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
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Year-by-Year Progress
| Year | Age | Contributions | Growth | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 30 | $0 | $3,500 | $53,500 |
| 1 | 31 | $3,106 | $3,745 | $60,351 |
| 2 | 32 | $3,106 | $4,225 | $67,682 |
| 3 | 33 | $3,106 | $4,738 | $75,525 |
| 4 | 34 | $3,106 | $5,287 | $83,918 |
| 5 | 35 | $3,106 | $5,874 | $92,898 |
| 6 | 36 | $3,106 | $6,503 | $102,507 |
| 7 | 37 | $3,106 | $7,175 | $112,789 |
| 8 | 38 | $3,106 | $7,895 | $123,790 |
| 9 | 39 | $3,106 | $8,665 | $135,561 |
| ... and 26 more years | ||||
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
- • 4% rule (safe withdrawal rate)
- • 25x annual expenses needed
- • Allows 4% annual withdrawals
- • 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
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
FIRE strategy
Coast FIRE Planning
Comprehensive financial independence planning and analysis
4% rule calculation
Annual Expenses × 25
Uses the 4% rule to determine your Coast FIRE target
FIRE strategies
Lean, Regular, Fat FIRE
Compare different FIRE strategies and approaches
Retirement planning
Age-based Strategy
Age-specific retirement planning and savings strategies
Strategy planning
Personalized Approach
Customized Coast FIRE strategies based on your situation
Savings calculation
Monthly Contributions
Determines required monthly savings for 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 × 25Based 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:
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.
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.
Get Custom Calculator for Your PlatformCoast FIRE Calculator Examples
Coast FIRE Parameters:
- Current Age: 30 years
- Retirement Age: 65 years
- Current Savings: $50,000
- Annual Expenses: $40,000
- Expected Return: 7%
Calculation Steps:
- Coast FIRE Number: $40,000 × 25 = $1,000,000
- Years to retirement: 65 - 30 = 35 years
- Future value of current savings: $50,000 × (1.07)^35 = $533,829
- Required additional savings: $1,000,000 - $533,829 = $466,171
- 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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