401(k) Match Calculator
Enter your salary, contribution and your employer's match formula to see the free match you capture each year, and any match money you are leaving on the table.
Employee deferrals are capped at the 2026 IRS limit of $24,500 (2025: $23,500). Workers 50 and over can add an $8,000 catch-up. Employer match dollars do not count toward the deferral limit.
How employer matching works
A match formula has two parts: a match rate and a cap on the slice of pay it applies to. With 50% of the first 6%, an employer adds 50 cents for each dollar you contribute, but only on contributions up to 6% of salary. On an $80,000 salary, contributing 6% ($4,800) earns the full $2,400 match, while contributing 2% ($1,600) earns only $800 and leaves $1,600 of potential match unclaimed. Tiered formulas such as 100% of the first 3% plus 50% of the next 2% pay the full match on the first slice and half on the next, worth up to 4% of salary in total.
| Formula | Max match (% of salary) | Contribute at least |
|---|---|---|
| 100% of the first 3% | 3% | 3% |
| 100% of the first 4% | 4% | 4% |
| 50% of the first 6% | 3% | 6% |
| 100% of first 3% + 50% of next 2% | 4% | 5% |
The 2026 IRS limits
The IRS elective deferral limit for 2026 is $24,500, up from $23,500 in 2025. If you are 50 or older by the end of the year, you can add an $8,000 catch-up contribution, for $32,500 in total; workers aged 60 to 63 can add $11,250 instead if their plan allows. Employer matching contributions sit in a separate, larger bucket: combined employee and employer additions can reach $72,000 in 2026. This calculator caps your contribution at the $24,500 deferral limit and computes the match on the amount actually deferred.
Frequently asked questions
How does 401(k) matching work?
Your employer adds money based on what you contribute, up to a cap. With 50% of the first 6% on an $80,000 salary, a 6% contribution ($4,800) earns a $2,400 match. Formulas vary by plan, so confirm yours in the summary plan description.
Is the employer match really free money?
Effectively yes: it is extra pay you only get by contributing, an instant 50% or 100% return on the matched slice. The catches are that it is locked in the plan until retirement age and may be subject to a vesting schedule.
What is vesting and does it affect my match?
Vesting decides when match money is permanently yours. Your own contributions are always 100% vested; the match may vest immediately, after a cliff period such as 3 years, or gradually over up to 6 years. Leave before full vesting and you forfeit the unvested portion.
What happens above the IRS contribution limit?
For 2026 the deferral limit is $24,500. Most payroll systems simply stop your contributions there. If two employers' plans are involved, track the total yourself and remove any excess by mid-April of the following year to avoid double taxation. Catch-up contributions of $8,000 (age 50+) or $11,250 (ages 60 to 63) sit on top of the limit.
Is this 401(k) match calculator free?
Yes. Free, no sign-up, and every calculation runs locally in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded.