Calculate exactly how much you need to retire early. FIRE number, years to independence, monthly income. Free FIRE calculator. No signup.
The answer to how much you need to retire early is surprisingly specific: 25 times your annual expenses. This is the FIRE number — based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate proven to sustain portfolios over 30+ years. If you spend $50,000/year, you need exactly $1,250,000 invested to retire indefinitely. This calculator shows your number and how fast you can reach it.
The 4% rule: withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually. $1,000,000 generates $40,000/year. $1,500,000 generates $60,000/year. $2,000,000 generates $80,000/year. This rule has historically sustained portfolios for 30+ years based on the Trinity Study of stock and bond returns from 1926-1976.
Your years to FIRE depends entirely on your savings rate. Saving 10% of income: 40+ years. Saving 25%: 32 years. Saving 40%: 22 years. Saving 50%: 17 years. Saving 65%: 10-12 years. The FIRE movement focuses on increasing savings rate as the most powerful lever for early retirement.
FIRE number = Annual expenses × 25. Based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate. If you need $60,000/year to live, your FIRE number is $1,500,000. At 4% withdrawal from $1.5M = $60,000/year. This portfolio has historically never depleted over any 30-year period in US market history.
With $1 million at 4% withdrawal: $40,000/year in retirement income. If your expenses are $40,000/year, you can retire at any age. If retiring at 40 with a potentially 50-year horizon, consider using 3-3.5% withdrawal rate — $1M supports $30,000-$35,000/year more safely.
At 4% withdrawal, $500,000 generates $20,000/year. Viable if you live in a low cost-of-living area, have a paid-off home, qualify for ACA healthcare subsidies, and are willing to earn some part-time income. Many semi-retired people use $500,000 as their portfolio floor while earning small amounts.
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The How Much Do You Need to Retire Early? — Free FIRE Calculator uses the same formulas, rates, and reference data that financial planners, professionals, and government sources publish. Results are estimates intended for planning and education — for situations involving large sums or legal consequences, confirm with a qualified professional before acting.
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