The 4% rule is a guideline that you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjust that dollar amount for inflation each year, with a high probability the money lasts at least 30 years. It implies a FIRE number of 25 times annual spending. Early retirees with very long horizons sometimes use a more conservative 3.25%–3.5% rate.

Coast FIRE is the point where you've saved enough that, with investment growth alone and no further contributions, your portfolio will reach your full FIRE number by your target retirement age. Once you hit Coast FIRE you still need to cover current living expenses, but you no longer have to save for retirement — your existing investments will 'coast' to the finish line.

What return should I use in a FIRE calculator?

Use a real (after-inflation) return so your FIRE number stays in today's dollars. A common assumption is 5%–7% real for a stock-heavy portfolio, or about 4%–5% for a more balanced mix. Lower, more conservative assumptions push your FIRE date out but reduce the risk of falling short.

How much do I need to retire early?

Multiply your expected annual spending by 25 (the 4% rule) for a baseline FIRE number. Retiring decades early may warrant a larger cushion — 28 to 33 times spending — to survive a longer retirement and poor early returns. Healthcare before Medicare, taxes, and lifestyle changes should be built into your spending estimate.

FIRE Calculator – Financial Independence, Retire Early & Coast FIRE

FIRE — Financial Independence, Retire Early — is the point where your investments can cover your living expenses for the rest of your life. Hit your FIRE number and work becomes optional.

Enter your numbers below to see your FIRE number (based on the 4% rule), how many years until you get there, the age you can retire early, and whether you've already reached Coast FIRE — the milestone where you can stop saving entirely and still retire on time.

The Three FIRE Milestones

FIRE number — annual spending ÷ withdrawal rate (25× spending at 4%). Reach it and work is optional.
Coast FIRE — you've saved enough that growth alone reaches your FIRE number by your target age. You can stop saving for retirement.
Years to FIRE — how long your current savings plus contributions take to hit the FIRE number at your assumed return.

Why Coast FIRE Matters

Coast FIRE is a powerful psychological and financial milestone. Once your invested savings will grow to your FIRE number on their own, you only need to earn enough to cover today's expenses — you can downshift to a lower-paying but more enjoyable job, take a sabbatical, or simply stop stressing about retirement contributions. Compound growth does the rest.

A Word on the 4% Rule for Early Retirees

The 4% rule was modeled on a 30-year retirement. If you're retiring in your 40s or 50s with a 40–50 year horizon, a more conservative 3.25%–3.5% withdrawal rate (roughly 28–31× spending) gives a bigger safety margin against a long retirement and poor early returns. Don't forget to budget for healthcare before Medicare, which can be a major early-retirement expense.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FIRE number?

The amount of invested savings you need to live off your portfolio indefinitely: annual spending ÷ safe withdrawal rate. At the 4% rule that's 25× your annual expenses — $40,000 of spending needs a $1,000,000 portfolio.

What is the 4% rule?

A guideline that you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one, then adjust for inflation each year, with a high chance the money lasts 30+ years. It implies a FIRE number of 25× spending. Long early retirements often use a more conservative 3.25%–3.5%.

What is Coast FIRE?

The point where you've saved enough that growth alone — with no further contributions — reaches your full FIRE number by your target retirement age. You still cover current expenses, but you no longer need to save for retirement.

What return should I use?

Use a real (after-inflation) return so your FIRE number stays in today's dollars — commonly 5%–7% for a stock-heavy portfolio or 4%–5% for a balanced mix. More conservative assumptions push the date out but reduce the risk of falling short.

FIRE Calculator: Your FIRE Number, Years to Independence & Coast FIRE