Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Annual withdrawal
$40,000
Monthly withdrawal
$3,333
Psst — share this and help Rex grow
One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter retirement portfolio balance ($).
- 2Enter withdrawal rate (%).
- 3Read your annual withdrawal on the right — it updates as you type.
- 4Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
The 4% rule, based on historical market research, suggests you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement and adjust that dollar amount for inflation each year after, with a low risk of running out of money over a 30-year retirement. This calculator applies your chosen withdrawal rate to your portfolio and also shows more conservative and aggressive alternatives.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Retirement portfolio balance: 1000000 $
- Withdrawal rate: 4 %
Results
- Annual withdrawal: $40,000
- Monthly withdrawal: $3,333
What each field means
Inputs
- Retirement portfolio balance ($)
- The retirement portfolio balance used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 1000000 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Withdrawal rate (%)
- The withdrawal rate used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 4 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 2–8 %.
Results
- Annual withdrawal
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Monthly withdrawal
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How much can I withdraw in retirement?
On a $1,000,000 portfolio using the classic 4% rule, you can withdraw $40,000 in year one of retirement (about $3,333/month), then adjust that dollar amount upward each year for inflation.
Is the 4% rule still considered safe?
It's debated — some researchers now suggest 3-3.5% is safer for retirements lasting longer than 30 years or starting during high market valuations, while others argue 4-5% is fine with flexible spending in down years.
Does the 4% rule mean I withdraw a fixed 4% every year?
No — the classic rule sets the dollar amount in year one (4% of the starting balance) and then increases that same dollar amount for inflation each subsequent year, rather than recalculating 4% of the fluctuating balance annually.
What if my portfolio drops significantly early in retirement?
This is 'sequence of returns risk' — a market downturn in your first few retirement years can meaningfully raise your risk of running out of money even at 4%, which is why many retirees build in spending flexibility for bad years.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). How Much Can I Withdraw in Retirement?. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-can-i-withdraw-in-retirement
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-can-i-withdraw-in-retirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How Much Can I Withdraw in Retirement? — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [How Much Can I Withdraw in Retirement? — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-can-i-withdraw-in-retirement) (2026).