401(k) Match Calculator

See how much free employer match you earn, whether you're leaving money on the table, and how matched contributions compound over time.

Your Plan

Quick start — common match formulas

Annual Salary ($)

Your Contribution (% of salary)

The percent of each paycheck you defer into your 401(k).

Match Formula Type

Employer Match Rate (%)

100% = a full dollar-for-dollar match; 50% = fifty cents per dollar.

Match Limit (% of salary)

Your employer matches your contributions only up to this percent of salary.

Match Dollar Cap ($)

Employer matches at the rate above, but never more than this many dollars per year.

Pay Frequency

Years to Retirement

Expected Return (%)

I'm age 50 or older (higher IRS catch-up limit) I will be age 60–63 at year-end If your plan permits it, ages 60–63 at year-end can add $11,250 in 2026 instead of the usual $8,000 catch-up.

Employer Match Per Year

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Free employer money

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Money Left on the Table

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Total Into 401(k) / Yr

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Your Contribution / Yr

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Match Per Paycheck

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Contribute This % for Full Match

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Max Match Available

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Employee, vested employer and unvested employer growth by modeled year

Only new deposits to this employer plan are modeled. Employee money is fully owned; employer ownership follows the entered vesting schedule. Unknown ownership remains unknown.

Projected Balance

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From Your Contributions

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From Employer Match

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Match's Share of Balance

Employee, vested employer and unvested employer growth by modeled year

Employee, vested employer and unvested employer growth by modeled year
Modeled year	Employee-funded balance	Employer-funded vested balance	Employer-funded unvested balance	Employee plus vested employer balance	Gross employer-funded illustration; ownership unknown

Common Employer Match Formulas

100% up to X% (full / dollar-for-dollar)

match = salary × min(yourPct, X%) × 100%

50% up to Y% (partial)

An employer match rate is a contribution rule, not an investment return or immediate cash compensation.

match = salary × min(yourPct, Y%) × 50%

Tiered / Safe Harbor (100% on first 3% + 50% on next 2%)

Confirm the plan's service definition and vesting terms. Match rates do not determine ownership. Presets are illustrations, not inferred plan terms.

match = (3% × 100% + 2% × 50%) × salary = 4% of salary at 5%+ contribution

Dollar-capped match

Use one employer plan and the entered salary as ordinary eligible compensation. Other additions share the annual-additions limit; only actual qualified employee catch-up is exempt. Special compensation definitions and aggregation need administrator review.

match = min(salary × yourPct × rate, dollarCap)

Why "money left on the table" matters

The modeled annual-additions ceiling can make a lower employee election capture more employer match. Compare the curve and the required election; confirm the plan terms. The curve is an annual-formula reference. Your actual paycheck schedule can capture less without a confirmed true-up. Focus a breakpoint to inspect the next employee dollar; click it to select that percentage.

left on table = max match − your match

3 min read 4 steps 6 terms 3 examples 7 FAQs match = salary × min(yourPct, capPct)/100 × matchRate/100

An employer match rate is a contribution rule, not an investment return or immediate cash compensation.

YMYL Reviewed by Calculover Editorial Review · Updated 2026-06-14 · 5 sources

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Walk-through

How to Use This Calculator

4 steps

Enter your salary and contribution

Enter your annual salary, contribution percentage, match formula and pay frequency.

Pick your employer's match formula

Choose the annual-formula illustration or enter actual per-paycheck contributions and confirmed true-up terms.

Confirmed employer vesting schedule

Enter the plan’s vesting schedule and any departure year before interpreting employer funds as owned.

Save comparison on this device

Review the financial fields before explicitly saving a named comparison or consenting to a full-input link.

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Reference

Formula & Methodology

4 formulas

Simple match (X% up to Y% of salary)

match = salary × min(yourPct, capPct)/100 × matchRate/100

yourPct = your contribution percent, capPct = the salary % the employer matches up to, matchRate = the match rate (100% for dollar-for-dollar, 50% for a half match). Contributing above capPct earns no extra match. Use one employer plan and the entered salary as ordinary eligible compensation. Other additions share the annual-additions limit; only actual qualified employee catch-up is exempt. Special compensation definitions and aggregation need administrator review.

Tiered (Safe Harbor) match

match = Σ (tierRate_i/100 × min(remainingPct, tierWidth_i)/100 × salary)

Each tier matches a rate on the next band of your contribution. Classic Safe Harbor = 100% on the first 3% + 50% on the next 2%, fully matched at a 5% contribution (a 4%-of-salary employer contribution). Confirm the plan's service definition and vesting terms. Match rates do not determine ownership. Presets are illustrations, not inferred plan terms.

Money left on the table

leftOnTable = max(0, maxMatch − yourMatch)

The modeled annual-additions ceiling can make a lower employee election capture more employer match. Compare the curve and the required election; confirm the plan terms.

Long-term growth (future value of an annuity)

FV = PMT × ((1 + r)^n − 1) / r

The displayed annuity equation applies to annual year-end deposits. Payroll mode compounds the cent ledger at each period end. Only new deposits to this employer plan are modeled. Employee money is fully owned; employer ownership follows the entered vesting schedule. Unknown ownership remains unknown. 2026 dollar limits are held fixed in growth illustrations; future statutory limits and tax treatment are not forecasts.

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YMYL

Trust, Methodology & Sources

Reviewed by Calculover Editorial Review · Updated 2026-06-14 · 5 sources

Editorial accountability

Author: Calculover Editorial Team - Personal finance content

Owner: Calculover Editorial Team - Editorial owner

Reviewer: Calculover Editorial Review - Source and limitation review

Last reviewed: 2026-06-14

Last verified: 2026-11-05

Data effective: 2026-01-01

Methodology

The annual formula applies the entered match to accepted annual deferrals. Per-paycheck mode applies each paycheck's formula and shows a separate conditional true-up. They can differ when contributions are front-loaded. Use one employer plan and the entered salary as ordinary eligible compensation. Other additions share the annual-additions limit; only actual qualified employee catch-up is exempt. Special compensation definitions and aggregation need administrator review. The displayed annuity equation applies to annual year-end deposits. Payroll mode compounds the cent ledger at each period end. Only new deposits to this employer plan are modeled. Employee money is fully owned; employer ownership follows the entered vesting schedule. Unknown ownership remains unknown.

Assumption: 2026 dollar limits are held fixed in growth illustrations; future statutory limits and tax treatment are not forecasts.

Assumption: Use one employer plan and the entered salary as ordinary eligible compensation. Other additions share the annual-additions limit; only actual qualified employee catch-up is exempt. Special compensation definitions and aggregation need administrator review.

Assumption: Only new deposits to this employer plan are modeled. Employee money is fully owned; employer ownership follows the entered vesting schedule. Unknown ownership remains unknown.

Limitations & guidance

A plan option is unavailable or unconfirmed. These gross figures are an illustration, not a supported payroll election.

Blank means continue through the projection. Zero means no future deposits. Departure stops this employer's deposits and forfeits the unvested modeled employer balance; savings at other employers are outside this illustration.

Confirm the plan's service definition and vesting terms. Match rates do not determine ownership. Presets are illustrations, not inferred plan terms.

Professional guidance: This calculator is for educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Match formulas, vesting, and limits vary by plan and change over time — consult your plan's Summary Plan Description and a qualified financial planner (CFP®) before making decisions.

Primary sources

IRS Notice 2025-67 — 2026 retirement limits - Internal Revenue Service

401(k) and profit-sharing plan contribution limits - Internal Revenue Service

Catch-up contributions - Internal Revenue Service

Vesting schedules for matching contributions - Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR 1.414(v)-1 — Catch-up contributions - Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

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Glossary

Key Terms Explained

6 terms

Employer match An employer contribution calculated from eligible employee contributions under the entered plan formula.

Match limit (cap) The salary percentage or dollar amount beyond which the formula awards no additional employer contribution; this differs from statutory contribution limits.

Vesting The portion of employer contributions you own under the plan’s confirmed service and ownership rules.

Safe Harbor match The preset illustrates 100% on the first 3% plus 50% on the next 2%; using that formula alone does not certify the plan’s legal status or vesting.

True-up An additional employer payment that reconciles paycheck matching with an annual formula, subject to the plan’s confirmed eligibility terms.

Elective-deferral limit The 2026 employee ceiling is $24,500, with eligible catch-up of $8,000 at age 50 or older or $11,250 at ages 60–63; employer matching is separate.

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Scenarios

Real-World Examples

3 worked examples

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Maya

Capturing the full match

Salary $70,000 Your contribution 6% Employer match 100% up to 6%

Employee deferral: $4,200.00; Employer match: $4,200.00. Ownership of this year's modeled match: Unknown / not confirmed. An employer match rate is a contribution rule, not an investment return or immediate cash compensation.

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Devon

Leaving money on the table

Salary $70,000 Your contribution 3% Employer match 100% up to 6%

Employee deferral: $2,100.00; Employer match: $2,100.00. Ownership of this year's modeled match: Unknown / not confirmed. An employer match rate is a contribution rule, not an investment return or immediate cash compensation.

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Priya

Safe Harbor tiered plan

Salary $70,000 Your contribution 5% Employer match 100%/3% + 50%/2%

Employee deferral: $3,500.00; Employer match: $2,800.00. Ownership of this year's modeled match: Unknown / not confirmed. An employer match rate is a contribution rule, not an investment return or immediate cash compensation.

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Reference

Cite This Calculator

APA & MLA

Use either format to cite this calculator in a paper, report, or resource list.

APA

MLA

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Deep Dive

401k Match Calculator

4 chapters · 3 min read

An employer match rate is a contribution rule, not an investment return or immediate cash compensation. The annual formula applies the entered match to accepted annual deferrals. Per-paycheck mode applies each paycheck's formula and shows a separate conditional true-up. They can differ when contributions are front-loaded.

Match calculation basis

An employer match rate is a contribution rule, not an investment return or immediate cash compensation.

Custom contiguous tiers

Tiers must be contiguous and ordered from zero, with increasing bounds and nonnegative rates.

The curve is an annual-formula reference. Your actual paycheck schedule can capture less without a confirmed true-up. Focus a breakpoint to inspect the next employee dollar; click it to select that percentage.

Confirmed employer vesting schedule

Confirm the plan's service definition and vesting terms. Match rates do not determine ownership. Presets are illustrations, not inferred plan terms.

Only new deposits to this employer plan are modeled. Employee money is fully owned; employer ownership follows the entered vesting schedule. Unknown ownership remains unknown.

2026 age-based employee ceiling

Employer matching does not count toward the employee elective-deferral limit. In 2026 the regular limit is $24,500. If your plan permits catch-up contributions, the usual amount for age 50 or older is $8,000, and the amount for ages 60–63 at year-end is $11,250 instead. Employer matching counts toward the separate annual-additions limit under IRC §415(c).

2026 dollar limits are held fixed in growth illustrations; future statutory limits and tax treatment are not forecasts.

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Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions

What does "100% match up to 6%" mean?+

The employer adds one dollar per employee dollar on eligible contributions up to 6% of salary. At $70,000, a 6% employee contribution is $4,200 and the illustrated employer match is $4,200, subject to plan terms and applicable limits.

Is the 401(k) match really free money?+

A match is an employer contribution, not an investment return or immediate cash compensation. Your contributions are owned immediately; employer money follows the confirmed vesting schedule.

Does the employer match count toward my contribution limit?+

Employer matching is separate from the 2026 employee elective-deferral limit of $24,500. Eligible catch-up is $8,000 at age 50 or older, replaced by $11,250 at ages 60–63. Non-catch-up employee contributions, employer contributions and other additions share the smaller of $72,000 or 100% of compensation.

What is vesting and how does it affect my match?+

Vesting determines how much employer money you own; the match formula does not establish those terms. An entered departure stops future deposits and removes unvested employer funds, while unknown ownership remains unknown.

Should I always max the match before anything else?+

The curve identifies the employee election that captures the largest modeled annual-formula match. Annual-additions constraints can make a lower election capture more match, but this is not a recommendation about your wider financial priorities.

What happens if I contribute more than the match cap?+

Contributions above the formula’s match cap may still be employee savings but earn no additional match under that formula. A separate compensation, employee-deferral or annual-additions ceiling can reject requested contributions, which the worksheet flags.

Why might I miss match even if I contribute enough?+

A per-paycheck formula can award less match when contributions are concentrated in a few paychecks. Enter the actual schedule and true-up terms; a conditional true-up is excluded from earned match until the eligibility condition is confirmed.

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401(k) Match Calculator

100% up to X% (full / dollar-for-dollar)

50% up to Y% (partial)

Tiered / Safe Harbor (100% on first 3% + 50% on next 2%)

Dollar-capped match

Why "money left on the table" matters

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your salary and contribution

Pick your employer's match formula

Confirmed employer vesting schedule

Save comparison on this device

Formula & Methodology

Trust, Methodology & Sources

Key Terms Explained

Real-World Examples

Cite This Calculator

401k Match Calculator

Match calculation basis

Custom contiguous tiers

Confirmed employer vesting schedule

2026 age-based employee ceiling

Frequently Asked Questions

Get a branded PDF of your results

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