RMD Calculator
RMD Calculator for Required Minimum Distributions
Enter your balance. Our free RMD calculator uses the Uniform Lifetime Table for owners.
$18,867.92
Annual withdrawal at age 73
Standard account-owner estimate. Inherited accounts and qualifying younger-spouse situations need a different method.
What is a required minimum distribution?
An RMD is a minimum annual withdrawal from certain retirement accounts. It helps move money out of tax-deferred savings during retirement. Your RMD calculator result depends on the account balance, your age and the appropriate distribution table.
How to Use the RMD Calculator
- Find your year-end balance
Open your retirement account statement and locate the value on the previous December 31. Use that figure rather than today’s balance.
- Enter your birth year
The tool works out the age you reach in 2026. This selects the standard IRS factor and helps identify whether age-based withdrawals have begun.
- Review your amount
Use the RMD calculator to see the annual estimate, factor and monthly equivalent. Confirm the account’s requirements with your custodian before scheduling a payment.
How does the calculation work?
The standard formula divides your prior-year balance by the distribution factor for your age. A smaller factor means a larger percentage withdrawal from the same balance.
For example, $500,000 ÷ 26.5 gives $18,867.92 at age 73. At age 75, the same balance divided by 24.6 gives $20,325.20. The tool shows both the dollar amount and the percentage so you can check your result.
IRS distribution table by age
This RMD calculator table shows common factors from the Uniform Lifetime Table. These are distribution factors, not predictions of how long you will live.
| Age | IRS factor | Rate | On $500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 26.5 | 3.77% | $18,867.92 |
| 74 | 25.5 | 3.92% | $19,607.84 |
| 75 | 24.6 | 4.07% | $20,325.20 |
| 76 | 23.7 | 4.22% | $21,097.05 |
| 77 | 22.9 | 4.37% | $21,834.06 |
| 78 | 22.0 | 4.55% | $22,727.27 |
| 79 | 21.1 | 4.74% | $23,696.68 |
| 80 | 20.2 | 4.95% | $24,752.48 |
| 85 | 16.0 | 6.25% | $31,250.00 |
| 90 | 12.2 | 8.20% | $40,983.61 |
When do required withdrawals begin?
Withdrawals begin at 73 for 1951–1958 births, or 75 for 1960 onward. Age 73 for 1959 births remains proposed; check the starting-age tool. Older cohorts have earlier rules.
Generally due by April 1 of the year after you reach your starting age.
Generally due by December 31 each year. Delaying the first can put two withdrawals in the following year.
Workplace plans can have retirement-based exceptions. This tool estimates amounts; it does not check every account’s eligibility or deadline.
Your five-year withdrawal projection
This tool also gives you a planning illustration. Each row uses the previous year-end balance. The model subtracts the withdrawal first, then applies your growth assumption to the remaining funds.
| Year | Age | Prior-year balance | Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 73 | $500,000.00 | $18,867.92 |
| 2027 | 74 | $505,188.68 | $19,811.32 |
| 2028 | 75 | $509,646.23 | $20,717.33 |
| 2029 | 76 | $513,375.35 | $21,661.41 |
| 2030 | 77 | $516,299.64 | $22,545.84 |
Returns vary, and withdrawal timing affects actual balances. These amounts are illustrations, not guaranteed future income.
Which retirement accounts does this cover?
Use this IRA RMD calculator for standard owner calculations. The following distinctions help you decide when you need more guidance.
Standard owner factors generally apply, subject to beneficiary exceptions.
Plan rules may change when withdrawals begin and how they are taken.
An inherited IRA RMD calculator needs beneficiary details and the original owner’s death information. This tool does not cover them.
Original owners generally have no lifetime RMDs; beneficiaries follow separate rules.
Simple tips before you take a withdrawal
Save your statement and calculation together for your annual records.
- Check the statement date. A current balance can produce the wrong annual estimate.
- Keep account rules separate. IRA aggregation and workplace-plan withdrawals have different requirements.
- Plan for taxes. Your withdrawal estimate is not your after-tax spending amount.
- Check the payment date. Allow time for processing before the deadline.
Frequently asked questions
What is an RMD calculator?
It estimates the minimum annual withdrawal for a supported retirement account using your year-end balance and an IRS distribution factor. Think of it as a starting point for checking your custodian’s calculation, rather than a withdrawal instruction.
How much is my RMD at age 73?
With a $500,000 prior-year balance and a factor of 26.5, the annual amount is $18,867.92. That is approximately 3.77% of the balance. Your amount changes with your account value and the table that applies to you.
When do I have to take my first RMD?
Starting age is 73 for 1951–1958 births and 75 for 1960 onward. Age 73 for 1959 births remains proposed. Your first IRA withdrawal can generally wait until April 1 of the following year; later annual withdrawals are due December 31.
Can I use this as a 401(k) RMD calculator?
The standard factor can help estimate an account owner’s workplace-plan withdrawal. However, some employees can postpone distributions until retirement. Plan-specific rules and account-by-account withdrawal requirements still apply, so confirm the result with your administrator.
Does a Roth IRA have required withdrawals?
An original Roth IRA owner does not have lifetime required distributions. Inherited Roth accounts have separate beneficiary rules. This standard IRA RMD calculator does not determine inherited-account withdrawals.
Can I use an RMD calculator for 2025 or 2024?
This tool is set to 2026. A historical calculation needs that year’s age, the previous December 31 balance and the rules applicable to that year. Do not reuse a current-year result as a historical withdrawal amount.
Is this the official IRS RMD calculator?
No. This is an independent educational tool using published IRS factors. You can compare its method with worksheets published by the IRS. It is not affiliated with the IRS, AARP, Schwab, Fidelity or Vanguard.