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Coast FIRE Calculator
Find the exact amount you need invested today so compound growth alone carries you to retirement — no more contributions required.
New to Coast FIRE? Read the full explanation first →
What Is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is the point where you've invested enough that — without adding another dollar — compound growth alone will carry your portfolio to a full retirement number by your target age. You don't stop working. You stop needing to save for retirement. Your paycheck only has to cover today's expenses; your existing investments handle the rest on their own.
The Formula
Coast FIRE Number = (Annual Retirement Expenses × 25) ÷ (1 + Expected Annual Return)Years Until Retirement
The 25x comes from the standard 4% safe withdrawal rule — the amount most retirement planning assumes you can withdraw annually without running out of money. The division discounts that future number back to what you'd need invested right now, given how many years compound growth has left to work.
💡 Why age matters more than amount: A 25-year-old with $67,000 invested can stop contributing entirely and still reach $1 million by 65. The exact same $67,000 invested at 45 has only 20 years to compound instead of 40 — nowhere near enough time to reach the same number. This is the same lesson at every income level: time in the market matters more than how much you start with.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is the point where you've invested enough that, without contributing another dollar, compound growth alone will carry your portfolio to a full retirement number by your target age. You still work to cover today's expenses — you just no longer need to save for retirement.
How is the Coast FIRE number calculated?
Coast FIRE Number = (Annual Retirement Expenses × 25) ÷ (1 + Expected Annual Return)^(Years Until Retirement). The 25x figure comes from the 4% safe withdrawal rule; the division discounts that future number back to what you'd need invested today.
Does Coast FIRE mean I can stop working?
No. Coast FIRE means you can stop saving for retirement, not stop working entirely. You still need income to cover your current living expenses — Coast FIRE just removes the pressure to keep adding to your retirement accounts.
What if I haven't reached my Coast FIRE number yet?
That's normal — most people haven't. The calculator shows your target number; continuing to contribute monthly rather than stopping will get you there faster. Reaching it isn't required to retire eventually — it just means you could stop contributing without derailing your retirement timeline.