FIRE Number Calculator
Calculate your FIRE number from annual expenses and a safe withdrawal rate, plus how long until your savings reach it.
How it works
FIRE number = annual expenses ÷ safe withdrawal rate · then simulate savings monthly until the portfolio reaches it
FIRE — Financial Independence, Retire Early — is reached when your portfolio is large enough that a safe withdrawal covers your spending forever. Dividing annual expenses by the withdrawal rate gives the target; a 4% rate is the same as saving 25× your annual expenses. The second step compounds your current savings and monthly contributions until they hit that number, so you can see both the goal and the timeline.
Worked example
$40,000 of annual expenses at a 4% safe withdrawal rate gives a FIRE number of $1,000,000 (25× expenses). Starting from $100,000 and saving $2,000 a month at a 7% return, you reach it in about 15 years 11 months.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the 4% rule come from?
It stems from studies showing a portfolio historically survived 30+ years of withdrawing 4% of the starting balance, adjusted for inflation. It is a guideline, not a guarantee, and some planners prefer 3–3.5% for early retirees.
Should I use a lower withdrawal rate?
A lower rate raises your FIRE number but adds a safety margin against bad markets, long retirements and rising costs. Early retirees with 40+ year horizons often lean conservative.
Does the FIRE number account for taxes and healthcare?
Only if you include them in your annual expenses. Retiring early especially means budgeting for health insurance and taxes on withdrawals, so build those into the expense figure.
Related calculators
Educational estimate, not investment or tax advice. Returns are never guaranteed and past performance does not predict the future. Confirm with a licensed advisor.