What this calculator does
A 401(k) takes contributions only from your paychecks, so near the end of the year the question is simple: how much do the paychecks you have left need to put in to reach the 2026 limit? Type what you have contributed so far, your pay schedule and your next payday. The calculator counts the paydays left until December 31, 2026 and divides what is left of your limit between them. It also shows the amount as a percent of your pay, because many plans ask for a percent.
The 2026 limits
- $24,500 of your own contributions (elective deferrals) to 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan.
- $32,500 if you are 50 or older at the end of 2026 ($8,000 of catch-up contributions).
- $35,750 if you are 60, 61, 62 or 63 at the end of 2026 (a higher catch-up of $11,250 under the SECURE 2.0 Act).
Source: IRS news release IR-2025-111 and Notice 2025-67. The limit counts your pre-tax and Roth contributions to all your 401(k), 403(b) and TSP accounts together, including a job you left earlier in the year. Your employer's matching contributions do not count toward it. A governmental 457(b) plan has its own, separate limit (IRS: 401(k) contribution limits).
How it is calculated
- Paychecks left = the paydays from your next payday to December 31, 2026 (every week, every two weeks, twice a month on the 15th and the last day, or once a month).
- Per paycheck = (your limit − what you have contributed so far) ÷ paychecks left.
- Percent of your pay = per paycheck ÷ your pay per paycheck before taxes.
- If you change nothing = what you have now + your current amount × paychecks left.
An example
You are 45, have contributed $18,000 so far, are paid every two weeks and have 4 paychecks left. You can still put in $24,500 − $18,000 = $6,500, so each paycheck needs $1,625. With $3,500 of pay per paycheck that is about 46.4% of your pay. If you keep putting in $700, you would end the year at $20,800 and leave $3,700 of your limit unused.
Before you change your contribution
- Make sure you can still pay your bills: a bigger contribution means smaller paychecks for the rest of the year.
- Changes can take one or two pay periods. Some plans set a maximum percent of pay.
- Check the employer match: some plans match each paycheck, so reaching the limit early in the year can mean a smaller match. Near the end of the year this matters less, but read your plan's rules.
- From 2026, if your Social Security wages from this employer in 2025 were over $150,000, catch-up contributions must be Roth if your plan offers catch-ups (IRS).
- For the whole-year picture with the employer match, use the 401(k) contribution calculator. For next year, see the 2027 contribution limits.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 401(k) limit for 2026?
$24,500 of your own contributions, $32,500 if you are 50 or older, or $35,750 if you are 60 to 63 at the end of 2026.
Can I contribute to my 401(k) after December 31 for 2026?
Generally no. Contributions come from pay, so they count for the year of the paycheck. IRAs are different: you can contribute for 2026 until the April 2027 tax deadline.
What if I put in more than the limit?
Tell your plan as soon as you can. Excess deferrals should be paid back to you by April 15 of the next year; otherwise they can be taxed twice. This often happens when you change jobs during the year.
Does the employer match count?
No. The limit is on your own contributions. Employer contributions count toward a separate, higher total limit ($72,000 in 2026).
Is the 60 to 63 catch-up automatic?
Only if your plan offers catch-up contributions. It applies if you are 60, 61, 62 or 63 at the end of the year.