1027
2026 IRA contribution limits
IRA $7,500, 401(k) $24,500, SIMPLE $17,000, SEP $72,000 — the 2026 limits, with a calculator showing what your contribution grows to by retirement. The 50+ toggle adds the $1,100 IRA catch-up.
★ MONEY · 2026 IRA CONTRIBUTION LIMITS · IRA, 401(K) & MORE
2026 IRA Contribution Limits Chart: IRA, 401(k) & More
On the defaults — a $7,500 annual contribution at age 45, 30 years to retirement, and a 7% annual return: future value $708,455.90, and the extra $500 a year vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39 at retirement. This is reference table #265 in the Bright Side Kit money collection: the 2026 IRA limit is $7,500, the 401(k) limit is $24,500, the SIMPLE IRA limit is $17,000, and the SEP IRA limit is $72,000 — from IRS Notice 2025-67 (November 13, 2025). Put in your own contribution, age, years, and return and the calculator works out what it grows to by retirement and what the extra room vs 2025 is worth.
How the table works
On the defaults — a $7,500 annual contribution at age 45, 30 years to retirement, and a 7% annual return — the future value is $708,455.90, and the extra $500 a year vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39 at retirement. The limits in the table are the IRS ceilings for 2026, from IRS Notice 2025-67 (November 13, 2025).
The 50+ toggle adds the $1,100 IRA catch-up — the 401(k) catch-up is $8,000 and the table shows it, but the calculator’s toggle is for the IRA figure: tick it and a $7,500 contribution becomes an $8,600 effective contribution, worth $812,362.76 over 30 years at 7%. The catch-up alone, $1,100 a year for 30 years at 7%, is worth $103,906.86.
The IRA limit is SHARED across all your IRAs — traditional plus Roth combined, not $7,500 per account. If you put $4,000 in a traditional IRA you can only put $3,500 in a Roth IRA the same year. The 401(k) limit is separate from the IRA limit, so you can max both: $24,500 into a 401(k) and $7,500 into an IRA in the same year.
The SEP limit is 25% of compensation up to $360,000 of compensation, capped at $72,000 — 25% of $360,000 is $90,000, so the $72,000 cap is what binds once compensation passes $288,000. The overall $72,000 defined-contribution limit counts employee + employer money together, catch-ups excluded — your deferrals plus your employer’s match and profit-sharing, all in one bucket, and the catch-up sits on top of it.
The ages 60–63 super catch-up of $11,250 replaces the regular $8,000 catch-up, it does not stack on top of it — at 60 to 63 your 401(k) total is $24,500 + $11,250 = $35,750, not $24,500 + $8,000 + $11,250. At 64 the regular $8,000 catch-up applies again, for a $32,500 total.
The 2026 IRA contribution limits table
The table below is the limits data for 2025 and 2026. Every cell is derived from the limits data by the table function — the 2026 column is the one that matters for your next contribution, and the 50+ column adds the catch-up to the 2026 limit. The 2026 limits come from IRS Notice 2025-67 (November 13, 2025).
| Account | 2025 | 2026 | 50+ total 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional IRA | $7,000 | $7,500 | $8,600 |
| Roth IRA | $7,000 | $7,500 | $8,600 |
| 401(k) / 403(b) / 457(b) | $23,500 | $24,500 | $32,500 |
| 401(k) ages 60–63 super catch-up | $11,250 | $11,250 | $35,750 total |
| SIMPLE IRA | $16,500 | $17,000 | $21,000 |
| Enhanced SIMPLE | $17,600 | $18,100 | $22,100 |
| SEP IRA (25% of compensation) | $70,000 | $72,000 | $72,000 |
| Overall defined-contribution limit | $70,000 | $72,000 | — (catch-ups excluded) |
The 2026 income phase-outs
The limits above are how much you may contribute. Whether the contribution is deductible — or, for a Roth IRA, allowed at all — depends on your income. These are the 2026 ranges from IRS Notice 2025-67.
| Rule | 2026 income range |
|---|---|
| Roth IRA, single / head of household | $153,000–$168,000 |
| Roth IRA, married filing jointly | $242,000–$252,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction, single (covered by a workplace plan) | $81,000–$91,000 |
| Traditional IRA deduction, married filing jointly | $129,000–$149,000 |
| Saver’s Credit | single $40,250 / head of household $60,375 / married $80,500 |
The worked example, line by line
Setup: the annual contribution is C = $7,500, the age is 45 (under 50, so no catch-up), the years to retirement are N = 30, and the annual return is r = 7%.
Line 1 — the growth factor: the growth factor is F = ((1 + r)^N − 1) ÷ r = ((1.07)^30 − 1) ÷ 0.07 = 94.460786. That is how much $1 a year grows to over 30 years at 7% with end-of-year contributions — the same factor the extra $500 and the catch-up are multiplied by.
Line 2 — future value: future value = C × F = $7,500 × 94.460786 = $708,455.90. You put in $7,500 × 30 = $225,000 of your own money; the other $483,455.90 is growth.
Line 3 — the extra room vs 2025: the IRA limit rose $500, from $7,000 to $7,500, so the extra room is worth $500 × F = $500 × 94.460786 = $47,230.39 at retirement. The $500 raise is small in any one year and worth almost fifty thousand dollars over a 30-year horizon.
Line 4 — age 55: at 55 the $1,100 catch-up applies, so the effective contribution is $7,500 + $1,100 = $8,600 a year, worth $8,600 × 94.460786 = $812,362.76. The catch-up alone, $1,100 a year for 30 years at 7%, is worth $103,906.86 — more than a tenth of the age-55 total.
Line 5 — the bigger limits: a 401(k) contribution of $24,500 a year grows to $24,500 × 94.460786 = $2,314,289.26, and a SIMPLE contribution of $17,000 a year grows to $1,605,833.37. The same factor, the same 30 years, the same 7% — only the contribution changes, because the model is linear in the contribution. Totals are computed from unrounded values, so rounded parts may differ by a cent from their rounded sum.
Every branch, checked
Age 55, contribution $8,600: future value $812,362.76; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39. The same $7,500 base with the $1,100 catch-up switched on — the catch-up alone is worth $103,906.86 over 30 years at 7%.
Years 20: future value $307,466.19; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $20,497.75. Ten fewer years cuts the future value by more than half, because the last decade of compounding does the heaviest work.
Years 40: future value $1,497,263.34; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $99,817.56. Ten more years more than doubles the 30-year value — time in the account beats the contribution size.
Return 5%: future value $498,291.36; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $33,219.42. Two points of return cost $210,164.54 over 30 years on the same $7,500 a year.
401(k) contribution $24,500: future value $2,314,289.26; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39. The 401(k) limit is more than three times the IRA limit, and the future value scales with it.
SIMPLE contribution $17,000: future value $1,605,833.37; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39. A SIMPLE IRA sits between the IRA and the 401(k) — and its $4,000 catch-up takes it to $21,000 at 50+.
The reverses, worked backwards
Contribution for a future value of exactly $1,000,000 (30 years, 7%): exactly $10,586.4035 — displayed $10,586.40 gives future value $999,999.67, and $1 less, $10,585.40, gives future value $999,905.21. The star is DOLLARS. Verdict: CONTINUOUS — the displayed forward does NOT land exactly on $1,000,000.00, which is correct under the continuous convention: the exact contribution is $10,586.4035, and the displayed cents are rounded from it.
Smallest term for a future value of at least $500,000 ($7,500/yr, 7%): 26 years — at 26 years the future value is $515,073.53, and at 25 years it is $474,367.78. The star is YEARS. Verdict: STEP — 26 years is the smallest term that reaches $500,000, and 25 years is the first term under the line.
Annual return for a future value of exactly $750,000 ($7,500/yr, 30 years): exactly 7.3157% — displayed 7.32% gives future value $750,582.37; 7.31% gives future value $749,224.55; 7.33% gives future value $751,942.92. The star is PERCENT. Verdict: CONTINUOUS — the displayed rate is rounded from the exact 7.3157%.
Smallest term for the extra $500/yr to reach $50,000 at retirement (7%): 31 years — at 31 years the extra is worth $51,036.52, and at 30 years it is worth $47,230.39. The star is YEARS. Verdict: STEP — 31 years is the smallest term that gets the extra $500 a year to $50,000, and 30 years is the first term under the line.
Contribution for a future value of exactly $800,000 (30 years, 7%): exactly $8,469.1228 — displayed $8,469.12 gives future value $799,999.73, and $1 less, $8,468.12, gives future value $799,905.27. The star is DOLLARS. Verdict: CONTINUOUS — the displayed forward does NOT land exactly on $800,000.00, which is correct under the continuous convention: the exact contribution is $8,469.1228, and the displayed cents are rounded from it.
Annual return for a future value of exactly $600,000 with the 50+ contribution of $8,600 (30 years): exactly 5.2836% — displayed 5.28% gives future value $599,622.91; 5.27% gives future value $598,586.81; 5.29% gives future value $600,661.07. The star is PERCENT. Verdict: CONTINUOUS — the displayed rate is rounded from the exact 5.2836%.
What the defaults assume
The defaults are a contribution of $7,500, an age of 45, 30 years to retirement, and a 7% annual return — future value $708,455.90, and the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39. With 0 years the future value is $0.00 and with a $0 contribution it is $0.00 — both model-level outcomes, not errors. At a 0% return the future value is $225,000.00, thirty contributions of $7,500 with no growth at all. At 40 years the future value is $1,497,263.34, and a 401(k) contribution of $24,500 grows to $2,314,289.26. The calculator asks for a contribution from $0 to $24,500, an age from 18 to 100 (a whole number), years from 1 to 50 (a whole number), and a return from 0% to 20%, so a contribution above $24,500, an age below 18 or above 100, years below 1 or above 50, and a return above 20% are validation errors, not results.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Annual contribution | C, your input | $7,500.00. |
| Age | your input, in years | 45. |
| 50+ catch-up added | $1,100 when age ≥ 50, else $0 | $0.00. |
| Years to retirement | your input, in years | 30. |
| Annual return | your input, as a percent | 7.00%. |
| Effective annual contribution | C + $1,100 when age ≥ 50 | $7,500.00. |
| Growth factor | ((1+r)^N − 1) ÷ r | 94.460786. |
| Future value | effective contribution × growth factor | $708,455.90. |
| Extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit | $500 × growth factor | $47,230.39. |
| Contribution for $1,000,000 | bisection on the future-value function, target $1,000,000 | $10,586.40 → 10,586.40. |
| Smallest term for $500,000 | smallest whole-year term with future value ≥ $500,000 | 26 years → 26 years. |
| Return for $750,000 | bisection on the future-value function, target $750,000 | 7.32% → 7.32%. |
| Smallest term for the extra $500/yr to reach $50,000 | smallest whole-year term with extra worth ≥ $50,000 | 31 years → 31 years. |
| Contribution for $800,000 | bisection on the future-value function, target $800,000 | $8,469.12 → 8,469.12. |
| Return for $600,000 at $8,600/yr | bisection on the future-value function, target $600,000 | 5.28% → 5.28%. |
| At $10,585.40 (one dollar less) | calc(10585.40, 45, 30, 7) | Annual contribution $10,585.40 at age 45 over 30 years at 7.00%: future value $999,905.21; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39. |
| At 25 years (one year less) | calc(7500, 45, 25, 7) | Annual contribution $7,500.00 at age 45 over 25 years at 7.00%: future value $474,367.78; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $31,624.52. |
| At 7.31% (0.01pp lower) | calc(7500, 45, 30, 7.31) | Annual contribution $7,500.00 at age 45 over 30 years at 7.31%: future value $749,224.55; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $49,948.30. |
| At 7.33% (0.01pp higher) | calc(7500, 45, 30, 7.33) | Annual contribution $7,500.00 at age 45 over 30 years at 7.33%: future value $751,942.92; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $50,129.53. |
| At 30 years (one year less) | calc(7500, 45, 30, 7) | Annual contribution $7,500.00 at age 45 over 30 years at 7.00%: future value $708,455.90; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39. |
| At $8,468.12 (one dollar less) | calc(8468.12, 45, 30, 7) | Annual contribution $8,468.12 at age 45 over 30 years at 7.00%: future value $799,905.27; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39. |
| At 5.27% (0.01pp lower) | calc(7500, 55, 30, 5.27) | Annual contribution $8,600.00 at age 55 over 30 years at 5.27%: future value $598,586.81; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $34,801.56. |
| At 5.29% (0.01pp higher) | calc(7500, 55, 30, 5.29) | Annual contribution $8,600.00 at age 55 over 30 years at 5.29%: future value $600,661.07; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $34,922.16. |
| Age 55, contribution $8,600 | same model | Annual contribution $8,600.00 at age 55 over 30 years at 7.00%: future value $812,362.76; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39. |
| Years 20 | same model | Annual contribution $7,500.00 at age 45 over 20 years at 7.00%: future value $307,466.19; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $20,497.75. |
| Years 40 | same model | Annual contribution $7,500.00 at age 45 over 40 years at 7.00%: future value $1,497,263.34; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $99,817.56. |
| Return 5% | same model | Annual contribution $7,500.00 at age 45 over 30 years at 5.00%: future value $498,291.36; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $33,219.42. |
| 401(k) contribution $24,500 | same model | Annual contribution $24,500.00 at age 45 over 30 years at 7.00%: future value $2,314,289.26; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39. |
| SIMPLE contribution $17,000 | same model | Annual contribution $17,000.00 at age 45 over 30 years at 7.00%: future value $1,605,833.37; the extra $500/yr vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39. |
Who uses this
- The 45-year-old maxing the IRA at $7,500: they learn $7,500 a year grows to $708,455.90 over 30 years at 7% — and they check that the extra $500 a year vs the 2025 limit is worth $47,230.39 before deciding the new limit is worth maxing.
- The 55-year-old with the catch-up: they learn $8,600 a year grows to $812,362.76 over 30 years at 7% — and they check that the $1,100 catch-up alone is worth $103,906.86 before they tick the 50+ box.
- The worker maxing the 401(k) at $24,500: they learn $24,500 a year grows to $2,314,289.26 over 30 years at 7% — and they check that the 401(k) limit is separate from the IRA limit, so they can still put $7,500 into an IRA on top.
- The SIMPLE IRA saver at $17,000: they learn $17,000 a year grows to $1,605,833.37 over 30 years at 7% — and they check that it takes 26 years for $7,500 a year to reach $500,000 before they set their retirement date.
Accuracy & limitations
The limits are the IRS ceilings for 2026 from IRS Notice 2025-67 (November 13, 2025): the IRA limit of $7,500 ($8,600 at 50+), the 401(k) / 403(b) / 457(b) limit of $24,500 ($32,500 at 50+, $35,750 at ages 60–63), the SIMPLE limit of $17,000 ($21,000 at 50+), the enhanced SIMPLE limit of $18,100 ($22,100 at 50+), and the SEP and overall defined-contribution limits of $72,000. The phase-out ranges and Saver’s Credit thresholds are from the same notice. Your employer may set a lower plan limit, and the phase-outs may reduce or remove your Roth IRA eligibility or your traditional IRA deduction at higher incomes — the table shows what the law allows, not what your plan or your income allows. The calculator assumes the same annual return every year and end-of-year contributions; real returns vary, and it does not model taxes, fees, or inflation. Use the table to plan your contributions, not as tax advice.
Cite this calculatorBright Side Kit. “2026 IRA Contribution Limits Chart: IRA, 401(k) & More” brightoolbox.com, 2026. Method: effective annual contribution = C + $1,100 when age ≥ 50, else C; growth factor F = ((1+r)^N − 1) ÷ r (F = N when r = 0); future value = effective contribution × F; extra room vs 2025 = $500 × F. Source: IRS Notice 2025-67 (November 13, 2025). Reverses: the contribution for a future value of exactly $1,000,000 (30 years, 7%) is exactly $10,586.4035, displayed $10,586.40 ($999,999.67; $1 less gives $999,905.21); the smallest term for a future value of at least $500,000 ($7,500/yr, 7%) is 26 years ($515,073.53; 25 years gives $474,367.78); the annual return for a future value of exactly $750,000 ($7,500/yr, 30 years) is exactly 7.3157%, displayed 7.32% ($750,582.37; 7.31% gives $749,224.55; 7.33% gives $751,942.92); the smallest term for the extra $500/yr to reach $50,000 at retirement (7%) is 31 years ($51,036.52; 30 years gives $47,230.39); the contribution for a future value of exactly $800,000 (30 years, 7%) is exactly $8,469.1228, displayed $8,469.12 ($799,999.73; $1 less gives $799,905.27); the annual return for a future value of exactly $600,000 with the 50+ contribution of $8,600 (30 years) is exactly 5.2836%, displayed 5.28% ($599,622.91; 5.27% gives $598,586.81; 5.29% gives $600,661.07). Defaults: contribution $7,500, age 45, 30 years, 7% → future value $708,455.90, extra $500/yr worth $47,230.39.
Bright Side Kit. "2026 IRA Contribution Limits Chart: IRA, 401(k) & More" https://brightoolbox.com/2026-ira-contribution-limits/ Accessed October 26, 2026.Frequently asked questions
What are the 2026 IRA contribution limits?
IRA $7,500, 401(k) / 403(b) / 457(b) $24,500, SIMPLE IRA $17,000, enhanced SIMPLE $18,100, and SEP IRA and the overall defined-contribution limit $72,000. At 50 or older the totals are $8,600 for an IRA, $32,500 for a 401(k), $21,000 for a SIMPLE, and $22,100 for an enhanced SIMPLE. The limits come from IRS Notice 2025-67 (November 13, 2025). The IRA limit is shared across all your IRAs, while the 401(k) limit is separate, so you can max both.
How much can I contribute at 50 or older?
$8,600 to an IRA ($7,500 plus the $1,100 catch-up), $32,500 to a 401(k) ($24,500 plus the $8,000 catch-up), and $21,000 to a SIMPLE IRA ($17,000 plus the $4,000 catch-up). Tick the 50+ box and the calculator adds the $1,100 IRA catch-up: $7,500 a year becomes $8,600, worth $812,362.76 over 30 years at 7% instead of $708,455.90. At ages 60 to 63 the 401(k) super catch-up of $11,250 replaces the regular $8,000 catch-up, for a $35,750 total — it does not stack on top of it.
What is the extra $500 a year vs 2025 worth at retirement?
$47,230.39 over 30 years at 7%. The IRA limit rose from $7,000 to $7,500, so the extra $500 a year is worth $500 × the growth factor 94.460786 = $47,230.39. It takes 31 years for the extra $500 a year to reach $50,000 at retirement — at 31 years it is worth $51,036.52, and at 30 years it is worth $47,230.39.
What annual contribution grows to exactly $1,000,000?
$10,586.4035 exactly; displayed $10,586.40. At the displayed $10,586.40 a year for 30 years at 7% the future value is $999,999.67, and $1 less, $10,585.40, gives $999,905.21. The displayed forward does not land exactly on $1,000,000.00, which is correct under the continuous convention — the exact contribution is $10,586.4035 and the displayed cents are rounded from it. For $800,000 the exact contribution is $8,469.1228; displayed $8,469.12 gives $799,999.73.
What return grows $7,500 a year to $750,000 — and what return with the 50+ $8,600?
7.3157% exactly for the $750,000 case; 5.2836% exactly for $600,000 at $8,600 a year. At the displayed 7.32% the future value is $750,582.37 (7.31% gives $749,224.55; 7.33% gives $751,942.92). With the 50+ contribution of $8,600, the displayed 5.28% gives $599,622.91 (5.27% gives $598,586.81; 5.29% gives $600,661.07).
What are the 2026 Roth IRA income phase-outs?
Single / head of household $153,000–$168,000; married filing jointly $242,000–$252,000. Above the top of the range you cannot contribute directly to a Roth IRA. The traditional IRA deduction phases out at $81,000–$91,000 for a single filer covered by a workplace plan and $129,000–$149,000 for married filing jointly. The Saver’s Credit thresholds are single $40,250, head of household $60,375, and married $80,500.
Can I max out both an IRA and a 401(k)?
Yes — the 401(k) limit is separate from the IRA limit, so you can put $24,500 into a 401(k) and $7,500 into an IRA in the same year. What you cannot do is put $7,500 into a traditional IRA and another $7,500 into a Roth IRA: the IRA limit is shared across all your IRAs, traditional plus Roth combined. A $24,500 401(k) contribution grows to $2,314,289.26 over 30 years at 7%, and the $7,500 IRA on top grows to $708,455.90.
What happens at the edges — 0 years, a $0 contribution, or a 0% return?
With 0 years the future value is $0.00 and with a $0 contribution it is $0.00; at a 0% return it is $225,000.00 (30 × $7,500, with no growth). All three are model-level outcomes, not errors. At 40 years the future value is $1,497,263.34, and a 401(k) contribution of $24,500 grows to $2,314,289.26. The 50+ catch-up alone, $1,100 a year for 30 years at 7%, is worth $103,906.86. A contribution above $24,500, an age below 18 or above 100, years below 1 or above 50, and a return above 20% are validation errors, not results.