MundoKit

2026 401(k) contribution limit calculator

Enter your year-end age, compensation and employee deferrals so far. See your remaining 2026 room and the amount needed from each remaining paycheck.

Inputs
$
Expected full-year compensation. Ordinary employee 401(k); not a self-employed income calculation.
$
Include pre-tax and Roth deferrals across plans sharing your personal limit. Exclude employer matching and non-Roth after-tax contributions.
$
$
Use wages from the sponsoring employer, not household income or MAGI.

Results

Employee deferral room remaining
$9,500.00
2026 employee ceiling (compensation limited)
$24,500.00
Age-based catch-up allowance
$0.00
Per remaining paycheck to reach ceiling
$1,900.00
Required share of remaining gross pay
47.5%
Annual ceiling as share of compensation
24.5%
415(c) total ceiling excluding catch-up
$72,000.00
Roth catch-up required by wage test
No
  • Plan terms, payroll deductions and nondiscrimination testing can reduce what you can contribute. The 415(c) result is a total ceiling, not additional employee deferral room.

Results update as you type. The share link stores your inputs after the # in the address, which is not sent to our server, but anyone you send it to can read them.

This is a general estimate for information only, not tax, legal or financial advice. Real rules have more conditions than a calculator can show, so check the official source below or a qualified professional for your situation.

How it works

IRS Notice 2025-67 sets the ordinary 2026 employee limit at $24,500. A plan that permits catch-up contributions allows another $8,000 at age 50 or older, replaced by $11,250 for ages 60–63. Use age at year end.

employee ceiling = min(compensation, $24,500 + applicable catch-up) remaining room = max(0, ceiling − employee deferrals so far) per paycheck = remaining room ÷ remaining paychecks

The remaining-pay percentage divides room by remaining gross pay. The annual percentage divides the ceiling by annual compensation. Dollar outputs round to cents and percentages to two decimal places; calculations retain full precision. Adjust the final paycheck for rounding.

The separate section 415(c) total ceiling is the lower of $72,000 or compensation, excluding catch-up. Employer contributions and non-Roth after-tax contributions use this total limit. They do not reduce the personal elective deferral limit.

Worked examples

Age 45 with five paychecks left

On $100,000 compensation, with $15,000 deferred, room is $24,500 − $15,000 = $9,500. Five paychecks require $1,900 each. With $20,000 of pay left, that is 47.50%; the annual ceiling is 24.50% of compensation.

Age 62 with the larger catch-up

On $100,000 compensation, the employee ceiling is $24,500 + $11,250 = $35,750. After $30,000 contributed, $5,750 remains, or $1,150 over five paychecks. At $150,001 of 2025 sponsor FICA wages, catch-up contributions must be Roth.

Frequently asked questions

What changes when I turn 64?
The larger catch-up applies only at year-end ages 60–63. At 64, the ordinary $8,000 catch-up applies in 2026, giving a $32,500 employee ceiling before the compensation cap.
Does exactly $150,000 trigger Roth catch-up?
No. For 2026, the test is 2025 FICA wages from the sponsoring employer exceeding $150,000. It is not based on household income. Ask the plan about employer aggregation or special plan rules.
Can I use separate limits for traditional and Roth 401(k) deposits?
No. Pre-tax and designated Roth employee deferrals share the personal limit. Include contributions across plans subject to the same limit; governmental 457(b) plans have a separate deferral limit.
Why might payroll allow less than this calculator?
Plan restrictions, available pay after mandatory deductions and nondiscrimination tests can reduce contributions. The tool assumes an ordinary employee 401(k), not a SIMPLE or starter plan, and does not calculate self-employed compensation.
What if I have no paychecks remaining?
The tool still shows unused annual room but provides no paycheck target. Unused room alone does not mean you can make a contribution after payroll has ended.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-11-14; next review due by 2027-01-15. The method is written out above so you can check our math.