Annual expenses
This is the most important input. Higher spending raises the FIRE number. Model the lifestyle you want to sustain, not only your minimum current budget.
Advanced Features
United States FIRE Calculator
Calculate the portfolio, savings rate, annual expenses, and timeline needed to reach FIRE in United States.
Input Data
$
Enter your current total savings amount
%
Expected annual investment return rate
$
Total annual living expenses
$
Amount you can save each month
Advanced assumptions
%
Used to adjust future expenses and FIRE target.
%
Used to calculate the portfolio needed for FIRE.
Results
π°
Annual Passive Income
$0
β
FIRE Status
Congratulations! You've achieved FIRE!
π―Required Principal for FIRE
$0
πAmount Still Needed
$0
Progress100%
How Far Are You From Financial Freedom
How Much Money Do You Need to Retire
π¨Color Legend
β€ 1Y
β€ 10Y
β€ 50Y
> 50Y
Forever
SavingsAnnual Expense | 100K | 200K | 300K | 500K | 750K | 1000K | 2000K | 3000K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20K | 6Y | 16Y | 37Y | Forever | Forever | Forever | Forever | Forever |
| 30K | 3Y | 9Y | 16Y | 50Y | Forever | Forever | Forever | Forever |
| 40K | 2Y | 6Y | 10Y | 25Y | 75Y | Forever | Forever | Forever |
| 60K | 1Y | 3Y | 6Y | 12Y | 25Y | 50Y | Forever | Forever |
| 80K | 1Y | 2Y | 4Y | 8Y | 15Y | 25Y | Forever | Forever |
| 120K | 0Y | 1Y | 2Y | 5Y | 8Y | 12Y | 50Y | Forever |
| 150K | 0Y | 1Y | 2Y | 3Y | 6Y | 9Y | 28Y | 100Y |
| 200K | 0Y | 1Y | 1Y | 2Y | 4Y | 6Y | 16Y | 37Y |
| 300K | 0Y | 0Y | 1Y | 1Y | 2Y | 3Y | 9Y | 16Y |
π‘
Notes:
- If annual expense β€ principal Γ 2.5%, savings will last forever; if expense > principal Γ 2.5%, calculated by formula (rounded down).
- Low consumption can be sustained indefinitely. High consumption approaches no-interest model but slightly longer. Consider inflation and interest rate fluctuations.
Methodology
How the FIRE calculator works
This United States FIRE calculator estimates your target portfolio from annual expenses and a safe withdrawal rate, then models how current assets, monthly savings, return, and inflation affect the timeline.
Core formula
FIRE number = annual expenses Γ· safe withdrawal rate
If annual expenses are $48,000 and the safe withdrawal rate is 4%, the target portfolio is about $1,200,000. A lower withdrawal rate raises the target and makes the plan more conservative.
Example setup
- Annual expenses
- $48,000
- Monthly contribution
- $1,500
- Safe withdrawal rate
- 4%
- Target portfolio
- $1,200,000
Return and inflation
Return affects portfolio growth, while inflation raises future spending. Conservative assumptions usually make a better base plan than optimistic ones.
Savings rate
Monthly contributions can change the timeline materially. Raising income and controlling expenses are often more controllable than fine-tuning returns.
What this FIRE calculator can answer
FIRE number
Estimate the portfolio required for financial independence from annual expenses and your safe withdrawal rate.
How much money to retire early
Compare current assets, monthly savings, return, and inflation to see whether retiring at 30, 40, or another target age is realistic.
How long money can last
Use the reference table and calculator result together to understand whether current assets are a bridge, a Coast FIRE base, or a full FIRE portfolio.
FIRE number
Your FIRE number is the investable portfolio you need for financial independence. A common first estimate is annual expenses divided by a safe withdrawal rate.
4% rule
The 4% rule is a retirement withdrawal heuristic: withdraw about 4% of the portfolio in the first year, then adjust spending for inflation. It is useful for estimating a FIRE target, but it is not a promise.
Safe withdrawal rate
A safe withdrawal rate is the percentage of your portfolio you plan to withdraw each year while trying to avoid running out of money. Lower rates require more assets but add resilience.
Regional assumptions to review in United States
A FIRE number is only useful when the local assumptions behind it are realistic. Use this checklist to adapt the calculator to United States before relying on the result.
Taxes and account rules
Estimate how income tax, capital gains tax, retirement account access, and contribution limits affect spendable cash.
Public pension and safety net
Decide whether social security, public pension, or other benefits are a backup, a delayed income source, or excluded from the base case.
Health insurance and care costs
Model insurance premiums, out-of-pocket medical costs, and long-term care separately, especially for early retirement years.
Housing and home equity
Treat a primary home differently from investable assets unless it can be sold, rented, downsized, or borrowed against.
Inflation, currency, and relocation
Check whether spending, income, and investments are exposed to different inflation rates or currencies.
Use local facts, not generic defaults
ChooseFIRE can structure the calculation, but it cannot know your tax filing status, benefits, insurance plan, family obligations, or local policy changes. Revisit the assumptions whenever your region, currency, or residency plan changes.
FIRE calculator FAQ
Common questions about this FIRE calculator
+Is the FIRE number always 25 times annual expenses?
It is roughly 25 times annual expenses when the safe withdrawal rate is 4%. If you use 3.5% or 3%, the target portfolio is higher.
+Should home equity count as investable assets?
Usually not in full if the home will not be sold, rented, or used for cash flow. FIRE modeling works best with assets that can generate returns or withdrawals.
+What return assumption should I use?
Use a conservative return for the base plan, then compare an optimistic scenario separately. Avoid treating high historical returns as guaranteed future results.
+Why does inflation affect the FIRE timeline?
Inflation raises future living costs, so the portfolio needed to support the same lifestyle may be higher in the future than it is today.
Important limitation
ChooseFIRE is for planning and education only. It is not investment, tax, or personalized financial advice. Real outcomes depend on markets, taxes, health costs, family changes, and local policy.