Calculate how much to contribute per paycheck to max your 401k. IRS limit $24,500 ($35,750 ages 60–63 with SECURE 2.0 super catch-up) | Calculator4U
Calculate contributions to max out your 401k.
A 401(k) max contribution calculator tells you the exact dollar amount to contribute each paycheck so you hit the 2026 IRS limit — no more guessing at percentages or missing the deadline in December. Maxing out your 401(k) remains one of the most effective long-term wealth-building strategies available. It lowers your taxable income today while allowing your investments to grow tax-advantaged for decades.
For 2026, the IRS increased the employee elective deferral limit by $1,000 to $24,500 (per IRS Notice 2025-67, November 2025). Workers age 50–59 and 64+ can contribute an additional $8,000 catch-up for a $32,500 total. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, workers ages 60–63 now qualify for an enhanced "super catch-up" of $11,250 — bringing their maximum personal 401(k) limit to $35,750, the highest available at any age. This calculator shows the exact per-paycheck contribution needed based on your pay frequency, current year-to-date contributions, employer matching, and estimated tax savings.
| Category / Age Group | Base Limit | Catch-Up Limit | Total Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | $24,500 | — | $24,500 |
| Age 50–59 and 64+ | $24,500 | $8,000 | $32,500 |
| Ages 60–63 (SECURE 2.0 Super Catch-Up) | $24,500 | $11,250 | $35,750 |
| Combined Employer + Employee Limit (Section 415(c)) | $72,000 | — | $72,000* |
| Combined Limit with Age 50+ Catch-Up | $72,000 | $8,000 | $80,000* |
| Combined Limit with Super Catch-Up (60–63) | $72,000 | $11,250 | $83,250* |
Source: IRS Notice 2025-67. *Or 100% of compensation, whichever is less. Employer match and profit-sharing count toward these combined caps.
The table below breaks down the baseline scheduling amounts required to reach your statutory limit across a full calendar year:
| Pay Frequency (Periods) | Under 50 ($24,500) | Age 50+ ($32,500) | Ages 60–63 ($35,750) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly (52) | $471.15 | $625.00 | $687.50 |
| Bi-weekly (26) | $942.31 | $1,250.00 | $1,375.00 |
| Semi-monthly (24) | $1,020.83 | $1,354.17 | $1,489.58 |
| Monthly (12) | $2,041.67 | $2,708.33 | $2,979.17 |
Example Calculation: Maxing out your 401(k) in the 22% federal tax bracket on the base $24,500 generates $5,390 in immediate federal tax savings ($24,500 $\times$ 22%). Your take-home pay only drops by $19,110 — but you invest the full $24,500. If you are in the 24% bracket, that savings climbs to $5,880. Add an employer match of 5% on a $100,000 salary, and you secure an additional $5,000 in free money.
Starting January 1, 2026, a major mandatory modification under Section 603 of the SECURE 2.0 Act takes full effect following confirmation in the September 2025 IRS final regulations. Employees age 50 or older who earned more than $150,000 in FICA wages in 2025 from their plan sponsor must designate all 2026 catch-up contributions as Roth (after-tax):
This provision is one of the most significant changes to retirement planning in years, and many basic financial tools still fail to account for it.
| Year | Base Limit | Standard Catch-Up | Combined Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $19,500 | $6,500 | $57,000 |
| 2021 | $19,500 | $6,500 | $58,000 |
| 2022 | $20,500 | $6,500 | $61,000 |
| 2023 | $22,500 | $7,500 | $66,000 |
| 2024 | $23,000 | $7,500 | $69,000 |
| 2025 | $23,500 | $7,500 | $70,000 |
| 2026 | $24,500 | $8,000 / $11,250* | $72,000 |
*The enhanced super catch-up contribution applies exclusively to ages 60–63 under SECURE 2.0.
❌ Using outdated contribution limits: Many platforms forget to refresh their criteria, displaying older 2025 benchmarks ($23,500 base). Ensure you plan using the official IRS Notice 2025-67 changes.
❌ Missing the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up: Eligible workers aged 60–63 miss out on thousands in extra tax-advantaged positioning because standard calculators ignore the enhanced $11,250 catch-up option.
❌ Forgetting employer contributions count toward the combined limit: While individual elective deferrals follow the $24,500 baseline, your total workplace allocation structure — including matching and profit-sharing — must remain within the broader $72,000 cap.
❌ Front-loading without checking employer true-up policies: Maxing out your account early in the year can be a major mistake. If your employer matches on a per-paycheck basis and lacks a "true-up" payroll policy, stopping your contributions early means you walk away from valuable employer matching dollars.
Sources & Methodology: Contribution limits, structural parameters, and tax criteria are mapped straight from IRS Notice 2025-67, SECURE 2.0 Act statutory updates, and Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Sections 402(g), 414(v), and 415(c). Mandatory Roth catch-up criteria apply for employees exceeding $150,000 in 2025 FICA wages from their current plan sponsor. This tool functions entirely for informational and educational purposes; calculations are estimates and do not represent personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult an accredited CPA or financial advisor prior to adjusting major payroll withholdings. Maintained and updated through 2026.
Base limit: $24,500 (up $1,000 from $23,500 in 2025). Age 50–59 & 64+: +$8,000 catch-up = $32,500 total. Ages 60–63 SECURE 2.0 super catch-up: +$11,250 = $35,750 total. Combined employer+employee: $72,000 / $80,000 / $83,250 respectively. Source: IRS Notice 2025-67.
Priority order: (1) Get full employer match first — instant 50–100% return; (2) Pay off debt >7–8% APR; (3) Build 3–6 month emergency fund; (4) Max 401k. At 22% bracket: $24,500 contribution = $5,390 federal tax savings. Net cost to take-home pay: only $19,110. Then Roth IRA up to $7,000 for tax diversification.
Benchmarks: Age 30: 1× salary. Age 40: 3×. Age 50: 6×. Age 60: 8×. Age 65: 10×. Contribute 15–20% of gross income including employer match. SECURE 2.0 super catch-up ($35,750 at ages 60–63) is the single most powerful tool to close a late-stage savings gap.
Starting Jan 1 2026: employees age 50+ who earned >$150,000 in FICA wages in 2025 must make ALL catch-up contributions as Roth (after-tax). Mandatory under SECURE 2.0 Section 603. If your plan has no Roth option, high earners may lose catch-up eligibility entirely — contact HR now. Earners ≤$150,000 continue pre-tax catch-ups as before. IRAs not affected.
SECURE 2.0 "super catch-up": $11,250 for ages 60, 61, 62, 63 in 2026 (vs standard $8,000 for ages 50–59 and 64+). Total max for ages 60–63: $35,750. Optional for employers to offer — confirm with HR. Age 64+: reverts to $8,000 standard catch-up. Applies equally to traditional and Roth 401k.
Front-load: more time in market, potentially higher returns. Risk: missing per-paycheck employer match if no true-up policy. Even distribution ($942.31/paycheck bi-weekly): ensures full per-paycheck match capture. Rule: check if employer offers year-end true-up. If yes → front-load safely. If no → even distribution protects up to $5,000/year in matching at a $100k salary.
You miss it if: (1) you contribute less than the match threshold (e.g. 3% when employer matches 5%), or (2) you max out early and employer has no true-up policy. At $100k salary + 5% match: missing the full match = $5,000/year lost = $200,000+ over 20 years at 7% growth. Ask HR specifically: "Does our plan offer a year-end true-up?" If no — use even distribution.