FIRE number calculator
Find the savings target for financial independence from your annual expenses.
Related tools
All Retirement tools →The FIRE number calculator turns Annual expenses, Safe withdrawal rate (%) into FIRE number, instantly and for free. For instance, with Annual expenses = $40,000.00 and Safe withdrawal rate (%) = 4 it returns FIRE number = $1,000,000.00.
How to use it
- Enter your values: Annual expenses, Safe withdrawal rate (%).
- Read the result instantly: FIRE number.
Frequently asked questions
What does the FIRE number calculator actually compute?
It takes Annual expenses and Safe withdrawal rate (%) and derives FIRE number from them. The calculation is live as you type, so the result updates on every change.
What information do I need to provide?
2 values: Annual expenses ($) and Safe withdrawal rate (%). Nothing else is required — no account, no file upload.
Can you show a worked example?
With Annual expenses = $40,000.00 and Safe withdrawal rate (%) = 4, the calculator returns FIRE number = $1,000,000.00. Those figures come from running this exact tool, so you can reproduce them by entering the same values.
What happens if I enter larger values?
It moves a lot. Using Annual expenses = $80,000.00 and Safe withdrawal rate (%) = 4.4 instead, FIRE number goes from $1,000,000.00 to $1,818,181.82 — which is why it is worth testing a few scenarios rather than trusting a single figure.
What does it give for smaller values?
Scaled down to Annual expenses = $20,000.00 and Safe withdrawal rate (%) = 3.6, FIRE number comes out at $555,555.56. The relationship is worth checking at both ends before you rely on a single result.
When would I actually use this?
Checking whether the pot is on track, testing how long it lasts at a chosen withdrawal rate, and seeing what a few more years of contributions change.
What is the most common mistake?
Assuming an average return arrives evenly. A poor decade at the start of drawdown does far more damage than the same decade at the end, even when the average is identical.
How accurate is it, and what are the limits?
Estimate only — not financial advice.
What is the difference between the FIRE number calculator and the FIRE calculator (financial independence)?
Both return FIRE number. What differs is what they ask for: this one wants Annual expenses, the FIRE calculator (financial independence) wants Current age and Annual income (after tax). Use whichever matches the numbers you already have.
Is there a tool for the next step?
Retirement withdrawal calculator (4% rule) is the closest one after this: Estimate the yearly and monthly income your retirement savings can provide.