When can I retire?
Find your earliest retirement age — tested against 86 years of real market history, with real UK tax rules. Free, no sign-up, nothing stored.
How this calculator works
Withdrawals are taxed the way HMRC actually taxes them — income tax on pension drawdown (2026/27 bands), capital gains on investment sales, allowances first.
Pensions unlock at 57, the State Pension at 66–68 depending on your birth year. Retiring earlier means bridging the gap from ISAs, shares and cash — the calculator checks you can.
Your plan is replayed through every market window since 1940 — booms, crashes, and inflation shocks — and we report the share of history it survived.
Assumptions
Every calculator makes assumptions — ours are on the table:
- Investments grow at 7% a year before a 0.25% platform/fund fee (6.75% net) and cash at 3% (nominal) in the point-estimate projection; the backtest replays actual historical returns and inflation, with the same fee applied.
- Inflation of 2.5% a year — every figure is shown in today's money.
- Pensions unlock at 57 with 25% tax-free. The State Pension defaults to the 2026/27 full new rate (£12,548/year) from your State Pension age (66–68 by birth year) — both adjustable — inflation-linked and taxable.
- Income tax uses 2026/27 rest-of-UK bands. Shares outside an ISA (GIA) pay capital gains tax at 18%/24% above the £3,000 annual exemption — we assume no gains are embedded in today's balance. Withdrawals are ordered to minimise tax: allowances and tax-free pots first.
- Your plan runs to age 95. Contributions rise with inflation until retirement; pensions are one pot with your and your employer's contributions, while ISAs, GIA and cash are modelled separately.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to retire at 55 in the UK?
A common rule of thumb is 25× your desired annual spending (the "4% rule"), so £30,000 a year suggests roughly £750,000. But retiring at 55 means bridging 2+ years before you can touch pensions (age 57) and 13 years before the State Pension — this calculator models those gaps rather than using a single multiple.
What is a FIRE number?
Your FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) number is the pot size at which investment returns can sustainably fund your spending for life. It depends on your spending, the mix of pensions vs accessible savings, tax, and the market conditions you retire into.
Is the 4% rule safe in the UK?
The 4% rule comes from US market history and ignores UK tax, fees and currency. Rather than a fixed rule, this calculator replays your whole plan through every historical market window since 1940 and reports the share of history your plan survived.
When can I access my pension?
Workplace pensions and SIPPs are normally accessible from age 57 (the normal minimum pension age from April 2028). The State Pension starts later — age 67–68 for most people planning today. Money in ISAs and general savings has no age restriction, which is why the split matters for early retirement.
Does this calculator include the State Pension?
Yes — and you can set both the amount and the start age. It defaults to the full new State Pension (£12,548 a year, 2026/27 rate) from your State Pension age — 66, 67 or 68 depending on when you were born. Lower the amount if your National Insurance record has gaps, or switch it off entirely.
Can I include a defined benefit (DB) pension or rental income?
Yes. Add any recurring income — a DB pension, rental income, dividends — with its own amount, start age and optional end age, and choose whether it's taxed and whether it rises with inflation. You can also add recurring expenses like a mortgage that ends at a set age, and one-off costs.
Is this financial advice?
No. It's a projection based on your inputs and stated assumptions, for information only. Past market performance doesn't guarantee future returns. For advice on your specific situation, speak to a regulated financial adviser.