401(k) Match & Contribution Optimizer

Employer 401(k) matches vary a lot from plan to plan, and it's easy to leave part of yours unclaimed without realizing it. Tell us how your plan's match works and we'll show you the exact contribution needed to capture all of it, plus what happens if you aim higher.

1About You & Your Pay

The basics we need to translate your contribution percentage into real dollars.

How are you paid?
$
Used for IRS catch-up contribution limits
%
Used to estimate your vested amount if you leave before you're fully vested
$
Only counted toward your match if your plan matches bonus pay, set below

2Your Current Contribution

What you're electing to contribute right now.

%
$
From a recent pay stub or plan statement; used to check your room before the annual IRS limit
How do you contribute?

3Your Employer's Match Formula

This is the part that's easy to get wrong. Every plan is different, the IRS confirms formulas vary widely between employers, so find yours in your Summary Plan Description or benefits portal before relying on the result below.

Which best describes your employer's match?
%
Example: "100% of the first 4%" means this is 4
%
Example: "50% of the first 6%" means this is 6

Example: 100% of the first 3%, then 50% of the next 2%. Add one row per tier, in order.

$
A flat amount the plan contributes regardless of your own contribution
%
Discretionary and profit-sharing contributions can change or disappear year to year at the employer's decision. Leave blank to skip estimating it.

No problem, look for "employer match" or "matching contribution" in your Summary Plan Description, or ask your HR or benefits portal. We'll show your contribution numbers below without assuming a match.

$
The IRS compensation cap for 2026 is $360,000; use your plan's limit if it's lower
months
When is the match calculated?

This matters most if you contribute enough to hit the annual IRS limit before the last paycheck of the year: without a true-up, maxing out early can actually cost you match dollars.

Vesting schedule for the employer match

4Your Goals & Assumptions

We'll compare your current path against a few other levels using these.

%
Optional. A common guideline is 10-15% of pay, including any employer match
%

This tool provides general educational estimates only, using the details you enter. It is not personalized investment, tax, or plan advice; confirm your plan's actual rules in your Summary Plan Description. Read our full disclaimer →

Your Match & Contribution Picture

Fill in your numbers above, then select "Calculate My Match & Contribution" to see your results.