Coast FIRE Calculator

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Coast FIRE is the amount that, left alone, grows to your retirement goal without another dollar added. See your coast number and whether you have hit it.

Your numbers

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Coast FIRE number

Needed today to coast
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The FIRE number is your spending divided by the withdrawal rate; the coast number discounts it back to today at your real (after-inflation) return. Reaching it means you can stop contributing and still retire on schedule, though most people keep saving for a cushion. Real returns are not guaranteed.
About this calculator

Coast FIRE Calculator

Coast FIRE is the amount invested today that, left completely alone, grows to your retirement goal without another contribution. This calculator finds your coast number and tells you whether your current savings have already reached it.

The idea behind Coast FIRE

First, find your full FIRE number: annual retirement spending divided by a safe withdrawal rate, often 4%. Then discount that back to today at your expected real return over the years until retirement. That present value is your coast number. Reaching it means compounding alone can carry you to retirement, even if you never invest another dollar.

What coasting lets you do

Hitting Coast FIRE does not mean stopping work; it means your retirement is on track without further saving, freeing income for other goals or a lower-stress job. Most people keep contributing for a cushion, since real returns vary and life changes. Use a conservative real return here, and revisit the number as your plans and markets shift.

How to use it

  1. Enter your current age and target retirement age.
  2. Set your expected annual retirement spending.
  3. Choose a safe withdrawal rate, often 4%.
  4. Enter your real return and current investments to see the coast number.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between FIRE and Coast FIRE?

FIRE is the full amount you need to retire now. Coast FIRE is the smaller amount that will grow into that number by retirement without more contributions.

Why use a real return?

A real (after-inflation) return keeps the goal in today's dollars, so the coast number reflects purchasing power rather than inflated future figures.

Should I stop saving once I coast?

You can, but many people keep saving for a margin of safety, to retire earlier, or to spend more later, since returns are never guaranteed.

See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.

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