Project Traditional and Roth IRA growth to retirement, with side-by-side tax-adjusted comparison and 2026 IRS limits.
An Individual Retirement Account, or IRA, is a tax-advantaged account designed to help you save for retirement. There are two main types: a Traditional IRA accepts pre-tax contributions (deductible now, taxed at withdrawal) and a Roth IRA accepts after-tax contributions (no deduction now, tax-free withdrawals later). Both share the same 2026 annual contribution limit — $7,500 for those under 50 and $8,500 for those 50 and older — and both let your investments grow tax-advantaged for decades. The calculator below projects Traditional and Roth IRA growth to your retirement age and shows a side-by-side tax-adjusted comparison.
in dollars
2026 cap: $7,500 under 50, $8,500 age 50+
Diversified equity portfolio: 7-10% nominal
2026 brackets: 22% ($100k-$200k single), 24% ($200k-$250k single)
$1,074,424
$245,000
$819,424
$53,900
35
$891,951
Estimates only. Roth IRA withdrawals of earnings before 59½ are subject to income tax plus a 10% penalty unless a qualifying exception applies. Traditional IRA deductible contribution limits phase out at higher incomes if you are covered by a workplace plan.
| Metric | Traditional | Roth |
|---|---|---|
| Final balance | $1,074,424 | $1,074,424 |
| Total contributions | $245,000 | $245,000 |
| Investment growth | $819,424 | $819,424 |
| Net after-tax balance | $891,951 | $1,074,424 |
| Tax break today | $53,900 | $0 |
| Tax at withdrawal | $182,473 | $0 (qualified) |
Roth wins when your marginal tax rate in retirement is higher than today. Traditional wins when your retirement tax rate is lower. If rates are roughly equal, the choice usually comes down to flexibility (Roth has no RMDs) and current-year tax relief.
| Category | Limit |
|---|---|
| Under age 50 (Traditional or Roth) | $7,500 |
| Age 50 and older (catch-up included) | $8,500 |
| Roth IRA phase-out, single | $153,000 – $168,000 MAGI |
| Roth IRA phase-out, married filing jointly | $242,000 – $252,000 MAGI |
| Traditional IRA deductibility phase-out (workplace plan, single) | $81,000 – $91,000 MAGI |
| Traditional IRA deductibility phase-out (workplace plan, MFJ) | $129,000 – $149,000 MAGI |
Source: IRS Notice released fall 2025. Spousal IRA contributions allow a non-working spouse to contribute up to the same limit, doubling the household cap.
Every CalcCentral calculator is authored by a credentialed subject-matter expert and independently reviewed before publication. Our editorial policy follows the same E-E-A-T guidelines used by Google to evaluate YMYL (your-money-or-your-life) pages.
Author
Maya Chen, CFA
Chartered Financial Analyst
Independently reviewed
Dr. Aaron Pak, PhD
Doctor of Kinesiology & Public Health
Last reviewed: August 12, 2026 · Next scheduled review: quarterly
Cross-checked against authoritative formulas (IRS, NIST, ACM) and updated for 2025/2026 tax years and rates.
No server roundtrip. All math runs in your browser so results appear the moment you finish typing.
We never collect, store, or transmit your inputs. Every calculation runs locally in your browser.
Each calculator includes the formula, plain-English explanation, and FAQs so you understand the result.
Estimates only. Calculator results are for educational and planning purposes — not professional advice. For binding decisions on taxes, investments, health, or legal matters, consult a qualified professional.
FAQ
Everything you need to know about this calculator. Can't find what you're looking for? Email our team.
An IRA calculator is a free tool that projects the growth of a Traditional or Roth Individual Retirement Account to your retirement age. It applies the 2026 IRS contribution limits ($7,500 under 50, $8,500 age 50+), your expected annual return, and your marginal tax rate to show the projected balance, total contributions, tax-free growth (Roth) or tax-deferred growth (Traditional), and a Traditional-vs-Roth side-by-side comparison. The IRA calculator is useful for choosing between contribution types and checking whether you are on track for retirement.
How it works
Our IRA calculator projects Traditional and Roth IRA growth to your retirement age using the 2026 IRS contribution limits and your expected return.
Toggle the account type. Traditional gives you a current-year tax deduction and tax-deferred growth; Roth uses after-tax contributions but all withdrawals in retirement are tax-free.
Type your current age and the age you plan to retire. The IRA calculator uses the difference as the projection horizon.
Type the amount already in your IRA and how much you plan to contribute each year. The IRA calculator caps your contribution at the IRS limit ($7,500 under 50, $8,500 age 50+ for 2026).
Type your expected annual return (7% is a common conservative estimate for a diversified portfolio) and your marginal tax rate today and in retirement. The IRA calculator uses the tax rate to estimate lifetime tax savings for Traditional and to flag if Roth is the better choice.
The IRA calculator shows your projected balance, total contributions, total growth, and net after-tax balance. It also displays a side-by-side Traditional vs Roth comparison so you can see which account type comes out ahead at your retirement age.