401k Calculator & Guide
If you're age 50 or older, you may be able to contribute more to your 401(k) than the standard annual employee limit. Learn the 2026 catch-up limits, age rules, Roth requirements and how the additional contributions work.
A catch-up contribution is an additional employee contribution that an eligible participant can make after reaching the applicable age threshold. It is separate from the regular elective-deferral limit.
The standard employee elective-deferral limit for most 401(k) plans in 2026.
Eligible participants who are 50 or older by year-end may generally contribute this additional amount if the plan permits catch-ups.
A higher catch-up limit applies in 2026 to participants who turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 during the year.
The amount available depends primarily on your age and whether your plan permits catch-up contributions.
| Participant | Regular limit | Catch-up | Potential employee total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under age 50 | $24,500 | Not applicable | $24,500 |
| Age 50+ | $24,500 | $8,000 | $32,500 |
| Age 60–63 | $24,500 | $11,250 | $35,750 |
These figures describe the 2026 federal limits for most applicable 401(k) plans. Your plan can impose lower limits or other restrictions.
The age test is based on your age at the end of the calendar year, with a special higher limit for participants who attain ages 60–63.
Catch-up contributions are an eligibility feature, not a requirement that you prove you have insufficient retirement savings. The IRS specifically states that participants do not need to be behind on contributions to qualify for catch-up contributions.
Enter your age and planned employee contribution to see the applicable 2026 employee contribution ceiling.
This simple educational tool uses the 2026 federal limits. Your actual plan may have different restrictions.
Based on an age of 55, the standard catch-up limit is included.
Think of the catch-up amount as an additional employee deferral allowance rather than a replacement for the regular limit.
In 2026, the standard employee elective-deferral limit for most 401(k) plans is $24,500.
If you are 50 or older by the end of the year, you may generally qualify for the additional catch-up allowance.
The 2026 catch-up amount is generally $8,000, with an $11,250 higher limit for participants who attain age 60–63.
A major rule affecting certain higher-paid participants begins applying in 2026.
For 2026, certain catch-up-eligible participants whose prior-year wages from the employer sponsoring the plan exceeded $150,000 are subject to the Roth catch-up requirement when the applicable rule applies.
Instead of making the applicable catch-up contribution on a traditional pre-tax basis, the contribution is designated as a Roth contribution when the rule requires it.
It is a wage threshold used for determining whether the Roth catch-up requirement applies to certain participants. It does not mean that people earning more than $150,000 cannot contribute to a 401(k).
These examples illustrate the federal contribution ceilings and are not individualized contribution recommendations.
A participant under age 50 does not receive the age-based catch-up allowance.
A participant who is 50 or older may generally have access to the $8,000 catch-up limit if the plan permits it.
A participant who turns 61 during 2026 falls within the 60–63 enhanced catch-up age range.
Employee elective deferrals and employer contributions are governed by different limits, so the catch-up limit should not be confused with the overall annual-additions limit.
The $24,500 regular 2026 limit plus the applicable catch-up amount generally determines how much an employee can defer through elective salary contributions.
Employer contributions are also subject to the plan's applicable annual-additions rules. For 2026, the defined-contribution plan annual additions limit is generally $72,000 before applicable catch-up contributions.
Learn About Employer Matching →Use your plan documents and current contribution information to verify how these federal rules apply to your account.
Confirm that your employer's 401(k) plan permits catch-up contributions and review any plan-specific limits.
Check your current year-to-date employee deferrals so you know how much of the regular limit you have already used.
If you are subject to the applicable higher-wage Roth catch-up requirement, confirm how your plan handles the required Roth designation.
Federal limits provide the framework, but your employer's plan terms, payroll system and eligibility rules can affect what you can actually contribute.
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