Roth 401(k) vs. Traditional 401(k) Calculator

Compare what Roth and pre-tax 401(k) contributions leave you after tax at retirement, and find the retirement tax rate at which the answer flips. If you want to see how the figures change, the free roth ira calculator gives you an instant result you can adjust as you go.

Compare the two 401(k) options

2026 IRS limits

Current age

yrs

Retirement age

yrs

Annual contribution

The same deferral goes into either account, at the start of each year.

Contribute the 2026 maximum every year$24,500, plus $8,000 from age 50 or $11,250 at ages 60 to 63.

Tax rate now

Marginal federal plus state rate.

Tax rate in retirement

Average rate on withdrawals.

Expected annual return

Invest the traditional 401(k) tax savingsKeeps the comparison fair: your take-home pay is the same either way.

More options

Tax rate on taxable account returns

Applied each year to the growth of the invested tax savings.

Employer matching contributions go in pre-tax under both options, so they don’t change the comparison.

Your results

Better choice

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Ahead by

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Roth 401(k) after tax

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Traditional 401(k) after tax

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How the totals compare

Total deferred–

Either 401(k) balance before tax–

Tax on traditional withdrawals–

Invested tax savings–

Break-even retirement tax rate–

Year-by-year comparison

After-tax values at the end of each year, as if you withdrew everything then.

Age	Deferral	Roth 401(k)	Traditional after tax	Invested savings	Roth ahead by

Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial, tax or legal advice.