401(k) Contribution & Match Calculator (2026 Limits)
See your yearly and per-paycheck 401(k) contribution, the employer match you earn (single or two-tier formulas), whether you leave free match on the table, and how close you are to the 2026 IRS limit of $24,500 plus catch-up.
How it works
Your contribution = min(salary × your%, 2026 limit) · Match = pay × [rate₁ × min(your%, limit₁) + rate₂ × min(max(your% − limit₁, 0), limit₂)] · Total = your contribution + match + nonelective · 2026 limit = $24,500 (+ $8,000 at 50+, or + $11,250 at 60–63)
Your 401(k) deferral is a percentage of salary taken from each paycheck. The employer match is a rate applied to what you put in, but only up to a cap expressed as a percent of salary, for example 50% of the first 6%. Many plans use two tiers, such as the safe harbor formula of 100% of the first 3% plus 50% of the next 2% (a 4% maximum), which you can enter under More options along with any nonelective or profit-sharing contribution the employer pays regardless of what you save. Contributing at least the full match percentage earns every matching dollar on offer. For 2026 the IRS lets you defer up to $24,500, plus an $8,000 catch-up from age 50 or an $11,250 catch-up at ages 60 to 63. Employer money counts toward a separate $72,000 annual additions limit, and only the first $360,000 of pay can be used for employer contributions. If a high contribution rate reaches your limit before December and the plan matches per paycheck without a year-end true-up, the match stops when your deferrals stop; the calculator shows that loss and the rate that spreads the limit across the year. It also estimates how much a pre-tax deferral really lowers take-home pay after the income tax saving. From 2026, people whose prior-year FICA wages exceeded $150,000 must make catch-up contributions as Roth.
Worked example
Default: a $75,000 salary, 6% contribution, a 50% match on up to 6% of salary and 26 paychecks. You put in 75,000 × 6% = $4,500 a year, or $173.08 per paycheck. The employer adds 75,000 × 50% × 6% = $2,250, for a total of $6,750 a year, with no match left on the table. With the $24,500 limit you could contribute up to 32.7% of this salary. After a 22% income tax saving, the $173.08 pre-tax deferral lowers take-home pay by about $135.00 per paycheck. With the safe harbor formula (100% of the first 3% plus 50% of the next 2%) on a $60,000 salary and a 5% contribution, the match is 60,000 × (3% + 1%) = $2,400.
Sources: IRS: 401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limits · IRS Publication 4222: 401(k) plans for small businesses (safe harbor match) · Venable: 2026 IRS dollar limits (Roth catch-up wage threshold) · Calculator.net: 401(k) calculator
Frequently asked questions
What does "50% match up to 6%" mean?
The employer pays 50 cents for every dollar you contribute, but only counts your contributions up to 6% of salary. Contribute 6% and you get the full 3% of salary in match; contribute 3% and you get half of it. Contributing more than 6% adds your own money but no extra match.
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
The IRS limit on your own deferrals is $24,500 in 2026. If you are 50 or older you can add an $8,000 catch-up ($32,500 in total), and at ages 60 to 63 the catch-up is $11,250 ($35,750 in total). Employee plus employer money is capped at $72,000, not counting catch-ups.
Can I lose match by maxing out my 401(k) too early?
Yes, if your plan matches each paycheck and does not make a year-end true-up. Once you hit the limit, your deferrals stop and so does the match for the rest of the year. Spreading the limit over all paychecks, or confirming the plan trues up, keeps the full match.
Should I always contribute enough to get the full match?
For most people, yes. The match is an instant 50% to 100% return on those dollars, far more than markets typically deliver. Capturing the full match is usually a first priority before investing elsewhere, unless you have high-interest debt or no emergency savings.
Do employer contributions count toward my $24,500 limit?
No. The $24,500 limit applies only to your own pre-tax and Roth deferrals. Employer match and profit-sharing count toward the separate $72,000 annual additions limit, so the match is genuinely extra money.
How much does a 401(k) contribution reduce my paycheck?
Less than the amount contributed if it is pre-tax, because it lowers your taxable income. At a 22% income tax rate, a $100 pre-tax deferral reduces take-home pay by about $78. Roth contributions are after tax, so they reduce take-home pay dollar for dollar.
Related calculators
Educational estimate, not financial or tax advice. Plan rules (match formula, true-up, vesting, eligible pay) vary; check your plan documents and confirm current IRS limits.