401(k) Contribution Limit Calculator (2026)
Check your 401(k) progress against the 2026 $24,500 employee limit (plus catch-up contributions). Enter your age, salary, and contribution to see your gap, what it takes per paycheck to max out, and your employer match.
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The 2026 401(k) limits
The IRS sets one number that matters most: your employee elective deferral limit — the maximum of your own salary you can put into a 401(k) each year. For 2026 it's $24,500 (IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32). Age-based catch-ups stack on top:
| Your age in 2026 | Your limit |
|---|---|
| Under 50 | $24,500 |
| 50–59, and 64+ | $32,500 ($24,500 + $8,000 catch-up) |
| 60–63 | $35,750 ($24,500 + $11,250 "super catch-up") |
The 60–63 super catch-up comes from SECURE 2.0 and applies only in those four years. Employer matching dollars never count against these limits.
Worked example
Age 35, $90,000 salary, contributing 8% biweekly, employer matches 50% up to 6%:
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Annual contribution | $90,000 × 8% | $7,200 |
| 2026 limit (under 50) | — | $24,500 |
| Gap to the limit | $24,500 − $7,200 | $17,300 |
| Per paycheck to max out | $24,500 ÷ 26 | $942.31 |
| Current per paycheck | $7,200 ÷ 26 | $276.92 |
| Est. employer match | $90,000 × 6% × 50% | $2,700 |
She's leaving $17,300 of tax-advantaged room unused — and if she raised her contribution to 6% she'd already capture the full $2,700 match.
How to close the gap
- Front-load or smooth it: divide your limit by remaining pay periods and set that per-paycheck amount. Smoothing avoids hitting the cap in October and missing match dollars in November and December (some plans only match per-paycheck contributions).
- Two-job year: the limit is per person, not per plan. If you switched jobs, add both plans' contributions together — neither employer knows about the other.
- Don't skip the match: contributing at least up to the match cap is the highest-return move in the whole plan. The calculator shows your estimated match so you can see what you're capturing.
Data sources: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 elective deferral and catch-up limits); SECURE 2.0 Act §109 (ages 60–63 super catch-up). This page organizes public limit information — it is not tax or investment advice — "estimates only, not tax advice."
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 401(k) contribution limit?
For 2026, employees can defer up to $24,500 of salary into a 401(k) (IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32). Workers age 50 and older get an extra $8,000 catch-up ($32,500 total), and workers ages 60–63 get a larger 'super catch-up' of $11,250 ($35,750 total) under SECURE 2.0.
Does my employer's match count toward my $24,500?
No. The $24,500 cap (plus any catch-up) applies only to your own elective deferrals. Employer matching and profit-sharing dollars sit under a separate, much higher combined limit — so maxing your own contributions never blocks you from also receiving the full match.
How is the 'per paycheck to max out' number computed?
Your applicable limit divided by your number of pay periods: $24,500 ÷ 26 = about $942 per biweekly paycheck. Catch-up amounts raise it — at 50+, $32,500 ÷ 26 is $1,250 per paycheck. This assumes you contribute evenly all year.
What happens if I contribute more than the limit?
Excess deferrals must be withdrawn (with earnings) and are taxed — contact your plan administrator before the April 15 deadline to fix it. Plans usually cut you off automatically once you hit the limit, but if you changed jobs mid-year, two plans can each let you under-contribute while the combined total overshoots.
What's the SECURE 2.0 Roth rule for catch-up contributions?
Starting in 2026, if your prior-year wages exceeded $145,000 (indexed), your catch-up contributions must go into the Roth (after-tax) side of the plan rather than pre-tax. The calculator's limit math is the same either way; only the tax timing differs.
How is the employer match estimate computed?
Salary × (the smaller of your contribution percent and the match cap percent) × the match rate. Example: $90,000 salary, you contribute 8%, employer matches 50% up to 6% of salary → $90,000 × 6% × 50% = $2,700. It assumes you keep contributing at least to the cap all year.
Estimates only, not tax or financial advice. Figures reflect the 2026 tax year. Verify important decisions with the IRS or a qualified tax professional.