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FIRE number

What portfolio would cover your spending at the withdrawal rate you choose?

Your numbers

Portfolio needed

$2,000,000

Annual withdrawal at that size$80,000
Gap vs current portfolio$1,780,000
Years of spending covered now2.75

Tip. Educational estimate with the assumptions listed on this page. Not tax, legal, or investment advice.

Assumptions

  • Spending is real, after-tax lifestyle cost, not gross income.
  • The withdrawal rate is a planning lever, not a guarantee.
  • Pensions, Social Security, and rental cash flow are not subtracted unless you lower spending.

Explore the numbers

Examples

Load a scenario, then change one input at a time.

Example 1

Classic 4%

$80k lifestyle.

Portfolio needed

$2,000,000

Example 2

Lean 3.5%

More conservative rate.

Portfolio needed

$2,285,714

Example 3

House-hacked spend

Lower spending after rent offset.

Portfolio needed

$1,200,000

What this calculates

Translate annual spending into a FIRE / Coast-style portfolio target using a sustainable withdrawal rate, then show the gap versus what you have.

How to use it

  1. Use a year of actual spending, not a hopeful budget.
  2. If rentals will keep running, reduce spending by the cash you trust.
  3. Compare 3.5%, 4%, and 5% before you treat the target as a date.

Common mistakes

  • Using gross income instead of spending.
  • Ignoring sequence-of-returns risk in the first decade.
  • Counting the house you live in as the whole portfolio.

Formula

Target = annual spending ÷ (withdrawal rate ÷ 100). 4% implies 25× spending.

FAQ

Why 25×?

Because 4% of 25× spending is one year of spending. Lower rates need a larger multiple.

Should I include rental properties?

Include the equity only if you would sell or refinance them. Otherwise subtract trusted cash flow from spending.

Is 4% still valid?

It is a research starting point, not a promise. Fees, taxes, and a bad first decade all matter.

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