ATLASWhat is a safe withdrawal rate? Calculator
With $500,000 to last 30 years, a 4% return and 2.5% inflation, the highest constant withdrawal is about $20,413 a year, or 4.1% of the starting savings.
Updated November 3, 2026 · Source: ATLAS calculator; the assumptions are yours
Enter your savings, the number of years the money must last and the return and inflation you want to test. The calculator shows the highest constant withdrawal and how long each withdrawal rate would last.
Highest constant withdrawal that lasts 30 years: $20,413 a year
4.08% of starting savings · $1,701 a month
Your spending is 5.00% of savings: lasts about 23.4 years
Assumptions, not forecasts.
Withdrawal rates tested
| Withdrawal rate | Yearly amount | Lasts about (years) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0% | $15,000 | 45.1 |
| 3.5% | $17,500 | 36.6 |
| 4.0% | $20,000 | 30.8 |
| 4.5% | $22,500 | 26.6 |
| 5.0% | $25,000 | 23.4 |
| 6.0% | $30,000 | 18.9 |
Educational calculator. The numbers you enter, including the return and inflation, are assumptions and not forecasts. Real markets do not move in a straight line.
How it works
The calculation
The withdrawal is made at the start of each year and rises with inflation. The highest withdrawal is the one that leaves the balance at zero at the end of the horizon, found with the annuity formula on the real return.
The 4% rule
The "4% rule" comes from research on US historical data, such as William Bengen's 1994 study and the Trinity study. It is a rule of thumb from past data, not a guarantee, and it does not fit every country, period or portfolio.
What it leaves out
It uses a fixed return each year. Real returns vary, taxes and fees reduce them, and spending changes over retirement.
Worked example
With $500,000 to last 30 years, a 4% return and 2.5% inflation, the highest constant withdrawal is about $20,413 a year, or 4.1% of the starting savings.
Related tools
Questions about this calculator
What is a safe withdrawal rate?
The share of your savings you can withdraw in the first year, then adjust for inflation, with the money still lasting for a chosen period. It depends on the period, the returns and the portfolio.
Is the 4% rule safe?
It worked in many historical US periods, but it is not a guarantee. The result depends on future returns and inflation, which nobody knows.
What withdrawal rate can I test?
The table tests 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, 5% and 6% of your starting savings against your assumptions.
Does the calculator include taxes or other income?
No. Subtract other income from your spending first, and treat taxes separately.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is an educational tool and the result depends only on the assumptions you enter.
Educational example only. ATLAS does not give personal investment advice. Disclaimer