FIRE Number Calculator
Estimate your FIRE number — the savings needed to live off your investments.
The target for financial independence
FIRE — financial independence, retire early — centres on a number: the amount invested that could sustain your living costs indefinitely from its returns, so work becomes optional. This estimates that number from your annual spending, using the common rule of thumb behind the movement.
Enter your annual expenses to see an estimated FIRE number.
The 4% rule and its caveats
The estimate rests on a widely-cited guideline: that you can withdraw around 4% of a diversified portfolio each year with a good chance it lasts decades, which means your target is roughly twenty-five times your annual spending. It is a useful anchor, but it is a rule of thumb from historical data, not a guarantee — real outcomes depend on returns, inflation, how long the money must last, and the sequence of good and bad years, and many argue for a more conservative rate. The bigger lever is often spending: because the target is a multiple of expenses, lowering your annual spending cuts the number you need dramatically. This is an illustrative estimate, not financial advice; planning for financial independence warrants a qualified adviser.
Questions & answers
How is the FIRE number estimated?
Commonly as about twenty-five times your annual spending, from the guideline that withdrawing around 4% a year should sustain a portfolio for decades.
Is the 4% rule guaranteed?
No — it is a rule of thumb from historical data. Real outcomes depend on returns, inflation, timeframe and market sequence, and many prefer a more conservative rate.
Is this financial advice?
No — it is an illustrative estimate. Planning for financial independence warrants a qualified adviser who knows your situation.