Retirement Calculator — Figure Out If You're Saving Enough
Calculate how much you need to retire comfortably. See if your current savings rate will meet your retirement goals by your target age.
Most people think about retirement in vague terms — "I'll figure it out later" or "my EPF will cover it." The problem is that "later" arrives faster than expected, and EPF alone rarely covers 25-30 years of post-retirement expenses. The CalcHub Retirement Calculator puts a concrete number on what you actually need — and whether you're on track.
The Core Question: How Much Is Enough?
Retirement planning comes down to two things: how much you'll spend per month in retirement, and how long that money needs to last. A common rule of thumb is the 25x rule — you need roughly 25 times your annual retirement expenses invested at retirement. That assumes a 4% annual withdrawal rate.
Someone who wants ₹60,000/month in retirement needs a corpus of about ₹1.8 crore (₹7,20,000/year × 25).
How to Use the Calculator
- Current age — where you are now
- Retirement age — when you want to stop working (60, 55, 45?)
- Current savings — what you have invested today
- Monthly contribution — what you're putting away each month
- Expected return rate — during accumulation phase (often 10-12% for equity)
- Monthly expenses in retirement — your expected spending, in today's rupees
- Life expectancy — how many years of retirement to fund (age 85-90 is a safe estimate)
- Inflation rate — typically 5-6% for India
Example: Two Very Different Paths
Meet Anjali (32) and Rohit (42), both wanting ₹60,000/month in retirement at age 60.
| Factor | Anjali (32) | Rohit (42) |
|---|---|---|
| Years to retire | 28 | 18 |
| Current savings | ₹5,00,000 | ₹15,00,000 |
| Monthly investment needed | ~₹18,000 | ~₹55,000 |
| Total corpus needed | ~₹3.2 crore | ~₹3.2 crore |
Inflation Is the Retirement Killer Most People Forget
₹60,000 today won't feel like ₹60,000 in 30 years. At 5% inflation, you'd need about ₹2.6 lakh per month to maintain the same lifestyle. The calculator accounts for this if you enter your target in today's rupees and specify an inflation rate.
Always plan in inflation-adjusted terms. A corpus that looks huge today may be modest by the time you actually retire.
Beyond the Number: Diversification Matters
Once you have the target corpus, don't park everything in equity. A common pre-retirement glide path moves money gradually from equity to debt over the last 5-10 years, reducing the risk of a bad market year wiping out a big chunk of your savings right before you need them.
Is EPF enough for retirement?
For most salaried Indians, EPF provides a meaningful base but rarely covers full retirement. The real issue is that EPF interest (currently ~8.25%) may not significantly outpace inflation over 30 years. Supplement with equity SIPs for real wealth accumulation.
What if I start late?
You'll need to save more per month, take somewhat more investment risk (with appropriate caution), and possibly adjust your retirement age or target monthly spending. Running the numbers honestly — even if they're uncomfortable — is better than discovering the gap at age 58.
Should I factor in Social Security or pension?
Yes. If you have a government pension, NPS annuity, or rental income lined up, subtract that monthly amount from your retirement spending target before using the calculator. It reduces the corpus you need to accumulate.