FIRE Strategy

How to Calculate Coast FIRE Number - Coast FIRE Calculator & Formula

Learn how to calculate Coast FIRE number with our free calculator and formula guide. Calculate your Coast FIRE number using the formula: Annual Expenses × 25. Use our coastfire calculator, coast fire calculator, and coast fire number calculator to determine how much you need to save to reach financial independence. Example: $40,000 annual expenses × 25 = $1,000,000 Coast FIRE number. Our calculator uses compound interest principles to determine how much you need to save to reach financial independence by retirement age.

Last updated: February 2, 2026

Coast FIRE number calculation
Monthly contribution planning
Compound interest analysis

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Coast FIRE Calculator
Calculate your Coast FIRE number and determine how much you need to save to reach financial independence
$1,000,000
Coast FIRE Number
$259
Monthly Contribution
35 years
Years to Coast FIRE
$108,710
Total Contributions
Coast FIRE Analysis Summary
Current Age:30 years
Retirement Age:65 years
Current Savings:$50,000
Annual Expenses:$40,000
Expected Return:7.0%
Coast FIRE Number:$1,000,000
Monthly Contribution:$259
Years to Coast:35 years

Year-by-Year Progress

YearAgeContributionsGrowthTotal
030$0$3,500$53,500
131$3,106$3,745$60,351
232$3,106$4,225$67,682
333$3,106$4,738$75,525
434$3,106$5,287$83,918
535$3,106$5,874$92,898
636$3,106$6,503$102,507
737$3,106$7,175$112,789
838$3,106$7,895$123,790
939$3,106$8,665$135,561
... and 26 more years
Key Insights

Coast FIRE Strategy

You need $259/month to reach Coast FIRE in 35 years. After that, you can stop contributing and let compound interest work.

4% Rule

Your Coast FIRE number of $1,000,000 is based on the 4% rule:$40,000 × 25 = $1,000,000.

Compound Growth

With 7.0% annual returns, your money will grow from $50,000 to $1,000,000 by retirement.

Total Contributions

You'll contribute $108,710 total over 35 years to reach Coast FIRE status.

How to Calculate Coast FIRE Number - Step by Step Guide & Formula

Coast FIRE Number Formula

Basic Formula:

Coast FIRE Number = Annual Expenses × 25

Based on:
  • • 4% rule (safe withdrawal rate)
  • • 25x annual expenses needed
  • • Allows 4% annual withdrawals
Example:
  • • Annual Expenses: $40,000
  • • Coast FIRE Number: $40,000 × 25
  • • Result: $1,000,000

Step-by-Step: How to Calculate Coast FIRE Number

Step 1: Estimate Annual Expenses

Determine your annual expenses in retirement:

  • • Housing costs (mortgage/rent, property taxes, maintenance)
  • • Food, utilities, transportation
  • • Healthcare and insurance
  • • Travel, hobbies, entertainment
  • • Add 10-20% buffer for unexpected expenses

Example: $40,000/year in retirement expenses

Step 2: Calculate Coast FIRE Number

Apply the Coast FIRE formula:

Coast FIRE Number = Annual Expenses × 25

Example: $40,000 × 25 = $1,000,000 Coast FIRE number

Step 3: Calculate Future Value of Current Savings

Determine how much your current savings will grow:

Future Value = Current Savings × (1 + Return Rate)^Years

Example: $50,000 × (1.07)^35 = $533,829

Step 4: Determine Required Additional Savings

Calculate the gap you need to fill:

Required Savings = Coast FIRE Number - Future Value

Example: $1,000,000 - $533,829 = $466,171 needed

Step 5: Calculate Monthly Contribution

Determine how much to save monthly:

Use annuity formula or our calculator to find monthly contribution needed to reach Coast FIRE number by retirement age.

Example: $1,200/month for 35 years

Coast FIRE Number Examples by Age

Age 25, $40K expensesCoast FIRE: ~$150,000
Age 30, $40K expensesCoast FIRE: ~$200,000
Age 35, $40K expensesCoast FIRE: ~$280,000
Age 40, $40K expensesCoast FIRE: ~$400,000

Note: These examples assume 7% annual return and retiring at 65. The younger you are, the less you need saved because compound interest has more time to work.

Coast FIRE Calculator Types & Features

Financial Independence Calculator
Calculate your path to financial independence and early retirement

FIRE strategy

Coast FIRE Planning

Comprehensive financial independence planning and analysis

Coast FIRE Number Calculator
Calculate your specific Coast FIRE number based on expenses

4% rule calculation

Annual Expenses × 25

Uses the 4% rule to determine your Coast FIRE target

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Coast FIRE Retirement Calculator
Calculate retirement planning with Coast FIRE methodology

Retirement planning

Age-based Strategy

Age-specific retirement planning and savings strategies

Coast FIRE Strategy Calculator
Develop personalized Coast FIRE strategies and timelines

Strategy planning

Personalized Approach

Customized Coast FIRE strategies based on your situation

Coast FIRE Savings Calculator
Calculate required savings rates and contribution amounts

Savings calculation

Monthly Contributions

Determines required monthly savings for Coast FIRE

Coastfire Calculator
Calculate Coast FIRE number and required savings (coastfire = coast fire)

Same as Coast FIRE

Coastfire = Coast FIRE

Coastfire is the same as Coast FIRE (just written as one word)

Quick Example Result

For a 30-year-old with $50,000 savings, $40,000 annual expenses, 7% returns, retiring at 65:

Coast FIRE Number

$1,000,000

Monthly Contribution

$1,200

How Our Coast FIRE Calculator Works

Our Coast FIRE calculator uses the 4% rule and compound interest calculations to determine your financial independence number. The calculation applies financial planning principles to determine how much you need to save to reach Coast FIRE status by your target retirement age.

Coast FIRE Formula - Complete Guide

Main Formula:

Coast FIRE Number = Annual Expenses × 25

Based on the 4% rule: you can withdraw 4% annually from your portfolio in retirement

Why 25x?

The 4% rule states you can safely withdraw 4% of your portfolio annually:

  • • 4% withdrawal rate = 1 ÷ 0.04 = 25x multiplier
  • • $1,000,000 × 4% = $40,000/year withdrawals
  • • $40,000 expenses × 25 = $1,000,000 needed

Quick Calculation Example:

Given: $40,000 annual expenses, retiring at 65
Step 1: Coast FIRE Number = $40,000 × 25 = $1,000,000
Step 2: If you're 30 with $50,000 saved at 7% return
Step 3: Future value in 35 years = $50,000 × (1.07)^35 = $533,829
Step 4: Need to save: $1,000,000 - $533,829 = $466,171
Result: Save ~$1,200/month to reach Coast FIRE

Once you reach your Coast FIRE number, you can stop aggressive saving and let compound interest grow your investments to your full FIRE number by retirement age.

📈 Coast FIRE Timeline

Shows the path from current savings to Coast FIRE number

Coast FIRE Strategy

Coast FIRE is a financial independence strategy where you save enough money early in life so that, without additional contributions, your investments will grow to your full FIRE number by traditional retirement age. This allows you to "coast" to financial independence.

  • Calculate your annual expenses in retirement
  • Multiply by 25 to get your Coast FIRE number (4% rule)
  • Determine how much you need to save monthly to reach this number
  • Once reached, you can stop saving and let compound interest work
  • Your investments will grow to full FIRE number by retirement age
  • Allows for career flexibility and reduced financial pressure

Sources & References

  • Your Money or Your Life - Vicki Robin and Joe DominguezFoundational FIRE movement principles and strategies
  • The 4% Rule - Trinity Study (1998)Safe withdrawal rate research for retirement planning
  • r/financialindependence - FIRE Community ResourcesCommunity-driven FIRE strategies and Coast FIRE discussions

Need help with other retirement planning? Check out our retirement ROI calculator and investment growth simulator.

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Coast FIRE Calculator Examples

Coast FIRE Calculator Example
Calculate Coast FIRE for a 30-year-old with $50,000 savings, $40,000 annual expenses, 7% returns, retiring at 65

Coast FIRE Parameters:

  • Current Age: 30 years
  • Retirement Age: 65 years
  • Current Savings: $50,000
  • Annual Expenses: $40,000
  • Expected Return: 7%

Calculation Steps:

  1. Coast FIRE Number: $40,000 × 25 = $1,000,000
  2. Years to retirement: 65 - 30 = 35 years
  3. Future value of current savings: $50,000 × (1.07)^35 = $533,829
  4. Required additional savings: $1,000,000 - $533,829 = $466,171
  5. Monthly contribution needed: $1,200

Result: Coast FIRE Number = $1,000,000, Monthly Contribution = $1,200

Save $1,200/month for 35 years to reach Coast FIRE, then let compound interest work.

Early Coast FIRE Example

25-year-old, $20,000 savings, $30,000 expenses, 8% returns

Coast FIRE: $750,000, Monthly: $800

Late Start Coast FIRE Example

40-year-old, $100,000 savings, $50,000 expenses, 6% returns

Coast FIRE: $1,250,000, Monthly: $2,500

Frequently Asked Questions

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