Project your pension pot to retirement: your contribution plus your employer's on qualifying earnings, grown at your expected return. See the pot, its value in today's money and an indicative monthly income.
Enter details
£
£
%
%
%
%
%
%
Contributions are on qualifying earnings (£6,240–£50,270). The employee % includes basic-rate tax relief.
=Pot at retirement
£312,643
Value in today's money£121,411
Starting pot£30,000
Your contributions£54,016
Employer contribution£32,410
Investment growth£196,218
Monthly income (4% drawdown)£1,042
In today's moneyadjusted for inflation
£121,411
Pot at retirement: £312,643 · Value in today's money: £121,411 · Monthly income (4% drawdown): £1,042
The file is generated on your device; nothing is sent to a server. Tables are included.
Report an issue
Describe the problem — the page link, your inputs and the result are attached to the report automatically.
Last updated: 12 July 2026. Auto-enrolment minimums for 2026/27 are 8% of qualifying earnings (5% employee + 3% employer) on the band £6,240–£50,270; the employee 5% includes basic-rate tax relief. Sources: GOV.UK, The Pensions Regulator. Indicative projection, not a guarantee.
⚖︎ Results are for informational purposes and do not constitute tax advice. For specific situations, consult a licensed accountant or the relevant tax authority.
Advertisement728 × 90320 × 250desktop 728×90 sticky · mobile 320×250
iHow it is calculated
Your pot grows from monthly contributions — your % plus your employer's % of qualifying earnings (the slice of salary between £6,240 and £50,270) — compounded monthly at your expected return, less the annual charge, to your retirement age. We also show the pot in today's money (adjusted for inflation) and a monthly income at a 4% drawdown. Contributions are held flat — increase them over time for a realistic figure.
pot = Σ contributions × (1 + return − charge) · real value = pot ÷ (1 + inflation)ʸᵉᵃʳˢ
At 35 with a £30,000 pot, £40,000 salary, 5% employee + 3% employer on qualifying earnings (about £3,362/year total) at 5% return and 0.5% charge to age 67: the pot reaches a few hundred thousand pounds, with a large part being investment growth. In today's money it's lower because of 3% inflation.
Advertisement728 × 90320 × 250desktop 728×90 sticky · mobile 320×250
?Frequently asked questions
What are the auto-enrolment contribution rates?
The minimum total is 8% of qualifying earnings — 5% from you (including basic-rate tax relief) and 3% from your employer. Many schemes contribute more; enter your actual percentages.
What are qualifying earnings?
For 2026/27, contributions are calculated on the slice of your salary between £6,240 and £50,270. Earnings below the lower limit or above the upper limit don't count towards the minimum, though some schemes use full salary.
How does tax relief work?
Under relief at source, you pay from net pay and the provider reclaims 20% basic-rate relief into your pot (pay £80, £100 goes in). Higher and additional-rate taxpayers can claim a further 20/25% via self-assessment. The 5% employee figure already includes basic-rate relief.
How is the pot at retirement calculated?
The current pot plus monthly contributions (yours + employer) are compounded monthly at your expected return, minus the annual charge, until your retirement age. We show the nominal pot and its value in today's money.
Why show the value in today's money?
Inflation erodes purchasing power, so a large pot in 30 years buys less than the same figure today. The real (inflation-adjusted) value tells you what the pot is worth in today's spending terms.
What is the annual allowance?
You can contribute up to £60,000 gross per year (2026/27) across all pensions with tax relief, tapering down for very high earners. This tool projects growth; it doesn't cap contributions at the allowance.
What return should I assume?
Pensions are long-term, so a nominal 4–6% a year is a common assumption for a balanced fund, but returns vary and aren't guaranteed. Use a prudent figure and try a few scenarios; the charge you enter reduces it.
Does this include the State Pension?
No. This projects your workplace/personal pension pot only. The new State Pension (£241.30/week for 35 qualifying years) is separate and paid from State Pension age (rising to 67).
Advertisement728 × 90320 × 250desktop 728×90 sticky · mobile 320×250