Last updated October 6, 2026 · Report an error
A Roth IRA's biggest advantage is tax-free growth, and seeing the actual dollar impact of consistent contributions over time is one of the best ways to stay motivated to keep contributing.
This calculator projects your Roth IRA balance from a starting balance, monthly contributions, an expected annual return, and a number of years.
How it works
Enter your current balance (if any), planned monthly contribution, expected average annual return, and the number of years you plan to keep contributing. The calculator compounds the balance monthly, adding your contribution each period, to project the final balance.
- Enter current balance ($).
- Enter monthly contribution ($).
- Enter expected annual return (%).
- Enter years to grow.
- Click Calculate to see your results.
Examples
$10,000 start, $500/month for 20 years
Starting with $10,000 and contributing $500 per month at a 7% expected annual return, a Roth IRA grows to roughly $300,851 after 20 years — about $170,851 of that from tax-free growth.
Who should use it
- Projecting retirement savings growth from a Roth IRA contribution plan.
- Comparing the long-term impact of different contribution amounts.
Industry applications
- Retirement and financial planning
- Personal investing
Advantages
- Separates total contributions from investment growth so you can see how much compounding actually contributed.
- Works for any combination of starting balance, contribution, rate, and time horizon.
Limitations
- Assumes a constant monthly contribution and constant annual return, which real markets rarely deliver exactly.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a single average return rate perfectly predicts real-world year-to-year performance, which actually varies significantly.
- Entering a monthly contribution that exceeds the current IRS annual Roth IRA contribution limit.
Best practices
- Run the projection with a few different return assumptions (conservative, moderate, optimistic) rather than relying on a single number.
Tips
- Starting even a small monthly contribution early tends to outperform a larger contribution started later, thanks to the extra years of compounding — try adjusting the years field to see the effect.