Coast FIRE Calculator
How much do you need saved right nowso that compound growth alone gets you to your retirement number — without saving another dollar? If you’ve hit your Coast FIRE number, you only need to earn enough to cover current expenses.
Your Situation
Rates & Assumptions
Coast FIRE Summary
Portfolio Growth: Coast vs. Continued Saving
Compare coasting (no more contributions) to continued saving of ~$20,000/year
Coast FIRE Number by Retirement Age
Amount you need saved today (at age 32) to coast to your $1,250,000 FIRE target at different retirement ages
| Retire At | Years to Retire | Coast FIRE Number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 23 | $507,158 | Need $327,158 |
| 60(selected) | 28 | $416,847 | Need $236,847 |
| 65 | 33 | $342,618 | Need $162,618 |
| 70 | 38 | $281,607 | Need $101,607 |
Assumes 7% nominal return, 3% inflation (4.0% real return), and 4% safe withdrawal rate. Your current savings: $180,000.
Key Insights
You need $236,847 more saved today to reach Coast FIRE for a retirement age of 60. Your current $180,000 is 43% of the way to the $416,847 Coast FIRE number.
Your money needs to grow 3.0x from the Coast FIRE number to reach your FIRE target over 28 years. At 4.0% real returns, your money roughly doubles every 18 years.
What Is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE(also called Coast FI) is a milestone on the path to financial independence where you’ve saved enough that compound growth alonewill grow your portfolio to your full retirement number by your target retirement age — even if you never invest another dollar.
Once you reach Coast FIRE, your only financial obligation is covering your current living expenses. You no longer need a high-paying job or aggressive savings rate. Many people use this milestone to switch to part-time work, pursue a passion career, take a lower-stress job, or start a business without worrying about retirement savings.
How Coast FIRE Is Calculated
Your Coast FIRE number is your traditional FIRE number discounted back to today using your expected real rate of return. The formula:
Coast FIRE Number = FIRE Number / (1 + real return)^(years to retirement)
For example, if your FIRE number is $1,250,000, you expect 4% real returns, and you plan to retire in 25 years: $1,250,000 / (1.04)^25 = $468,750. If you have $468,750 invested today, you can “coast” to retirement.
Coast FIRE vs. Barista FIRE
These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but there’s a subtle difference. Coast FIRE means your existing investments will compound to your retirement number on their own. Barista FIRE adds the idea of working a part-time or lower-paying job specifically for benefits (like health insurance through an employer), while coasting on existing savings for retirement.
The Power of Starting Early
Coast FIRE powerfully illustrates why early investing matters so much. A 25-year-old who needs a $1,250,000 FIRE number at age 60 only needs about $292,000 saved today at 4% real returns. A 35-year-old needs $432,000 for the same goal. A 45-year-old needs $640,000. Each decade of delay nearly doubles the required amount because there are fewer years of compounding to do the heavy lifting.
Key Assumptions and Risks
Sequence of returns risk:Coast FIRE assumes steady compound growth, but a major market downturn early in the “coasting” period could significantly delay your timeline. Unlike traditional FIRE where ongoing contributions buy shares at lower prices during downturns (dollar-cost averaging), a coasting portfolio has no new money coming in to take advantage of recoveries.
Inflation uncertainty:We use real (inflation-adjusted) returns, but actual inflation is unpredictable. A period of unexpectedly high inflation could erode your purchasing power and increase your FIRE number. Consider using a conservative real return estimate (3–4%) rather than an optimistic one.
Lifestyle changes: Your spending in retirement may differ substantially from what you project today. Healthcare costs, housing decisions, family obligations, and lifestyle inflation can all change the target. Build in a margin of safety.