Coast FIRE is the point where your existing investments will grow into your full retirement number on their own. Enter your age, retirement age, savings and spending to see your Coast FIRE number today, whether you have reached it, and how long until you can stop contributing.
Last updated:
You today
years
years
$
$
Used to estimate how long until you reach Coast FIRE.
Retirement assumptions
$
In today's money.
%
4% is the classic rule; 3% to 3.5% is more conservative for early retirees.
%
Return after inflation, e.g. 7% nominal − 2% to 3% inflation.
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Coast FIRE Calculator
Enter your current age and target retirement age.
Enter what you have invested for retirement and what you add each month.
Set your yearly retirement spending in today's money and a safe withdrawal rate.
Choose a real return (after inflation).
Read your Coast FIRE number and status, then follow the chart to see when your balance crosses the coast line.
The Coast FIRE formula
Coast FIRE means you have already invested enough that, with no further contributions, compound growth alone will reach your full FIRE number by your retirement age. After that you only need to earn enough to cover today's living costs.
FIRE number = annual spending ÷ withdrawal rate Coast FIRE number = FIRE number ÷ (1 + real return)years to retirement
Example: spending $50,000 a year with a 4% withdrawal rate needs a FIRE number of $1,250,000. At age 32 with retirement at 60 (28 years) and a 5% real return, the Coast FIRE number is $1,250,000 ÷ 1.0528 ≈ $318,867. Anyone with that much invested at 32 can stop adding to retirement accounts and still expect to reach $1.25 million in today's money by 60.
Use a real (inflation-adjusted) return so that the FIRE number and spending stay in today's money. A 7% nominal return with 2.5% inflation is about a 4.4% real return.
Coast FIRE number for a $1,250,000 goal
($50,000 a year of spending at a 4% withdrawal rate.) Rows are years until retirement; columns are real annual returns.
Years to retirement
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
10
$930,117
$844,455
$767,392
$697,993
$635,437
15
$802,327
$694,081
$601,271
$521,581
$453,058
20
$692,095
$570,484
$471,112
$389,756
$323,024
25
$597,007
$468,896
$369,128
$291,248
$230,311
30
$514,983
$385,398
$289,222
$217,638
$164,209
35
$444,229
$316,769
$226,613
$162,632
$117,079
40
$383,196
$260,361
$177,557
$121,528
$83,475
Coast FIRE vs other FIRE types
FIRE: you have the full FIRE number now and can stop working.
Coast FIRE: you can stop saving for retirement, but still work to pay current expenses.
Barista FIRE: your investments cover part of your spending and part-time work covers the rest.
Lean / Fat FIRE: the same math with a lower or higher spending target.
Returns are never guaranteed. Many people keep contributing a little after reaching Coast FIRE as a safety margin against poor market years.
Frequently asked questions
What is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE (Coast Financial Independence) is when your retirement investments are large enough that, without adding another dollar, they will grow to your full FIRE number by your planned retirement age. You still work to cover living costs, but you no longer need to save for retirement.
How do you calculate your Coast FIRE number?
First find your FIRE number: annual retirement spending ÷ withdrawal rate (for example $50,000 ÷ 0.04 = $1,250,000). Then discount it back to today: Coast number = FIRE number ÷ (1 + real return)^(years until retirement).
What return should I use?
Use a real (after-inflation) return because the spending target is in today's money. Many planners use 4% to 5% real for a stock-heavy portfolio; lower values give a safer, larger Coast FIRE number.
What withdrawal rate should I use?
The well-known 4% rule comes from US historical studies of 30-year retirements. Early retirees with longer horizons often use 3% to 3.5%, which raises the FIRE number.
What is the difference between Coast FIRE and Barista FIRE?
With Coast FIRE you stop saving for retirement but your job pays all current expenses. With Barista FIRE you already withdraw from investments to cover part of your spending and a part-time job covers the rest.
Is reaching Coast FIRE a guarantee?
No. It is a projection that assumes a steady average return. Market crashes, higher inflation or higher spending can delay retirement, so many people keep a margin above their Coast number.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.