★ COMPARISONS · ROTH 401(K) VS TRADITIONAL 401(K) · X VS Y #263
Traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.79. With $10,000.00 a year for 30 years at a 7.00% return, a current rate of 22.00%, a retirement rate of 12.00% and a $3,000.00 employer match, the traditional 401(k) is worth $1,080,631.40 after tax and the Roth 401(k) $986,170.61 — a $94,460.79 gap — while the Roth pays $2,200.00 tax now and the traditional 401(k) pays $147,358.83 at withdrawal on $390,000.00 of contributions. Comparison #263 in the Bright Side Kit comparisons library.
Put the same pre-tax dollars in a traditional 401(k) or a Roth 401(k) — which leaves more after tax at retirement? The calculator works out both after-tax values, the tax paid now versus later, the employer match, and which plan wins — and by how much. Comparison #263 in the comparisons library.
On the defaults — $10,000.00 a year for 30 years at a 7.00% return, a current rate of 22.00%, a retirement rate of 12.00% and a $3,000.00 employer match — the traditional 401(k) is worth $1,080,631.40 after tax, the Roth 401(k) is worth $986,170.61 after tax, and the traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.79. The Roth pays $2,200.00 tax now while the traditional 401(k) pays $147,358.83 at withdrawal, on $390,000.00 of contributions in total.
The whole comparison is the two tax rates. The traditional 401(k) takes the tax off at the end: you put in pre-tax dollars, they grow, and you pay your retirement rate on the whole pot. The Roth 401(k) takes the tax off at the start: you pay your current rate on your own contribution, and the rest grows tax-free. When the two rates are equal, the tax is the same dollars, just paid at different times — the accounts TIE exactly. At a 22.00% retirement rate both are worth $957,832.37; at 12.00% now and 12.00% in retirement both are worth $1,080,631.40. A lower retirement rate favours the traditional 401(k) — at 12.00% it wins by $94,460.79 — and a higher one favours the Roth 401(k) — at a 24.00% retirement rate the Roth wins by $18,892.16.
The employer match does NOT change the winner — it is taxed the same way in both accounts, so it only lifts both totals. With no match at all the traditional 401(k) still wins by $94,460.79 ($831,254.92 against $736,794.13), and with a $6,000.00 match it still wins by $94,460.78 ($1,330,007.87 against $1,235,547.09) — the same gap, on bigger totals. The match is pre-tax in both accounts: it grows, then pays the 12.00% retirement rate on withdrawal, whichever plan holds it.
The tax timing is what the two tax figures show. The Roth pays $2,200.00 now — 22.00% of one year’s $10,000.00 contribution — and nothing at withdrawal on its own money. The traditional 401(k) pays nothing now and $147,358.83 at withdrawal — 12.00% of the grown $1,227,990.22 pot. Paying later looks worse in dollars ($147,358.83 against $2,200.00), but the traditional 401(k) keeps the full $10,000.00 growing for 30 years instead of $7,800.00, and that extra growth is worth more than the extra tax.
Setup: $10,000.00 a year, 30 years, 7.00% return, current rate 22.00%, retirement rate 12.00%, employer match $3,000.00 a year.
Line 1 — the growth factor. F = ((1.07^30) − 1) ÷ 0.07 = 94.460786. One dollar a year grows to $94.460786 over 30 years at 7.00% — and $13,000.00 a year ($10,000.00 of your money plus $3,000.00 of match) grows to $13,000.00 × 94.460786 = $1,227,990.22 before tax.
Line 2 — the traditional 401(k) after-tax value. Traditional = ($10,000.00 + $3,000.00) × 94.460786 × (1 − 0.12) = $1,227,990.22 × 0.88 = $1,080,631.40. The 12.00% retirement tax takes $147,358.83 off the grown pot.
Line 3 — the Roth 401(k) after-tax value. Roth = $10,000.00 × (1 − 0.22) × 94.460786 + $3,000.00 × 94.460786 × (1 − 0.12) = $7,800.00 × 94.460786 + $249,376.48 = $736,794.13 + $249,376.48 = $986,170.61. The 22.00% current tax takes $2,200.00 off the contribution before it grows, the match grows pre-tax and pays 12.00% at withdrawal, and nothing else is due.
Line 4 — the gap and the taxes. Difference = $986,170.61 − $1,080,631.40 = -$94,460.79 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.79. Tax paid now (Roth) = $10,000.00 × 0.22 = $2,200.00. Tax paid at withdrawal (401(k)) = $1,227,990.22 × 0.12 = $147,358.83. Total contributions = ($10,000.00 + $3,000.00) × 30 = $390,000.00. The default result in full: Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $986,170.61, difference -$94,460.79 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.79; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00.
Line 5 — the rounding convention. Rounding convention: every gap on this page is the difference of the displayed values: each side is rounded to cents first, then subtracted. On these defaults the unrounded gap and the displayed gap agree at -$94,460.79, but on other inputs they can differ by a cent, and the page always shows the displayed figure. The match-$6,000 branch is the proof: its displayed gap is -$94,460.78 while the unrounded gap is -$94,460.79 — one cent of displayed rounding, not an error.
Retirement rate 22%: Traditional 401(k) $957,832.37, Roth 401(k) $957,832.37, difference $0.00 — TIE; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $270,157.85, total contributions $390,000.00. When the retirement rate equals the current rate of 22.00%, the tax is the same dollars paid at different times — the two accounts are worth exactly the same.
Retirement rate 24%: Traditional 401(k) $933,272.57, Roth 401(k) $952,164.73, difference $18,892.16 — Roth 401(k) wins by $18,892.16; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $294,717.65, total contributions $390,000.00. Two points above the current rate is enough to flip the winner — the traditional 401(k)’s withdrawal tax climbs to $294,717.65 and the Roth’s pay-now-and-never-again wins.
Current rate 12%, retirement rate 12%: Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,080,631.40, difference $0.00 — TIE; tax now $1,200.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. Equal rates tie at any level — here the tie is worth $1,080,631.40, because the low 12.00% rate leaves more of the pot in both accounts.
Contribution $24,500: Traditional 401(k) $2,285,951.03, Roth 401(k) $2,054,522.10, difference -$231,428.93 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $231,428.93; tax now $5,390.00, tax at withdrawal $311,720.59, total contributions $825,000.00. A bigger contribution scales the gap up in proportion — the traditional 401(k)’s lead grows from $94,460.79 to $231,428.93 — and $24,500 is the 2026 employee limit, the same for both accounts, so the comparison stays valid all the way up to it.
Years 20: Traditional 401(k) $468,988.43, Roth 401(k) $427,992.94, difference -$40,995.49 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $40,995.49; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $63,952.97, total contributions $260,000.00. Ten fewer years of growth shrinks the gap from $94,460.79 to $40,995.49 — the traditional 401(k)’s advantage is the extra growth on the untaxed dollars, and that advantage needs time to build.
Return 5%: Traditional 401(k) $760,060.42, Roth 401(k) $693,621.57, difference -$66,438.85 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $66,438.85; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $103,644.60, total contributions $390,000.00. A lower return shrinks both pots — the growth factor falls from 94.460786 to 66.438848 — and with less growth the traditional 401(k)’s lead narrows from $94,460.79 to $66,438.85.
Match $0: Traditional 401(k) $831,254.92, Roth 401(k) $736,794.13, difference -$94,460.79 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.79; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $113,352.94, total contributions $300,000.00. With no match at all the gap is exactly the same $94,460.79 as the default — the match only lifts both totals, it never changes the winner.
Match $6,000: Traditional 401(k) $1,330,007.87, Roth 401(k) $1,235,547.09, difference -$94,460.78 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.78; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $181,364.71, total contributions $480,000.00. Doubling the match lifts both totals by about $249,000.00 and leaves the gap where it was — the displayed gap reads $94,460.78 instead of $94,460.79, one cent of displayed rounding (the unrounded gap is still -$94,460.79), not an error.
Retirement rate for a TIE: exact 22.0000%; displayed 22.00% → Traditional 401(k) $957,832.37, Roth 401(k) $957,832.37, difference $0.00 — TIE; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $270,157.85, total contributions $390,000.00. At 21%: Traditional 401(k) $970,112.28, Roth 401(k) $960,666.20, difference -$9,446.08 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $9,446.08; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $257,877.95, total contributions $390,000.00. At 23%: Traditional 401(k) $945,552.47, Roth 401(k) $954,998.55, difference $9,446.08 — Roth 401(k) wins by $9,446.08; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $282,437.75, total contributions $390,000.00. The star is a PERCENT. This reverse is CONTINUOUS — the tie rate is exactly the current rate, because the two accounts tie whenever the rates are equal.
Current rate for a TIE at a 12% retirement rate: exact 12.0000%; displayed 12.00% → Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,080,631.40, difference $0.00 — TIE; tax now $1,200.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. At 11%: Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,090,077.47, difference $9,446.07 — Roth 401(k) wins by $9,446.07; tax now $1,100.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. At 13%: Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,071,185.32, difference -$9,446.08 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $9,446.08; tax now $1,300.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. The star is a PERCENT. This reverse is CONTINUOUS — the tie rate is exactly the retirement rate, the same equal-rates rule from the other side. The one-cent asymmetry — $9,446.07 at 11% against $9,446.08 at 13% — is a displayed-rounding artifact, not an error: the unrounded gaps are mirror images, and rounding each side to cents first moves one of them by a cent.
Years for the traditional 401(k) lead to reach at least $50,000: exact 23 years; displayed 23 years → Traditional 401(k) $611,309.45, Roth 401(k) $557,873.31, difference -$53,436.14 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $53,436.14; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $83,360.38, total contributions $299,000.00. At 22 years: Traditional 401(k) $560,625.66, Roth 401(k) $511,619.92, difference -$49,005.74 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $49,005.74; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $76,448.95, total contributions $286,000.00. At 24 years: Traditional 401(k) $665,541.11, Roth 401(k) $607,364.44, difference -$58,176.67 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $58,176.67; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $90,755.61, total contributions $312,000.00. 23 years is the smallest term that reaches a $50,000 lead — 22 years only reaches $49,005.74. The star is YEARS. This reverse is a STEP.
Contribution for a traditional 401(k) lead of exactly $100,000: exact $10586.4035; displayed $10,586.40 → Traditional 401(k) $1,129,376.18, Roth 401(k) $1,029,376.22, difference -$99,999.96 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $99,999.96; tax now $2,329.01, tax at withdrawal $154,005.84, total contributions $407,592.00. At $10,585.40: Traditional 401(k) $1,129,293.06, Roth 401(k) $1,029,302.54, difference -$99,990.52 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $99,990.52; tax now $2,328.79, tax at withdrawal $153,994.51, total contributions $407,562.00. At $10,587.40: Traditional 401(k) $1,129,459.31, Roth 401(k) $1,029,449.90, difference -$100,009.41 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $100,009.41; tax now $2,329.23, tax at withdrawal $154,017.18, total contributions $407,622.00. The star is DOLLARS. This reverse is CONTINUOUS — and note the displayed forward does NOT land exactly on $100,000.00: the displayed lead is $99,999.96, while rounding the unrounded lead gives $99,999.97. That is correct under the displayed-diff convention — the page always subtracts the displayed sides ($1,129,376.18 and $1,029,376.22), never the unrounded ones.
Annual return for a traditional 401(k) lead of exactly $75,000: exact 5.6996%; displayed 5.70% → Traditional 401(k) $858,066.20, Roth 401(k) $783,060.41, difference -$75,005.79 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $75,005.79; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $117,009.03, total contributions $390,000.00. At 5.69%: Traditional 401(k) $856,568.05, Roth 401(k) $781,693.22, difference -$74,874.83 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $74,874.83; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $116,804.73, total contributions $390,000.00. At 5.71%: Traditional 401(k) $859,567.33, Roth 401(k) $784,430.33, difference -$75,137.00 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $75,137.00; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $117,213.73, total contributions $390,000.00. The star is a PERCENT. This reverse is CONTINUOUS.
Current rate for the Roth 401(k) to win by exactly $25,000: exact 9.3534%; displayed 9.35% → Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,105,663.50, difference $25,032.10 — Roth 401(k) wins by $25,032.10; tax now $935.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. At 9.34%: Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,105,757.96, difference $25,126.56 — Roth 401(k) wins by $25,126.56; tax now $934.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. At 9.36%: Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,105,569.04, difference $24,937.64 — Roth 401(k) wins by $24,937.64; tax now $936.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. The star is a PERCENT. This reverse is CONTINUOUS — and the displayed forwards are each one cent below the rounded unrounded gaps ($25,032.11, $25,126.57 and $24,937.65), because every gap on this page is the difference of the displayed values. That one-cent difference is the convention working as stated, not an error.
The whole comparison is the two tax rates — when they are equal the accounts TIE exactly (the tax is the same dollars, just paid at different times); a lower retirement rate favours the traditional 401(k), a higher one favours the Roth 401(k). The employer match does NOT change the winner — it is taxed the same way in both accounts, so it only lifts both totals (the match-$0 and match-$6,000 branches prove it: the gap is $94,460.79 with no match and $94,460.78 with a $6,000.00 match). The 2026 employee contribution limit is $24,500, the same for both accounts, so the comparison stays valid up to that limit. Required minimum distributions apply to the traditional 401(k), not to the Roth 401(k). Returns are assumed constant — real returns vary. With a 0.00% return (Traditional 401(k) $343,200.00, Roth 401(k) $313,200.00, difference -$30,000.00 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $30,000.00; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $46,800.00, total contributions $390,000.00) there is no growth, so the comparison is just the tax rates — a model-level outcome, not an error. With 1 year (Traditional 401(k) $11,440.00, Roth 401(k) $10,440.00, difference -$1,000.00 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $1,000.00; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $1,560.00, total contributions $13,000.00) a single year of growth barely moves the gap. With a $0.00 contribution (Traditional 401(k) $249,376.48, Roth 401(k) $249,376.48, difference $0.00 — TIE; tax now $0.00, tax at withdrawal $34,005.88, total contributions $90,000.00) only the match is in play, taxed the same both ways, so the two sides tie exactly. With a 0.00% retirement rate (Traditional 401(k) $1,227,990.22, Roth 401(k) $1,020,176.49, difference -$207,813.73 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $207,813.73; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $0.00, total contributions $390,000.00) the traditional 401(k) keeps the whole grown pot. With a 0.00% current rate and a 12.00% retirement rate (Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,193,984.34, difference $113,352.94 — Roth 401(k) wins by $113,352.94; tax now $0.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00) the Roth pays no tax at either end and wins by exactly the traditional 401(k)’s withdrawal tax. With a 37.00% current rate (Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $844,479.43, difference -$236,151.97 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $236,151.97; tax now $3,700.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00) the Roth pays $3,700.00 a year up front and the traditional 401(k) wins by its widest margin on this page. Rounding convention: every gap on this page is the difference of the displayed values: each side is rounded to cents first, then subtracted.
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Growth factor | ((1+r)^N − 1) ÷ r | 94.460786 over 30 years at 7.00%. |
| Traditional 401(k) after-tax value | (C + match) × F × (1 − t_ret) | $1,080,631.40 after tax at retirement. |
| Roth 401(k) after-tax value | C × (1 − t_now) × F + match × F × (1 − t_ret) | $986,170.61 after tax at retirement. |
| Difference | Roth − Traditional 401(k) on displayed values | -$94,460.79. |
| Winner | higher value wins | Traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.79. |
| Tax paid now (Roth) | C × t_now | $2,200.00 paid this year. |
| Tax paid at withdrawal (401(k)) | (C + match) × F × t_ret | $147,358.83 paid at retirement. |
| Total contributions | (C + match) × N | $390,000.00 over 30 years. |
| Retirement rate for a TIE | exact 22.0000% | 22.00% → 22.00%. |
| At 21% (one step below) | difference at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $970,112.28, Roth 401(k) $960,666.20, difference -$9,446.08 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $9,446.08; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $257,877.95, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| At 23% (one step above) | difference at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $945,552.47, Roth 401(k) $954,998.55, difference $9,446.08 — Roth 401(k) wins by $9,446.08; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $282,437.75, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| Current rate for a TIE | exact 12.0000% | 12.00% → 12.00%. |
| At 11% (one step below) | difference at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,090,077.47, difference $9,446.07 — Roth 401(k) wins by $9,446.07; tax now $1,100.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| At 13% (one step above) | difference at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,071,185.32, difference -$9,446.08 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $9,446.08; tax now $1,300.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| Years for a traditional 401(k) lead of at least $50,000 | exact 23.0000 years | 23 years → 23 years. |
| At 22 years (one step below) | lead at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $560,625.66, Roth 401(k) $511,619.92, difference -$49,005.74 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $49,005.74; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $76,448.95, total contributions $286,000.00. |
| At 24 years (one step above) | lead at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $665,541.11, Roth 401(k) $607,364.44, difference -$58,176.67 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $58,176.67; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $90,755.61, total contributions $312,000.00. |
| Contribution for a traditional 401(k) lead of exactly $100,000 | exact $10586.4035 | $10,586.40 → $10,586.40. |
| At $10,585.40 (one step below) | lead at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $1,129,293.06, Roth 401(k) $1,029,302.54, difference -$99,990.52 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $99,990.52; tax now $2,328.79, tax at withdrawal $153,994.51, total contributions $407,562.00. |
| At $10,587.40 (one step above) | lead at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $1,129,459.31, Roth 401(k) $1,029,449.90, difference -$100,009.41 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $100,009.41; tax now $2,329.23, tax at withdrawal $154,017.18, total contributions $407,622.00. |
| Annual return for a traditional 401(k) lead of exactly $75,000 | exact 5.6996% | 5.70% → 5.70%. |
| At 5.69% (one step below) | lead at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $856,568.05, Roth 401(k) $781,693.22, difference -$74,874.83 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $74,874.83; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $116,804.73, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| At 5.71% (one step above) | lead at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $859,567.33, Roth 401(k) $784,430.33, difference -$75,137.00 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $75,137.00; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $117,213.73, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| Current rate for a Roth 401(k) win of exactly $25,000 | exact 9.3534% | 9.35% → 9.35%. |
| At 9.34% (one step below) | Roth win at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,105,757.96, difference $25,126.56 — Roth 401(k) wins by $25,126.56; tax now $934.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| At 9.36% (one step above) | Roth win at the displayed value | Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,105,569.04, difference $24,937.64 — Roth 401(k) wins by $24,937.64; tax now $936.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| Retirement rate 22% | same model | Traditional 401(k) $957,832.37, Roth 401(k) $957,832.37, difference $0.00 — TIE; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $270,157.85, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| Retirement rate 24% | same model | Traditional 401(k) $933,272.57, Roth 401(k) $952,164.73, difference $18,892.16 — Roth 401(k) wins by $18,892.16; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $294,717.65, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| Current rate 12%, retirement rate 12% | same model | Traditional 401(k) $1,080,631.40, Roth 401(k) $1,080,631.40, difference $0.00 — TIE; tax now $1,200.00, tax at withdrawal $147,358.83, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| Contribution $24,500 | same model | Traditional 401(k) $2,285,951.03, Roth 401(k) $2,054,522.10, difference -$231,428.93 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $231,428.93; tax now $5,390.00, tax at withdrawal $311,720.59, total contributions $825,000.00. |
| Years 20 | same model | Traditional 401(k) $468,988.43, Roth 401(k) $427,992.94, difference -$40,995.49 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $40,995.49; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $63,952.97, total contributions $260,000.00. |
| Return 5% | same model | Traditional 401(k) $760,060.42, Roth 401(k) $693,621.57, difference -$66,438.85 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $66,438.85; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $103,644.60, total contributions $390,000.00. |
| Match $0 | same model | Traditional 401(k) $831,254.92, Roth 401(k) $736,794.13, difference -$94,460.79 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.79; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $113,352.94, total contributions $300,000.00. |
| Match $6,000 | same model | Traditional 401(k) $1,330,007.87, Roth 401(k) $1,235,547.09, difference -$94,460.78 — Traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.78; tax now $2,200.00, tax at withdrawal $181,364.71, total contributions $480,000.00. |
The math is first-principles: the growth factor is ((1+r)^N − 1) ÷ r, the traditional 401(k) after-tax value is (C + match) × F × (1 − t_ret), the Roth 401(k) after-tax value is C × (1 − t_now) × F + match × F × (1 − t_ret), the tax paid now is C × t_now, the tax paid at withdrawal is (C + match) × F × t_ret, and the total contributions are (C + match) × N. Every figure is rounded to cents half-up, and every gap is the difference of the displayed values — each side rounded to cents first, then subtracted. What the model cannot do is make the decision for you: the whole answer turns on the two tax rates — at equal rates the accounts TIE exactly, at a 12.00% retirement rate the traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.79, at a 24.00% retirement rate the Roth wins by $18,892.16. The employer match is pre-tax in both accounts and does not change the winner — with no match the gap is $94,460.79 and with a $6,000.00 match it is $94,460.78. The 2026 employee contribution limit is $24,500, the same for both accounts. Required minimum distributions apply to the traditional 401(k), not to the Roth 401(k). Returns are assumed constant — real returns vary — and state taxes are not modelled. Use this page to compare the two plans on the same dollars, then check your own rates, your employer match, and your plan’s rules before you choose.
Bright Side Kit. "Roth 401(k) vs Traditional 401(k): Which Wins in 2026?" https://brightoolbox.com/roth-401k-vs-traditional-401k/ Accessed October 26, 2026.Traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.79. On $10,000.00 a year for 30 years at a 7.00% return, a current rate of 22.00%, a retirement rate of 12.00% and a $3,000.00 employer match, the traditional 401(k) is worth $1,080,631.40 after tax and the Roth 401(k) $986,170.61, a difference of -$94,460.79. The Roth pays $2,200.00 tax now, the traditional 401(k) pays $147,358.83 at withdrawal, on $390,000.00 of contributions.
Because the retirement rate (12.00%) is lower than the current rate (22.00%). The traditional 401(k) keeps the full $10,000.00 growing for 30 years and pays 12.00% on the grown $1,227,990.22 pot — $147,358.83. The Roth pays 22.00% up front, so only $7,800.00 a year grows, and that smaller base ends at $736,794.13 before the match is added. The extra growth on the untaxed dollars is worth more than the extra tax at the end.
Whenever the two tax rates are equal. At a 22.00% retirement rate both are worth $957,832.37, and at 12.00% now and 12.00% in retirement both are worth $1,080,631.40. The tax is the same dollars, just paid at different times — the traditional 401(k) pays at withdrawal, the Roth pays now.
Anything above 22.00%. The tie rate is exactly the current rate of 22.00%. At a 23.00% retirement rate the Roth wins by $9,446.08, and at a 24.00% retirement rate it wins by $18,892.16. Below 22.00% the traditional 401(k) wins — at 21.00% it wins by $9,446.08.
No. The match is pre-tax in both accounts, so it is taxed the same way at withdrawal and only lifts both totals. With no match the traditional 401(k) wins by $94,460.79 ($831,254.92 against $736,794.13), and with a $6,000.00 match it wins by $94,460.78 ($1,330,007.87 against $1,235,547.09) — the one-cent difference between the two gaps is displayed rounding, not a change in the winner. Take the full match either way; the choice still comes down to the two tax rates.
23 years. At 23 years the traditional 401(k) lead is $53,436.14; at 22 years it is only $49,005.74. 23 years is the smallest term that reaches a $50,000 lead — a step reverse, not a continuous one.
$10,586.40 a year (exact $10586.4035). At $10,586.40 the displayed lead is $99,999.96; at $1 less, $10,585.40, it is $99,990.52; at $1 more, $10,587.40, it is $100,009.41. The displayed forward does not land exactly on $100,000.00, which is correct under the continuous convention — the page subtracts the displayed sides ($1,129,376.18 and $1,029,376.22), and rounding the unrounded lead instead would give $99,999.97.
9.35% (exact 9.3534%). At a 9.35% current rate the Roth 401(k) wins by $25,032.10; at 9.34% it wins by $25,126.56, and at 9.36% it wins by $24,937.64. Each displayed forward is one cent below the rounded unrounded gap, because every gap on this page is the difference of the displayed values.