FIRE Number Calculator
Calculate your FIRE number from annual spending and withdrawal rate, then estimate years to financial independence with contributions and expected real return.
FIRE number
$1,250,000
Based on 50,000 annual expenses and 4.00% withdrawal rule.
Gap to FI
$1,100,000
Estimated years
20.3
Coast FIRE (20y horizon)
$471,112
Progress to FIRE
This is a deterministic estimate. Actual results vary with market returns, inflation, and spending changes.
20-year journey milestones
What is FIRE number?
FIRE stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. Your FIRE number is the portfolio size that can sustain your target lifestyle from investment withdrawals.
A common shortcut is the 4% rule: FIRE number = annual expenses / 0.04. For example, 50,000 annual spending implies about 1.25 million in invested assets.
How to use this model
Start with realistic annual expenses, then test conservative and optimistic withdrawal rates (for example 3.5% to 4.5%) to see sensitivity.
Add current invested assets and annual contribution to estimate years remaining under a constant real return assumption.
Revisit assumptions annually. Expenses, inflation, tax policy, and market valuation can materially shift the timeline.
FIRE strategy visual checklist
Savings rate
Usually the strongest short-term lever for reducing years to FI.
Asset allocation
Higher equity exposure may raise return and volatility together.
Withdrawal guardrails
Dynamic spending rules can improve sustainability in weak markets.
FIRE scenario comparison
| Scenario | Withdrawal rate | Portfolio multiple | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 3.25% | 30.8x expenses | Higher margin for long retirements. |
| Classic | 4.00% | 25.0x expenses | Popular baseline planning assumption. |
| Flexible | 4.50% | 22.2x expenses | Requires spending adaptability. |