FIRE Number Calculator
Your FIRE number is 25× your annual spending. Enter your spending, income, and savings to see the target, your progress, and your projected financial-independence date.
| Progress | — |
| Work becomes optional in | — |
| Passive income at FIRE | — |
| Cutting spending $5k/yr moves FIRE by | — |
The FIRE formula
FIRE number = Annual spending ÷ Withdrawal rate = Spending × 25 (at 4%)
Financial Independence, Retire Early rests on one idea: once your portfolio reaches 25× your annual spending, a ~4% withdrawal historically survives long retirements — work becomes optional. Spending $45,000/year puts the target at $1,125,000.
Why spending is the superpower variable
Spending cuts work twice: each $1,000 less per year shrinks the target by $25,000 and frees $1,000 more to invest. That is why the calculator shows the double-lever effect — cutting $5,000 of annual spending typically moves the FIRE date years closer, far more than a raise of the same size.
Savings rate → years to FIRE (from zero, 7% real)
| Savings rate | Years to FIRE |
|---|---|
| 10% | ≈ 51 |
| 25% | ≈ 32 |
| 50% | ≈ 17 |
| 65% | ≈ 10.5 |
The savings rate — not income — sets the timeline, which is why FIRE is reached by teachers and missed by high earners with high burn. Early retirees drawing for 40–50 years often prefer 3.5% or 3% withdrawal rates; the dropdown adjusts the target accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
What is my FIRE number?
25 times your annual spending, using the 4% rule. Spending $45,000/year → $1,125,000. At a more conservative 3.5% withdrawal it is about $1,286,000.
Is the 4% rule safe for early retirement?
It was derived from 30-year retirements. For 40–50 year horizons, many in the FIRE community plan on 3.25–3.75%, or add flexibility — part-time income or spending cuts in bad market years.
Does the FIRE number include my house?
Only income-producing assets count — home equity you live in does not pay withdrawals. However, a paid-off house lowers annual spending, which shrinks the target by 25× the saved rent.
What are Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE?
Coast FIRE: enough invested that compounding alone reaches the target by traditional retirement age — you only need to cover current bills. Barista FIRE: part-time work covers part of spending while the portfolio covers the rest.
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Last updated: 2026-07-08