Retirement Withdrawal Calculator
Project an inflation-adjusted monthly withdrawal from a starting retirement balance over a finite horizon.
Method checked 2026-09-15 · Methods & sources · Examples are estimates, not current offers or quotes.
Your estimate
Fill in the inputs and select Calculate. Results clear when you change an input so you can compare a fresh estimate.
How this calculator works
Converts the annual return to an effective monthly rate: (1 + annual return)^(1/12) − 1.
Splits the first-year withdrawal into 12 monthly withdrawals.
Increases the annual withdrawal by the stated inflation assumption each year and projects only the selected finite horizon.
Worked example
Worked example: with $1,200, a $2,400 first-year withdrawal, 0.00% return, and 0.00% inflation, the account reaches $0 in month 6 and only $1,200 of $2,400 scheduled withdrawals are received.
Common questions
Is this a safe withdrawal recommendation?
No. It is an assumption-driven finite projection, not a recommendation or a plan-specific distribution calculation.
Why is the monthly rate not annual return divided by 12?
The tool uses the monthly rate that compounds back to the annual return assumption.