What is the maximum 401(k) contribution for 2026?
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For 2026, the maximum employee elective deferral is $24,500 for workers under age 50. Workers aged 50 to 59 and 64+ can contribute up to $32,500 ($24,500 base plus $8,000 standard catch-up), while workers aged 60 to 63 can contribute up to $35,750 ($24,500 base plus $11,250 SECURE 2.0 catch-up).
How much can I contribute to my 401(k) if I'm under 50?
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If you are under age 50 at the end of 2026, your maximum allowable employee elective deferral is $24,500 across pre-tax traditional and Roth 401(k) accounts combined.
How much can I contribute if I'm age 50 or older?
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Workers turning age 50 or older by December 31, 2026, can contribute up to $32,500 in employee elective deferrals ($24,500 base limit plus $8,000 standard catch-up), unless they fall in the special 60–63 age window.
How much can I contribute at ages 60, 61, 62, or 63?
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Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, participants turning age 60, 61, 62, or 63 during 2026 qualify for an enhanced catch-up contribution of $11,250, bringing their maximum employee elective deferral to $35,750.
How much can I contribute at age 64?
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At age 64, the special SECURE 2.0 higher catch-up no longer applies. You return to the standard age 50+ catch-up limit of $8,000, making your maximum employee contribution $32,500 in 2026.
How much per month do I need to max my 401(k)?
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To max out the $24,500 limit across 12 monthly pay periods with no prior contributions, you need to contribute $2,041.67 per month. For a $32,500 limit, you need $2,708.33 per month, and for a $35,750 limit, you need $2,979.17 per month.
How much per paycheck do I need to max my 401(k)?
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Divide your remaining contribution room by your remaining number of paychecks. On a standard 26-paycheck biweekly schedule with zero prior contributions, you need $942.31 per paycheck to hit $24,500, $1,250.00 per paycheck to hit $32,500, or $1,375.00 per paycheck to hit $35,750.
What percentage of my paycheck should I contribute to reach the maximum?
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Divide the dollar amount needed per paycheck by your gross eligible compensation per paycheck. For example, if you need $1,450 per paycheck and your gross pay is $6,000, your required contribution rate is 24.17%.
How do I calculate how much 401(k) contribution room I have left?
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Subtract your total year-to-date employee elective contributions (shown on your most recent pay stub) from your applicable 2026 limit ($24,500, $32,500, or $35,750). The remaining figure is your allowable contribution room for the rest of the year.
Do employer matching contributions reduce my $24,500 employee limit?
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No. Employer matching contributions do not count against or reduce your individual $24,500 elective deferral limit under IRC Section 402(g). You can contribute the entire $24,500 of your own salary, and your employer's match is deposited in addition to that figure.
Does my employer match count toward the $72,000 limit?
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Yes. Employer matching, company profit sharing, and employee elective deferrals combine toward the broader defined-contribution annual additions limit under IRC Section 415(c), which is $72,000 for 2026.
Can I contribute $24,500 to both a Roth and traditional 401(k)?
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No. Traditional pre-tax and designated Roth 401(k) elective deferrals share the same $24,500 employee elective-deferral limit in 2026. You can split your contributions between both accounts in any proportion, but their combined total cannot exceed your applicable employee limit.
What if I changed jobs during the year?
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The annual employee elective deferral limit ($24,500 in 2026) applies across all employer 401(k) and 403(b) plans combined for the tax year. If you contributed $10,000 at a former job, your maximum remaining employee contribution at your new job is $14,500 (plus catch-up if eligible).
Can I max out my 401(k) early in the year?
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Yes, you can front-load contributions by selecting a high contribution percentage early in the year, provided your plan allows it. However, check whether your plan features a true-up provision so you do not forfeit later employer matching contributions.
What happens if I contribute too much to my 401(k)?
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If you exceed the annual employee elective deferral limit, the excess contribution plus attributable earnings must be distributed by April 15 of the following year. If not corrected timely, excess deferrals may be taxed twice: once in the year contributed and again upon eventual distribution.
Can I use a bonus to max my 401(k)?
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Many employer plans allow you to defer a portion or all of an annual performance bonus into your 401(k), subject to annual statutory limits and plan rules. Check with your payroll department before the bonus is processed to ensure your deferral election is on file.
What if my plan limits my contribution percentage?
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Some employer plans cap employee deferrals at a specific percentage of compensation (such as 50%, 75%, or 85%) to ensure sufficient pay remains for mandatory payroll tax withholdings. If our calculator suggests a rate higher than your plan permits, spread your remaining contributions across more pay periods.
Does the $72,000 limit include catch-up contributions?
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No. Under Internal Revenue Code Section 414(v)(3)(A), qualified catch-up contributions ($8,000 standard or $11,250 for ages 60–63) are excluded from the base $72,000 annual additions limit. Older workers can receive up to $80,000 or $83,250 in total additions across all sources.
What is the 2026 Roth catch-up rule?
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For 2026 catch-up contributions, certain participants with more than $150,000 in prior-year (2025) FICA wages from the employer sponsoring the plan may be required to make catch-up contributions on a Roth basis, subject to applicable plan rules. The $150,000 figure is a prior-year wage threshold used to determine whether the Roth catch-up requirement applies; it is not a 401(k) contribution limit.
Can I use this calculator for a Solo 401(k)?
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You can use this calculator to determine the employee elective deferral portion of your Solo 401(k) ($24,500 plus catch-ups). However, complete Solo 401(k) limits also include an employer profit-sharing contribution (up to 20% or 25% of net adjusted business income), which requires specialized self-employment compensation calculations.