Pension Pot Calculator
Project your pension pot at retirement based on your current pot, salary, contribution rates and investment growth. See the real inflation-adjusted value and estimated annual income using the 4% rule.
Last updated: April 2026
How to project your pension pot
This calculator models compound growth on your existing pension pot plus regular contributions over the years remaining until your target retirement age. The growth rate is applied monthly, and contributions are added monthly based on your salary and contribution percentages. The result is a nominal (pre-inflation) figure - the real value in today's money is also shown, adjusted for the stated inflation rate over the period.
How much do you need in retirement?
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association publishes Retirement Living Standards for the UK: a minimum standard (basic needs met, some social activity) requires around £14,400 per year for a single person; a moderate standard (more financial security, some holidays) requires £31,300; and a comfortable standard (more financial freedom, regular trips) requires £43,100. These figures are for a single person - couples need roughly 50–60% more for a joint comfortable lifestyle. The State Pension (£11,502 in 2026/27 for the full new State Pension) covers part of these requirements, with the private pension pot covering the rest.
The 4% rule
The 4% rule is a widely-used rule of thumb for sustainable pension drawdown - withdrawing 4% of your pot in year one and adjusting for inflation each year is estimated to provide income for 30 years with a high probability of not running out of money (based on historical market returns). It is a guideline, not a guarantee, and assumes a balanced investment portfolio. A larger pot or lower withdrawal rate provides more security; a higher withdrawal rate or shorter remaining life expectancy may be sustainable but carries more risk.
Auto-enrolment minimum contributions
Under auto-enrolment, the minimum total contribution is 8% of qualifying earnings (between £6,240 and £50,270), split as at least 3% from the employer and 5% from the employee (including tax relief). Many employers offer higher matching rates - for example, matching up to 5% or 6% of salary. Always contribute at least enough to receive the full employer match - it is effectively an immediate 100% return on your contribution.