FIRE calculator UK
Financial independence means having enough invested to cover your spending for good. Enter where you are now to see how far off it is, and how much the growth rate matters.
How this is calculated
The target portfolio is your yearly spending divided by the withdrawal rate. At 4%, that is 25 times your spending.
Your current investments and monthly contributions are stepped forward a month at a time at the growth rate until they reach the target.
Coast FIRE is the amount you would need invested today for it to grow to the target by the Coast FIRE age with no more contributions.
The table shows how the timeline moves if growth is one or two points higher or lower, because the growth rate is the assumption that matters most.
Rates used · 2026/27
| 4% withdrawal rate | target is 25 times spending |
| 3.5% withdrawal rate | target is about 28.6 times spending |
| Minimum pension age | 55, rising to 57 in 2028 |
| Growth | your assumption, after inflation |
Last checked July 2026. Source: HMRC and gov.uk.
Worked example
At 35 with £100,000 invested and £1,500 a month going in, spending £30,000 a year at a 4% withdrawal rate needs £750,000. At 5% growth after inflation that takes 17 years 8 months, so financial independence at about 52. At 3% it would be 57, at 7% about 49.
Common questions
What is FIRE?
Financial Independence, Retire Early. The idea is to save and invest a large share of income until your investments can cover your spending, so work becomes optional.
Is 4% a safe withdrawal rate in the UK?
It is a common rule of thumb from US research. Many UK planners use 3% to 3.5% for a long retirement to allow for weaker markets.
What is Coast FIRE?
The point where you have invested enough that, with no further contributions, growth alone would reach your target by a chosen age. After that you only need to earn enough to cover your spending.
Should I count my pension?
Yes, but you cannot draw it before the minimum pension age, so you also need enough in ISAs or other accounts to live on until then.