FIRE Calculator

How to Use This FIRE Calculator

Calculate when you can achieve Financial Independence and Retire Early. Based on the 4% rule, this calculator shows your FIRE number, projected timeline, and how changes in savings rate affect your retirement date.

1. Enter your values in the input fields provided.
2. The tool calculates results automatically as you type.
3. View detailed results and breakdowns below the calculator.
4. Copy or download results as needed.
5. All data stays in your browser — nothing is uploaded to any server.

What is FIRE?

FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. The core concept is simple: save and invest aggressively until your investment portfolio generates enough passive income to cover your living expenses indefinitely. When your investments can sustain your lifestyle through returns alone, you have reached financial independence.

The 4% Rule

The 4% rule, based on the Trinity Study, states that you can safely withdraw 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjust for inflation each year, with a very low probability of running out of money over a 30-year period. Your FIRE number is therefore 25 times your annual expenses.

Savings Rate is Everything

Your savings rate — the percentage of income you save — is the most important factor in reaching FIRE. At a 50% savings rate, you can retire in roughly 17 years regardless of income level. At 70%, it is about 8.5 years. At 30%, it takes about 28 years. Increasing savings rate matters more than increasing investment returns.

Types of FIRE

LeanFIRE targets minimal expenses ($20-40K/year). Regular FIRE targets average expenses ($40-80K/year). FatFIRE targets comfortable expenses ($80K+/year). BaristaFIRE means you are mostly financially independent but work part-time for health insurance or extra income. Coast FIRE means you have enough invested that compound growth alone will fund your retirement by a traditional retirement age.