Roth IRA Calculator
Allowed contribution at your income and tax-free growth.
Filing status
Contributions can't exceed earned income (important for teens).
Your result
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Enter your numbers to see the result.
This Roth IRA calculator checks how much you can put into a Roth IRA for 2026 at your income, then projects tax-free growth to retirement. It applies the $7,500 limit ($8,600 at 50+), the 2026 income phase-out ranges and the earned income rule, and compares the tax-free result with a taxable account.
What is a Roth IRA Calculator?
A Roth IRA is a retirement account funded with after-tax money. There’s no deduction when you contribute, but investments grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free too. Roth IRAs also have no required minimum distributions for the original owner.
Not everyone can contribute directly. For 2026, the limit phases out between $153,000 and $168,000 of modified AGI for single filers and $242,000 to $252,000 for joint filers. You also need earned income at least equal to your contribution, which is why teens with summer jobs can open custodial Roth IRAs. A Roth IRA calculator checks both rules and projects your tax-free balance.
How does the Roth IRA Calculator work?
The calculator caps the contribution at $7,500 or $8,600, reduces it proportionally inside the income phase-out range (rounded up to $10 with a $200 minimum), and limits it to your earned income.
It then grows the balance at your expected return and compares it with a taxable account where gains would be taxed at the rate you enter.
How to use the Roth IRA Calculator step by step
- Enter your age and retirement age.
- Enter your planned contribution and current balance.
- Set the expected return.
- Choose filing status and enter MAGI and earned income.
- Check the most you can contribute.
- Compare the tax-free balance with a taxable account.
Roth IRA Calculator example with real numbers
You’re 30, single, earn $120,000 and want to contribute the maximum $7,500 to a Roth IRA every year until 65. You have $10,000 in the account already.
| Example input | Value |
|---|---|
| Age / retirement | 30 / 65 |
| Planned contribution | $7,500 a year |
| Current balance | $10,000 |
| Filing status / MAGI | Single, $120,000 |
| Example output | Value |
|---|---|
| Tax-free Roth balance at 65 | $1,216,117 |
| Most you can contribute for 2026 | $7,500 |
| Contribution used | $7,500 |
| Income phase-out range | $153,000–$168,000 |
| Total contributions | $262,500 |
| Tax-free growth | $943,617 |
| Same money in a taxable account (after tax on gains) | $1,074,574 |
Your income is below the 2026 phase-out, so you can contribute $7,500. The Roth IRA calculator projects $1,216,117 at 65, with $943,617 of growth you’ll never pay tax on.
Key features of this Roth IRA Calculator
- 2026 income phase-out with IRS rounding
- Earned-income cap (useful for teens)
- 50+ catch-up
- Tax-free growth vs taxable account
- Backdoor Roth note above the limit
Who should use the Roth IRA Calculator?
Who is this Roth IRA Calculator for?
- Young workers starting retirement savings
- Parents opening a custodial Roth for a working teen
- Mid-career savers near the income limit
- High earners exploring a backdoor Roth
Practical use cases
- Checking how much you can contribute at your income
- Projecting a teen’s Roth IRA over 50 years
- Comparing Roth with a taxable brokerage account
- Planning contributions before the deadline
Key benefits
- Eligibility built in: no guessing about income limits.
- Tax-free focus: see what you’ll never pay tax on.
- Flexible: works for teens to near-retirees.
- Clear comparison: Roth vs taxable account.
Tips for better results
- Start early; decades of tax-free compounding make a big difference.
- Contributions (not earnings) can be withdrawn any time without tax or penalty.
- If your income is too high, a backdoor Roth (nondeductible traditional IRA then conversion) may work; watch the pro-rata rule.
- You have until the April 2027 filing deadline to contribute for 2026.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Contributing above the income limit and owing a 6% excess contribution tax.
- Contributing more than earned income.
- Withdrawing earnings before 59½ and the 5-year rule.
- Ignoring the pro-rata rule on backdoor conversions.
Limitations of this Roth IRA Calculator
- It uses 2026 limits for all years.
- It doesn’t model conversions or the pro-rata rule.
- Taxable account comparison is simplified to one tax on gains at the end.
Roth IRA Calculator vs other ways to calculate
| Feature | Roth IRA | Traditional IRA | Taxable account |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax on contributions | Paid now | Maybe deductible | Paid now |
| Tax on growth | None (qualified) | Taxed at withdrawal | Taxed on gains and dividends |
| Income limit | Yes | No (deduction limits only) | No |
| RMDs | No | Yes | No |
For a deductible option, see the traditional IRA calculator. Your 401(k) may also offer a Roth option with no income limit.
Privacy and data handling
This Roth IRA Calculator runs entirely in your browser. The numbers you type are not sent to Qorico or stored on any server, and nothing is saved after you close the page. The Copy and Download buttons create the result on your own device. If the page has analytics turned on, it may count that a calculation happened, but it does not record the values you entered.
Roth IRA Calculator FAQs
What is the Roth IRA income limit for 2026?
The contribution phases out between $153,000 and $168,000 of MAGI for single and head of household filers, and $242,000 to $252,000 for married filing jointly.
What is a backdoor Roth IRA?
A strategy for high earners: contribute to a nondeductible traditional IRA, then convert it to a Roth. Taxes may apply under the pro-rata rule if you have other pre-tax IRA money.
Are Roth withdrawals tax-free?
Contributions can be withdrawn any time tax-free. Earnings are tax-free after age 59½ if the account has been open at least five years.
Can a teenager have a Roth IRA?
Yes, with earned income such as a summer job. A parent opens a custodial Roth IRA, and contributions can’t exceed the teen’s earnings.
Should I convert my traditional IRA to a Roth?
Conversions are taxed as income in the year you convert. They can make sense if you expect higher taxes later; consider spreading them over low-income years.
How much is the Roth IRA limit in 2026?
$7,500, or $8,600 if you’re 50 or older. The limit is shared with any traditional IRA contributions.
Related tools
Sources and references
We checked the method and the current figures used in this Roth IRA Calculator against these official and primary sources:
- IRS: Retirement plans
- IRS: 401(k) and IRA limits for 2026 (IR-2025-111)
- IRS Publication 590-A
- Investor.gov (U.S. SEC)
Written and reviewed by the Qorico Team
