Coast FIRE Calculator
There is a moment, long before retirement, when what you have already saved will grow into enough on its own. and you can stop saving entirely. This finds that moment, tells you the exact age you reach it, and shows what part-time work would then need to cover.
You need saved today
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- You have
- $0
- The pot you are aiming at
- $0
- Growth after inflation
- 0%
- If you never saved another penny
- $0
- If you keep saving as you are
- $0
Where the money goes
Each block is sized by its share, so you can see whether you have or pot you are aiming at is the bigger part without reading a single number.
Move it and watch
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at {v} for what you spend in a year
And what you can change
Why your own figure may differ
Year by year
The gold column is the bar you have to clear at each age. Notice it falls as you get older - because there is less time left for growth to do the work, so you need more of it already there.
| Age | If you keep saving | If you stopped today | Line to clear | Coasting? |
|---|
Coast FIRE: real examples
Three moments worth checking. Click any card to load it.
- Already free
$350,000 saved at 30, wants out at 60
Spending $40,000 a year, so a $1,000,000 target.
Already past the line. Saving could stop today and the pot would still grow to about $1,097,652 by 60. Thirty years of freedom to pick different work.
Load this scenario in the calculator → - Mid-career check
$200,000 at 40, adding $1,200 a month
Spending $40,000 a year, hoping to stop at 65.
Not there yet - but the line is crossed at 59, six years before retirement. Those six years of not having to save are the whole point.
Load this scenario in the calculator → - Thinking about part-time
$400,000 at 45, with $12,000 coming from elsewhere
Spending $40,000 a year.
Already coasting, and part-time work only needs to bring in $28,000 a year. far less than a full salary, and often the difference between staying and leaving.
Load this scenario in the calculator →
Common questions about Coast FIRE
What does Coast FIRE actually mean?
It is the point where what you have already saved will grow, on its own, into enough to retire on - without you adding another penny. You still have to earn enough to pay today's bills, but you can stop saving for the future entirely. It is a much earlier and more reachable milestone than full retirement.
How is that different from just retiring?
Full retirement means your savings cover your living costs right now. Coast FIRE means your savings will cover your living costs later, so today's job only needs to pay today's bills. That usually arrives decades earlier, and it changes what work you can afford to take.
Why does the calculator use growth after inflation?
Because over thirty years, prices matter as much as growth. Earning 7% while prices rise 3% is not a 7% gain - it is closer to 3.9% in what the money actually buys. Using the plain growth figure makes every long projection look better than it is. We do the honest version.
What is Barista FIRE?
Once your savings are coasting, you still need income for today. Barista FIRE is the idea of covering that gap with easier or part-time work rather than a full career job. This calculator shows exactly how much that work needs to bring in, which is usually far less than people assume.
Should I include a state pension?
You can. If you expect income later that reduces what your own savings must cover, put it in the box and the target drops. Leave it at zero if you would rather not count on it - many people prefer to treat it as a bonus rather than a plan.
What withdrawal rate should I use?
The box starts at 4%, which is the figure most commonly discussed, and it means a pot of 25 times your yearly spending. Lower it to 3.5% or 3% if you want more of a safety margin - you will see the target rise right away. There is no single correct answer, which is why it is an input rather than something we decide for you.