FIRE Number Calculator

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This free FIRE Number calculator estimates the portfolio value you need to reach Financial Independence / Retire Early (FIRE). It uses your spending and a safe withdrawal rate (like 4%) to calculate a target number — and it can also estimate years to FIRE based on your current savings, contributions, and expected return.

🔥Instant FIRE number (retirement target)

🛡️Choose a safe withdrawal rate (e.g., 4%)

📈Estimate years to FIRE with growth + contributions

📸Made for screenshots & sharing

Enter your FIRE assumptions

Enter your annual spending and a safe withdrawal rate to calculate a FIRE target. Optionally add buffer, one-time costs, and savings inputs to estimate years to FIRE.

Annual expenses *

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Safe withdrawal rate (SWR) *

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Extra safety buffer (optional)

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One-time costs at retirement (optional)

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Current invested savings (optional)

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Annual contribution (optional)

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Expected annual return (optional)

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Expected inflation (optional)

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Your FIRE results will appear here

Enter your annual expenses and a withdrawal rate (like 4%) to see your FIRE number.

Tip: Add a safety buffer and one-time costs to create a more conservative target — perfect for planning and sharing.

Progress bar uses your current savings (optional).

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This FIRE calculator is an educational planning tool. Markets, taxes, fees, and inflation can change outcomes. Use conservative assumptions and verify important decisions with a qualified professional.

🔥FIRE in one snapshot

What this calculator shows

Your FIRE number is the estimated portfolio size needed to fund your lifestyle using a chosen safe withdrawal rate (SWR).

Core FIRE target = Annual expenses ÷ (SWR%).
Optional buffer + one-time costs for conservative planning.
Optional years-to-FIRE estimate using savings + contributions + returns.

Viral pro tip: screenshot your FIRE number + years-to-FIRE and challenge a friend to beat it by lowering expenses or boosting savings rate.

🧠Smart assumptions

How to choose inputs

Small changes to spending and withdrawal rate create big changes in the FIRE target. Use this as a planning tool — not financial advice.

SWR: 4% is common, 3–3.5% is more conservative.
Expenses: use your “average year”, including travel, taxes, and insurance.
Returns: use a long-term estimate (after inflation if you want “real” planning).

📚 Formula + Meaning

What is a FIRE number?

Your FIRE number is a practical planning target: the estimated portfolio size you need so your investments can support your spending without relying on a paycheck. It’s the core question behind “Financial Independence, Retire Early” — if you spend X per year, how much do you need invested?

The classic shortcut uses a safe withdrawal rate (SWR). If you choose a 4% SWR, you’re saying: “I want to withdraw about 4% of my portfolio per year.” Because 4% is 0.04 as a decimal, dividing expenses by 0.04 is the same as multiplying by 25. That’s why you’ll hear “25× expenses” in the FIRE community.

Core formula

FIRE number = Annual expenses ÷ (SWR ÷ 100)
With a 4% SWR, FIRE number = Annual expenses × 25
With a 3.5% SWR, FIRE number ≈ Annual expenses × 28.57
With a 3% SWR, FIRE number ≈ Annual expenses × 33.33

Optional realism (highly recommended)

Safety buffer adds a cushion for uncertainty (healthcare, market volatility, lifestyle creep).
One-time costs add planned big expenses (moving, new car, debt payoff, home repairs).
Inflation helps you think in “today’s dollars” by highlighting real return (return − inflation).

🧮 Examples

FIRE number examples (realistic scenarios)

The math is simple — and that’s the point. FIRE becomes easier to plan when you can instantly see how spending and withdrawal rate change the target. Use these examples as templates for your own situation.

Example 1: Classic 4% rule

Annual expenses: $48,000
SWR: 4%
FIRE number = 48,000 ÷ 0.04 = $1,200,000

Example 2: Conservative SWR (3.5%)

Annual expenses: $48,000
SWR: 3.5%
FIRE number = 48,000 ÷ 0.035 = $1,371,429

Example 3: Add 10% buffer + $20k one-time costs

Base FIRE number (4%): $1,200,000
10% buffer: $1,200,000 × 1.10 = $1,320,000
+ $20k costs: $1,320,000 + $20,000 = $1,340,000

Example 4: Years to FIRE (optional forecast)

Add current savings, annual contribution, and expected return to estimate how long it might take to reach your target. This is a forecast — not a guarantee — but it’s powerful for comparing scenarios (e.g., “what if I save $500 more per month?”).

🧭 How it works

How this calculator works (Omni-style explanation)

This tool is built to be fast and transparent. Here’s the exact flow:

1) Compute base target: Annual expenses ÷ SWR (as a decimal). That’s your FIRE number baseline.
2) Apply buffer: multiply the base target by (1 + buffer%). This creates a more conservative goal.
3) Add one-time costs: these are added on top because they’re “extra” spending at the start of retirement.
4) Optional years-to-FIRE: using your current savings, annual contribution, and expected return, the calculator estimates how many years it takes for your portfolio to reach the target with compounding growth.

What “years to FIRE” assumes

The forecast assumes contributions are added steadily and the portfolio grows at your expected annual return. In real life, returns vary every year (sometimes a lot). That’s why it’s wise to run multiple scenarios — optimistic, baseline, and conservative — and compare the range.

Quick improvement levers

Lower annual expenses: every $1,000/year cut can reduce a 4% FIRE target by about $25,000.
Increase savings rate: boosts contributions and shortens the path to the target.
Choose an SWR intentionally: lower SWR = higher target but more safety margin.

❓ FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a FIRE number the same as a retirement number?
Pretty much. FIRE language emphasizes flexibility and “work optional” living, but the planning math is the same: you’re estimating how much invested money you need to support spending.
What’s a good safe withdrawal rate?
Many people start with 4% as a rule-of-thumb. If you want to be more conservative, try 3–3.5%. The “right” rate depends on your time horizon, risk tolerance, and other income sources.
Do I include taxes and healthcare in annual expenses?
Ideally yes. FIRE planning is easiest when your annual expenses reflect reality (including insurance, taxes, and “fun” spending). If unsure, add a buffer to stay conservative.
What if I expect Social Security, pension, or side income?
You can subtract expected annual income from your annual expenses before calculating, because the portfolio only needs to cover the gap. Example: expenses $60k, pension $20k ⇒ use $40k in the formula.
Why does lowering expenses help so much?
Because the target is a multiple of spending. At a 4% SWR, the multiple is 25×. So cutting $2,000/year reduces the target by roughly $50,000. That’s why housing and transportation changes can move the needle dramatically.
Is this financial advice?
No — it’s a calculator. Use it to explore scenarios, then validate important decisions with a qualified financial professional.

MaximCalculator provides simple, user-friendly tools. Always treat results as entertainment and double-check any important numbers elsewhere.