How accurate is a pension calculator?

A pension calculator gives an illustration, not a guarantee. Real returns vary year to year and depend on your investments, charges, and contributions. Use it as a guide to see whether you're broadly on track, then speak to a regulated adviser for personal planning.

What is a good pension contribution percentage?

A common rule of thumb is to contribute a percentage of your salary equal to half your age when you started saving. Many people aim for 12-15% of salary in total (including employer contributions). Even a 1% increase early on can make a large difference over decades thanks to compounding.

What does 'today's money' mean in a pension projection?

It means the figures are adjusted for inflation, so they reflect what the money would be worth in spending power today. This is more useful than a big future number that looks impressive but buys less due to rising prices.

What is the 25% tax-free pension lump sum?

When you reach pension access age (currently 55, rising to 57 in 2028) you can normally take up to 25% of your pension pot as a tax-free lump sum, with the rest left invested to provide a taxable income. There is an overall cap on the tax-free amount, currently £268,275, so very large pots may not get the full 25% tax-free.

Pension Sprout — The Simple UK Pension Calculator

Your pension projection

Adjust the numbers below — your results update instantly. All figures in today's money.

About you

Your age now

Retirement age — when you'll start drawing it

Pension pot so far

Your annual salary

You contribute

Your employer contributes

Expected pay rise — each year, above inflation

At age 65, you could have

£900k

based on moderate growth (5% a year, after inflation)

Pick a scenario to explore

Cautious

4% / yr

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Moderate

5% / yr

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Optimistic

6% / yr

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👆 Tap any scenario to see what you could retire on

Rough yearly income in retirement —

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Tax-free

25% you could take tax-free —

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Illustration only — not financial advice. Figures are in today's money (adjusted for inflation) and assume you keep contributing the same percentage of your salary. Real returns aren't guaranteed. State Pension shown at the current full rate (~£11,500/yr) assuming a complete National Insurance record.

Nothing leaves your browser

No accounts, no emails, no tracking of your numbers. Everything is worked out on your own device.

Done in 30 seconds

Seven simple fields, all things you already know. No annuity rates or actuarial jargon to look up.

Built for real life

Factors in pay rises and compound growth, in today's money — so the number actually means something.

How it works

Three numbers in, one clear picture out

No spreadsheets, no logins, no homework. Just enter what you know and see where you're heading.

Pop in your basics

Your age, salary, current pot, and how much you and your employer pay in. That's it.

We do the maths

We project your pot forward with compound growth and your expected pay rises, all in today's money.

See your future

Get a clear pot value and a rough retirement income — plus how it shifts if markets do better or worse.

Worth knowing

Small changes, big difference

The earlier you act, the more compounding does the heavy lifting. A few ideas to explore in the calculator.

Nudge up by 1%

Try raising your own contribution by a single percent. Over decades, that small change can add tens of thousands to your pot — because every extra pound has years to grow.

Ask about matching

Many employers will pay in more if you do. It's effectively free money. Bump up the employer figure in the calculator to see what a better match could be worth.

Mind the gap

Add the State Pension (around £11,500 a year today) to your private pot's income to see your fuller picture. Many people are surprised how the two combine.

Questions

The bits people always ask

How accurate is this calculator?

It's an illustration, not a promise. Real investment returns bounce around year to year and depend on your funds, charges, and how consistently you contribute. Treat the result as a "rough heading" to see whether you're broadly on track — then speak to a regulated adviser for proper planning.

Why are the figures in "today's money"?

Because a huge future number can be misleading — £1 million in 30 years won't buy what £1 million buys now. By adjusting for inflation, the figure reflects real spending power today, which is far easier to make sense of.

What's a good amount to contribute?

A common rule of thumb is to aim for a total (you plus your employer) of around 12–15% of salary. Another is to halve your age when you start and use that as your percentage. There's no single right answer — but the calculator lets you test what different levels do to your pot.

What is the 25% tax-free lump sum?

When you reach pension access age (currently 55, rising to 57 in 2028), you can normally take up to 25% of your pension pot as a tax-free lump sum. The rest can be left invested to provide an income, which is taxed as normal. There's an overall cap on the tax-free amount — currently £268,275 — so very large pots may not get the full 25% tax-free. How and when you take it has tax and planning implications, so it's worth getting advice before deciding.

Does this include the State Pension?

The retirement income figure adds the current full State Pension (around £11,500 a year) on top of income drawn from your private pot, assuming a complete National Insurance record. The pot value itself is your workplace/private pension only.

Is my data safe?

Completely. There are no accounts and no sign-up. Every calculation runs in your own browser — your numbers are never sent anywhere, stored, or shared.

See your pension
pot grow