FIRE Calculator – Plan Your Early Retirement Timeline

Your FIRE number is the total amount of savings you need to achieve financial independence. It is calculated by dividing your annual expenses by your safe withdrawal rate (typically 4%). For example, if you spend $40,000 per year, your FIRE number is $1,000,000 ($40,000 ÷ 0.04).

Lean FIRE means retiring with minimal expenses (about 60% of your current spending), Regular FIRE keeps your current lifestyle, and Fat FIRE means retiring with a larger budget (150% of current spending) for more travel, dining, and luxuries.

The 4% rule comes from the Trinity Study and suggests that withdrawing 4% of your portfolio annually, adjusted for inflation, has a high probability of lasting 30 years. For early retirees with longer horizons (40+ years), many experts recommend a more conservative 3.5% or even 3% withdrawal rate.

Our calculator uses standard financial formulas with annual compounding. It assumes a constant annual return rate and constant savings contributions. Real-world returns vary year to year, so use this as a planning tool — not a guarantee. We recommend running multiple scenarios with different return assumptions.