RETIREMENT
Coast FIRE Calculator - Have You Saved Enough to Coast
By Worldtickers ·
Calculate your Coast FIRE number to determine if your current savings are enough to let compound interest fund your retirement without additional contributions.
This coast fire tool focuses on calculating your Coast FIRE number to determine if your current savings are enough to let compound interest fund your retirement without additional contributions. Use it to estimate retirement targets, contribution needs, withdrawal assumptions, and long-term income scenarios while adjusting savings rates, return assumptions, time horizons, and spending goals.
Coast FIRE Calculator
Coast FIRE Calculator
Find out when you've saved enough to let compound interest do the work.
What Is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is a financial independence milestone that sits between traditional saving and full early retirement. It represents the point where your current retirement savings are large enough that, without contributing another single dollar, compound investment growth will fund your retirement at a traditional age (typically 60\u201365). You still need to work to cover your current living expenses, but you no longer need to save aggressively for retirement.
The concept was popularized in the financial independence community as a more achievable intermediate goal than full FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early). While full FIRE requires saving 25\u201330 times your annual expenses (often taking 10\u201320 years of aggressive saving), Coast FIRE can be reached much earlier \u2014 often in your late 20s or 30s \u2014 providing immediate relief from the pressure to save.
The power of Coast FIRE lies in compound growth. A relatively modest savings amount, if invested early, can grow to a substantial retirement fund over 25\u201335 years. The key insight is that time is the most valuable asset in wealth building. By front-loading your savings while young, you leverage decades of compound growth and give yourself the freedom to make career choices based on fulfillment rather than income.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your current savings, age, target retirement age, and expected rate of return to calculate your Coast FIRE number and see if you have already reached it.
Current Savings
Enter your total current retirement savings across all accounts (401k, IRA, Roth IRA, taxable brokerage, etc.). This is the money that will compound over time. If you have separate emergency funds or short-term savings, do not include those \u2014 only retirement investments count toward Coast FIRE.
Target Retirement Age
Enter the age at which you want to be able to retire. This is the age when your compounded savings will have grown to your full retirement goal. Common targets are 60, 62, or 65. The earlier your target, the more you need to save before coasting.
Expected Annual Return
Enter the annual investment return you expect. A common assumption is 7% nominal (approximately 4% after inflation). More conservative investors may use 5\u20136%. The higher the assumed return, the lower your Coast FIRE number, but overly optimistic assumptions can lead to under-saving.
Formula
The Coast FIRE formula uses the future value of compound interest:
Coast FIRE Number = Retirement Goal / (1 + r)^n
Where r is the annual rate of return and n is the number of years until your target retirement age. Your retirement goal is typically calculated as 25 times your annual expenses (based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate).
For example, if you need $60,000 per year in retirement, your retirement goal is $1,500,000 (25 \u00d7 $60,000). If you are 30 and targeting age 65 (35 years) with a 7% return, your Coast FIRE number is $1,500,000 / (1.07)^35 = $1,500,000 / 10.677 = $140,485. If you have more than this saved, you have reached Coast FIRE.
Examples
Example 1: Early Saver, Age 30
A 30-year-old with $150,000 in retirement savings, targeting age 65 with a 7% return. Retirement goal = $1,500,000. Coast FIRE number = $1,500,000 / (1.07)^35 = $140,485. Since $150,000 > $140,485, this person has reached Coast FIRE. They can stop contributing to retirement and the existing $150,000 will grow to approximately $1,601,000 by age 65.
Example 2: Late Starter, Age 40
A 40-year-old with $200,000 in savings, targeting age 65 with a 7% return. Coast FIRE number = $1,500,000 / (1.07)^25 = $1,500,000 / 5.427 = $276,379. They need $76,379 more to reach Coast FIRE. At a savings rate of $15,000 per year, they would reach Coast FIRE in about 4.5 years.
Example 3: High Spender, Age 35
A 35-year-old who wants $100,000 per year in retirement (retirement goal = $2,500,000), with $100,000 saved, targeting age 60 with a 7% return. Coast FIRE number = $2,500,000 / (1.07)^25 = $2,500,000 / 5.427 = $460,642. They need $360,642 more. This illustrates how higher spending needs significantly increase the Coast FIRE number.
Tips
Start Saving Early
Time is the most powerful factor in reaching Coast FIRE. A 25-year-old who saves $100,000 by age 30 and stops will have more at 65 than a 35-year-old who saves $200,000 by age 40 and stops, assuming the same 7% return. The extra 10 years of compounding make an enormous difference. If you are young, prioritize saving now even if the amounts seem small.
Use Coast FIRE as a Milestone, Not a Destination
Coast FIRE is not the finish line \u2014 it is a checkpoint. Once you reach it, you have the option to reduce your savings rate, but continuing to save will accelerate your timeline or increase your retirement lifestyle. Many people who reach Coast FIRE continue saving some amount because the habit is ingrained and the additional security is valuable.
Account for Inflation
Your retirement goal should be in today's dollars, and your expected return should be a nominal (not real) return. If you want $60,000 per year in today's purchasing power and inflation averages 3%, you will need about $121,000 per year in 25 years. Build inflation into your calculation to avoid under-saving.
Consider Your Tax Situation
Not all retirement accounts are equally accessible before age 59\u00bd. Traditional 401k and IRA withdrawals before 59\u00bd may face a 10% penalty (with some exceptions). If you plan to retire before 59\u00bd, ensure you have sufficient taxable or Roth IRA savings to bridge the gap. Roth IRA contributions (not earnings) can be withdrawn penalty-free at any time.
FAQ
What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is a financial independence milestone where your current retirement savings are large enough that, without contributing another dollar, compound growth will fund your retirement at a traditional age. You still need to work to cover current expenses, but you no longer need to save aggressively for retirement. The money you already have will coast to your retirement goal through investment returns alone.
How is Coast FIRE different from regular FIRE?
Regular FIRE means you have enough saved to stop working entirely and live off portfolio income. Coast FIRE is a stepping stone: you have enough saved that you do not need to contribute more, but you still need to earn enough to cover your current living expenses. Coast FIRE eliminates the pressure to save aggressively, while full FIRE eliminates the need to work at all.
How do I calculate my Coast FIRE number?
Your Coast FIRE number is calculated by working backward from your retirement goal. Determine how much you need at retirement (using the 25x rule or similar), then calculate what your current savings need to grow to that amount by your retirement age, given your expected rate of return. The difference between your current savings and your Coast FIRE number tells you how much more you need to save before you can coast.
What return rate should I assume for Coast FIRE?
A common assumption is a 7% nominal return (approximately 4% after inflation) for a stock-heavy portfolio. For a more conservative estimate, use 5–6% nominal. The higher the assumed return, the lower your Coast FIRE number. However, using overly optimistic returns can lead to under-saving. A moderate assumption of 6–7% nominal provides a reasonable balance between optimism and caution.
What is the advantage of reaching Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE provides enormous psychological and practical freedom. You can pursue work you enjoy rather than work solely for income. You can take lower-paying jobs, start a business, reduce work hours, or take career breaks without jeopardizing your retirement. It transforms your relationship with work from obligation to choice, even if you are not yet fully financially independent.
Should I stop saving once I reach Coast FIRE?
You do not have to stop saving, but you can. Reaching Coast FIRE means your required savings rate drops to zero for retirement. Any additional savings accelerate your timeline or increase your retirement lifestyle. Many people who reach Coast FIRE continue saving some amount because it provides additional security and flexibility, but the pressure is gone.
How does inflation affect Coast FIRE?
Inflation erodes purchasing power over time. A $1 million retirement goal today may need to be $2 million in 20 years at 3.5% inflation. Your Coast FIRE number should account for expected inflation, either by using a real (inflation-adjusted) return rate or by inflating your retirement goal. Ignoring inflation will significantly underestimate your Coast FIRE number.
Can I reach Coast FIRE with a 401k only?
Yes, Coast FIRE can be achieved in any tax-advantaged account. The key is the total balance, not the account type. A 401k with employer match is especially powerful because the match provides an immediate return. However, consider that 401k withdrawals before age 59½ may face penalties (with some exceptions). Having savings in both tax-advantaged and taxable accounts provides more flexibility.
What is the difference between Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE?
Coast FIRE means you have enough saved that compound growth will fund retirement, but you still work to cover current expenses. Barista FIRE means you work a part-time or low-stress job that covers current expenses AND provides benefits (like health insurance), while your portfolio grows untouched. Barista FIRE is essentially Coast FIRE with a specific work arrangement that includes benefits.
At what age is Coast FIRE most achievable?
Coast FIRE is most achievable for people who start saving early (in their 20s or 30s) because compound growth has more time to work. A 25-year-old who saves $100,000 by age 30 and earns 7% annually will have approximately $761,000 by age 65 without saving another dollar. A 35-year-old would need to save about $200,000 to reach the same goal. Starting early is the most powerful lever.