Coast FIRE Calculator

When can you stop saving for retirement?

$
$
$
7.0%
3.0%12.0%
4.0%
2.0%6.0%

Your Coast FIRE Number

$316,266

Coast Age

45

Time Left

15 years

FIRE Goal

$1,200,000

You'll reach Coast FIRE at age 45. After that, compound growth alone gets you to $1,200,000.

Progress4.2%

Portfolio Projection

Portfolio BalanceCoast FIRE TargetFIRE Number

Year-by-Year Breakdown

AgeContributionsGrowthWithdrawalsBalanceFIRE %Phase
30$18,000$3,500--$71,5004.2%Saving
31$18,000$5,005--$94,5056.0%Saving
32$18,000$6,615--$119,1207.9%Saving
33$18,000$8,338--$145,4599.9%Saving
34$18,000$10,182--$173,64112.1%Saving
35$18,000$12,155--$203,79614.5%Saving
36$18,000$14,266--$236,06117.0%Saving
37$18,000$16,524--$270,58619.7%Saving
38$18,000$18,941--$307,52722.5%Saving
39$18,000$21,527--$347,05425.6%Saving

What is Coast FIRE?

The point where compound growth alone carries you to retirement -- without saving another dollar.

You still work to cover today's expenses. But retirement is on autopilot.

3 Steps to Your Number

$1.2M

$48K / 4% SWR

Your FIRE Number

3.88%

7% return - 3% inflation

Your Real Return

$312K

$1.2M over 35 years

Your Coast Number

How Coast FIRE Compares

Barista FIRE
$184K
Coast FIRE You are here
$312K
Lean FIRE
$720K
Regular FIRE
$1.2M
Fat FIRE
$1.8M

Based on $48K/yr spending, 4% SWR, age 30, retire at 65

Get There Faster

01

Max tax-advantaged accounts

401(k) match first, then Roth IRA, then max the 401(k).

02

Cut $1K from annual spending

Every $1,000 cut = $25,000 less you need to save.

03

Start as early as possible

Age 25 needs $260K. Age 35 needs $375K. Time is everything.

04

Keep investment fees under 0.2%

A 1% fee gap costs hundreds of thousands over a career.

05

Use a Roth conversion ladder →

Access retirement funds before 59.5, penalty-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is the point where you've saved enough that you no longer need to contribute to your retirement accounts. Your existing investments will grow through compound interest to reach your full FIRE number by your target retirement age, even without additional contributions.
How is the Coast FIRE number calculated?
The Coast FIRE number is calculated by taking your FIRE number (annual spending / safe withdrawal rate) and discounting it back to today using the expected real rate of return. The formula is: Coast FIRE Number = FIRE Number / (1 + real return)^years to retirement.
What is a safe withdrawal rate (SWR)?
The safe withdrawal rate is the percentage of your portfolio you can withdraw annually in retirement without running out of money. The most commonly cited SWR is 4%, based on the Trinity Study, which showed a 4% withdrawal rate sustained a 30-year retirement in 95% of historical scenarios.
What return rate should I use?
A commonly used assumption is 7% nominal return (approximately 4% real return after inflation), based on the historical average of the S&P 500. More conservative estimates use 5-6%, while optimistic projections might use 8-10%. Use a rate you're comfortable with given your asset allocation.
What happens after I reach Coast FIRE?
Once you reach Coast FIRE, you can theoretically stop contributing to your retirement accounts. Your existing investments will compound and grow to your FIRE number by retirement age. You still need to cover your current living expenses, but you no longer need to save aggressively for retirement.
Is Coast FIRE the same as regular FIRE?
No. Regular FIRE means you have enough to retire immediately. Coast FIRE means you have enough invested that compound growth will get you to your FIRE number by retirement age, but you still need to work to cover current expenses. Coast FIRE typically requires much less savings than full FIRE.
How does inflation affect my Coast FIRE number?
Inflation reduces your real rate of return. This calculator uses real returns (nominal return minus inflation) to account for this. A 7% nominal return with 3% inflation gives approximately a 3.88% real return, which is what drives your Coast FIRE number calculation.
Can I use this calculator for a couple?
Yes. Simply enter your combined annual retirement spending, combined current invested assets, and combined monthly savings. The calculator will determine the Coast FIRE number for your household.

More Calculators

Barista FIRE Calculator

Work part-time while your portfolio covers most expenses. The most popular alternative to Coast FIRE.

Fat FIRE Calculator

Retire comfortably with 150%+ spending.

Lean FIRE Calculator

Early retirement on a frugal budget.

FERS Retirement Calculator

Federal employee annuity + TSP projection.

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Complete guide to the concept.

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What it takes to retire early.