Skip to main content

401(k) Contribution Limit Calculator

Advanced

Check max 401(k) contribution room against IRS deferral limits.

  • 100% Free
  • No signup
  • Private & secure
  • Instant results
  • On your device

Your deferral limit: $24,500.00. Employer match: $3,000.00. Total annual additions: $27,500.00. Within limits?: Yes

Your deferral limit
$24,500.00
Employer match
$3,000.00
Total annual additions
$27,500.00
Within limits?
Yes

Inputs

Required fields are marked with *. Results update as you type.

See results

≈ 24.50% of compensation

Match rate on eligible deferred pay

Common default is 6%

2026 limit breakdown

IRS elective deferral and total annual addition caps
Limit itemAmount
Elective deferral limit
$24,500.00
Catch-up (age 50+)
$0.00
Your total deferral limit
$24,500.00
Planned employee contribution
$24,500.00
Employer match
$3,000.00
Total annual additions
$27,500.00
Total additions limit
$72,000.00
Remaining deferral room
$0.00

Understand your results

Elective deferrals

Employee pre-tax and Roth 401(k) contributions count toward the annual deferral limit.

Catch-up (50+ / 60–63)

Age 50+ adds an extra deferral amount. Ages 60–63 may use a higher catch-up if the plan allows, instead of the standard age-50 amount.

Total additions

Employee + employer contributions share a higher annual additions limit (section 415).

2026 limit breakdown

IRS elective deferral and total annual addition caps
Limit itemAmount
Elective deferral limit
$24,500.00
Catch-up (age 50+)
$0.00
Your total deferral limit
$24,500.00
Planned employee contribution
$24,500.00
Employer match
$3,000.00
Total annual additions
$27,500.00
Total additions limit
$72,000.00
Remaining deferral room
$0.00

Understand your results

Elective deferrals

Employee pre-tax and Roth 401(k) contributions count toward the annual deferral limit.

Catch-up (50+ / 60–63)

Age 50+ adds an extra deferral amount. Ages 60–63 may use a higher catch-up if the plan allows, instead of the standard age-50 amount.

Total additions

Employee + employer contributions share a higher annual additions limit (section 415).

Save or share your estimate

Print, copy, or export results for your records. Nothing is uploaded unless you share a link.

Related calculators

401(k) Calculator With Employer Match

Project 401(k) growth with employer match, fees, inflation, and 2026 IRS limits.

Roth vs Traditional 401(k) Calculator

Compare Traditional 401(k) vs Roth 401(k) after-tax outcomes.

Roth IRA Calculator

Project Roth IRA growth from annual contributions and returns.

Retirement Calculator

Project retirement savings growth over time.

Private on your device

Your information stays on your device and is not uploaded.

Related tools

Use this 401k max contribution calculator to check deferral room against IRS limits. Enter your age, planned employee contributions, and employer match to see remaining room, catch-up eligibility, and whether you are within IRS annual addition limits. For balance projections, use the 401(k) Calculator.

How to use this tool

Enter your age, annual compensation, planned annual employee contribution, employer match % (match rate), and match up to % of salary. Calculate to see deferral limits, employer match dollars, total additions, and whether you are within IRS caps. Planned contributions can be entered as dollars or a percent of compensation.

Worked example

Example: age 40, $100,000 compensation, $20,000 employee deferral, 50% match up to 6% of salary → $3,000 employer match and $23,000 total additions, within both the deferral and total additions limits.

How it works

Checks your planned 401(k) contributions against 2026 IRS limits: $24,500 elective deferral, $8,000 catch-up for age 50+, $11,250 catch-up for ages 60–63, and $72,000 total annual additions including employer match. Employer match is salary-based: matched % = min(your deferral % of compensation, match-up-to %); employer dollars = compensation × matched % × match rate. Shows remaining room and any amount over the limits.

Limitations

Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial or tax advice. Actual costs, rates, and rules vary.

Privacy and file handling

Your data stays on your device and is not uploaded.

Related comparisons

Learn how formats and terms differ before you convert or calculate.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is 401(k) Contribution Limit Calculator free?

Yes. It is free to use and you do not need to sign in or create an account.

Is my data private?

See the privacy note on this page. Many tools run on your device; some heavier file tools may use secure temporary processing when required.

Can I use 401(k) Contribution Limit Calculator on mobile?

Yes. Open this page on your phone or tablet, enter your inputs, and use the on-screen controls.

Part of these workflows

This tool is one step in a longer job. Jump straight to your step or open the full workflow guide.

Related pages

Page last reviewed: