401(k) Match Calculator
Many employers match your 401(k) contributions — free money added to your retirement account. But the match has a limit, and if you contribute less than that limit, the rest of the free money simply never happens. Plug in your numbers to see where you stand.
Your numbers
50 or older? You get extra catch-up room above the IRS limit.
Pre-tax (and Roth, if your plan offers it) — they share one IRS limit. Your employer match is calculated on this.
Employee-only — most plans don't match it. Useful once you've maxed pre-tax, or for the mega backdoor Roth.
The match only applies to contributions within this % of your salary.
Your results
You put in — pre-tax (per year)$3,200
You put in — after-tax (per year)$0
Employer match (per year)$3,200
Total going into your 401(k)$6,400
You're capturing the full match. 🎉Your employer adds the maximum $3,200 on top of your contributions. Nice work.
2026 IRS limits used here
Pre-tax + Roth (elective deferrals): $24,500
50+ catch-up: $8,000 · ages 60–63: $11,250
Total per year (pre-tax + match + after-tax): $72,000
The IRS updates these every fall. Catch-up contributions don't count toward the $72,000 total.
Pre-tax + Roth (elective deferrals): $24,500
50+ catch-up: $8,000 · ages 60–63: $11,250
Total per year (pre-tax + match + after-tax): $72,000
The IRS updates these every fall. Catch-up contributions don't count toward the $72,000 total.
Educational estimate only — not financial or tax advice. It doesn't account for vesting schedules or plan-specific rules (your plan may set lower limits). Check your plan documents for the exact formula.
New to the 401(k)? Read 401(k) Basics first — it explains the match in plain English in about 6 minutes.