401(k) Contribution Limit Calculator
Find out your maximum allowable 401(k) contribution for the year, including catch-up contributions if you're 50+, and see how much your employer match adds to your total. Great for annual benefits enrollment.
Last updated: September 2026
Formula below · 3 sources (IRS, dol.gov, Wikipedia) · Updated Sep 2026
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About this calculator
The IRS sets annual limits on how much you can contribute to a 401(k). The employee elective deferral limit is $24,500 for 2026 ($23,500 for 2025). Workers aged 50 and older can add a catch-up contribution of $8,000 in 2026 ($7,500 in 2025), and workers aged 60 to 63 can add a larger $11,250 catch-up in both years. Your contribution is the lesser of your elected percentage of salary or the IRS limit: Employee Contribution = min(salary × rate%, limit + catch-up). Employer matching is calculated separately; this calculator treats the match rate as a percentage of salary and caps it at 6% of salary, a common plan design: Employer Match = min(salary × employerMatch%, salary × 6%). The total shown is your contribution plus the employer match, but only your employee portion counts toward the elective deferral limit; the overall limit on all contributions is $72,000 for 2026 ($70,000 for 2025), plus catch-ups.
How to use
Assume age 52, $80,000 salary, 10% contribution rate, 3% employer match rate, tax year 2026. Step 1 — Your contribution: min($80,000 × 10%, $24,500 + $8,000) = min($8,000, $32,500) = $8,000. Step 2 — Employer match: min($80,000 × 3%, $80,000 × 6%) = min($2,400, $4,800) = $2,400. Step 3 — Total going into your 401(k): $8,000 + $2,400 = $10,400/year. To reach the full $32,500 limit, you would need to raise your contribution rate to at least 40.6% of your $80,000 salary.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2025 and 2026?
The IRS employee elective deferral limit is $23,500 for 2025 and $24,500 for 2026. Workers aged 50 and older can add a catch-up of $7,500 in 2025 and $8,000 in 2026, bringing their totals to $31,000 and $32,500; workers aged 60 to 63 can instead add $11,250 in either year ($34,750 in 2025, $35,750 in 2026). Starting in 2026, employees who earned more than $150,000 in FICA wages the prior year must make catch-ups as Roth contributions. The overall limit including employer contributions is $70,000 in 2025 and $72,000 in 2026 (or 100% of compensation, if less), plus catch-ups.
How does employer 401(k) matching work and how much free money am I leaving on the table?
Employer matching is effectively free compensation: your employer contributes a set amount to your 401(k) based on what you contribute, up to a cap. A common formula is 100% match on the first 3% of salary plus 50% on the next 2%, equating to a 4% employer contribution if you contribute at least 5%. Not contributing enough to capture the full match is widely regarded as one of the most costly retirement planning mistakes. For a $70,000 salary with a 4% full match, failing to contribute enough costs you $2,800/year in free money — and the compounded loss over 20 years at 7% growth exceeds $114,000.
Should I contribute to a traditional pre-tax 401(k) or a Roth 401(k)?
The choice depends primarily on whether you expect your tax rate to be higher now or in retirement. A traditional 401(k) lowers your taxable income today, which is valuable if you are currently in a high bracket. A Roth 401(k) uses after-tax dollars but grows tax-free, making it advantageous if you expect higher taxes in retirement or want tax-free income to manage Social Security taxation and Medicare IRMAA surcharges. Many advisors recommend younger or lower-income workers favor Roth, while higher earners near peak earnings lean toward traditional. Some plans allow splitting contributions between both types.