Roth vs Traditional 401(k) Calculator
Same Roth vs Traditional math applied to a 401(k), where contribution limits are far higher than an IRA.
Roth vs Traditional comparisons are done in your browser; no account or contribution details are transmitted.Try: Current age=30, Retirement age=65, Annual contribution=22000, Current tax bracket=22, Expected retirement bracket=15, Expected annual return=7 → $2,585,030, $2,372,145, $212,885
How to use
A 401(k) uses the same Roth-versus-Traditional trade-off as an IRA, but the 2026 employee limit is $23,500 (plus catch-up). Bigger contributions make the after-tax difference larger, so the bracket call matters more.
FAQ
Is the Roth vs Traditional logic the same for a 401(k)?
Yes — pre-tax grows taxed later (Traditional), after-tax grows tax-free (Roth). Only the contribution limit and any employer match differ.
What about the employer match?
Employer matches always go into a pre-tax Traditional portion, even in a Roth 401(k), and are taxed on withdrawal.