalities and interactive charts we implemented for the FIRE Calculator, Retirement Withdrawal Calculator, Coast FIRE Calculator and Flamingo FIRE Calculator.

💡 What’s to come:

  • Refined data accuracy and projections
  • Export and sharing functionalities
  • Improved user experience on all devices
  • Fresh design that’s easier to navigate
  • More flexibility for personalized scenarios
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Get your free copy of the Investment Growth Calculator to see what happens if you start investing a certain amount of money every month now. How could that boost your retirement plan? The goal is to visualize that if you start investing (more) money, you can cover your retirement gap later.

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Laptop displaying compound interest chart for frugal living; achieve financial independence and semi retirement with investing.

Get your free copy of the Compound Interest Calculator to learn about the easiest way to double your money in the stock market. Compound interest is a simple dynamic that turns even small investments into big returns over time. The goal is to see how your portfolio grows in the back if you simply let your money sit in the market for decades.

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