Catch-Up Contribution Impact Calculator (Age 50+)
Example: Your current age: 55 · Target retirement age: 65 · Current annual 401(k) contribution: 23500 $ · Expected annual return: 7 %
| Additional retirement wealth from catch-up | $103,623 |
| Additional annual catch-up allowed | $7,500 |
| Portfolio at retirement with full catch-up | $428,310 |
| Portfolio at retirement — base limit only | $324,687 |
| Total extra dollars you contribute | $75,000 |
Worked example
A 55-year-old with 10 years to retirement contributing at the $23,500 base limit earns $327,195 in portfolio value. Adding the $7,500 catch-up ($31,000 total) grows the portfolio to $430,770 — an extra $103,575 in retirement wealth from catch-up contributions of $75,000. The market multiplies every catch-up dollar by roughly 1.4×.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 2025 401(k) catch-up limits?
For 2025, the base elective deferral limit is $23,500. Workers 50+ can contribute an additional $7,500. Under SECURE 2.0, workers ages 60–63 can contribute a higher super catch-up of $11,250 extra (for a total of $34,750). This tool applies the correct amount for your age.
Does catch-up apply to IRAs too?
Yes — the 2025 IRA catch-up for age 50+ is $1,000 on top of the $7,000 base ($8,000 total). Note the IRA catch-up is not inflation-indexed like the 401(k) catch-up, though future legislation may change this.
Can I contribute catch-up as Roth?
Starting in 2026, SECURE 2.0 requires high earners (wages over $145,000 from the prior year) to make catch-up contributions as Roth, not pre-tax. For 2025, catch-up can still be pre-tax or Roth depending on your plan's options.
What if I cannot afford the full catch-up?
Even partial catch-up use is valuable. If you can add an extra $200/month ($2,400/year), run the calculator with that amount. Any amount above the base limit captures compounding years you cannot get back.