Retirement catch-up contribution calculator
Once you turn 50, the IRS lets you contribute more than the standard annual limit to a 401(k) or IRA — and from 60-63, 401(k) catch-up limits are even higher. See your 2026 limit and what maxing out the catch-up portion alone could grow to.
2026 standard limit
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Your catch-up amount
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Your total 2026 limit
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Future value of catch-up contributions alone
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Last updated: September 2026 · Verified by Hugo Cardozo. Limits shown are the IRS's official 2026 figures (IR-2025-111) and will be adjusted again for future years.
The 2026 numbers this calculator uses
For 401(k)/403(b)/457 plans: the standard employee deferral limit is $24,500. Savers age 50 and older can add a $8,000 catch-up, for a $32,500 total. Thanks to SECURE 2.0, savers specifically aged 60-63 get an even higher catch-up of $11,250 instead, for a $35,750 total — that enhanced window closes again at 64. For IRAs: the standard limit is $7,500, with a flat $1,100 catch-up at age 50+ (no special 60-63 enhancement for IRAs), for an $8,600 total.
Worked example
At 55, contributing to a 401(k), with 10 years left until retirement and a 7% expected return: your catch-up amount is $8,000/year (age 50-59 bracket). Contributing just that catch-up portion every year for 10 years, growing at 7%, would grow to roughly $110,500 by retirement — on top of whatever the standard $24,500 portion grows to.
Why the 60-63 window matters
If you're within that four-year window, the jump from an $8,000 to an $11,250 catch-up (401(k) plans only) is a meaningful extra $3,250/year you can shelter from current income tax — worth prioritizing if your budget allows it, since the enhanced amount isn't available before 60 or after 63.
This only calculates the catch-up portion
The future value shown here is for the catch-up amount alone, not your total contributions — it's meant to show what that specific "extra" money could become, not to replace a full retirement projection that also includes your standard contributions and existing balance.
Frequently asked questions
Do these limits apply per person or per household?
Per person — each spouse with their own eligible account can contribute up to their own limit, potentially doubling the combined catch-up total for a couple.
Does my employer's match count toward this limit?
No — these are employee deferral limits. Employer matching or profit-sharing contributions have a separate, higher combined limit and don't count against your personal deferral limit.
What if I'm a high earner — do the new Roth catch-up rules affect me?
Starting in 2026, SECURE 2.0 requires that catch-up contributions for higher-income earners (above an IRS-set wage threshold in the prior year) be made as Roth (after-tax) rather than pre-tax — check current IRS guidance or your plan administrator for the exact threshold and how it applies to your specific income.
📘 Related guide
Read the full guide: "Retirement Catch-Up Contributions: What They're Worth".
Retirement Catch-Up Contributions Explained