Coast FIRE Number by Age: Exact Targets for 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50
Exact Coast FIRE numbers by age 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50. See how much you need invested today to never save for retirement again. Updated tables with real assumptions.
Coast FIRE Number by Age: Exact Targets for 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50
There is a number — specific to your age, your planned spending, and your target retirement date — that changes everything about how hard you need to work. Most people have never calculated it. They keep saving because that's what you're supposed to do, without any sense of when they're actually done.
That number is your Coast FIRE number. Once you hit it, compound interest finishes the job. You can stop saving for retirement entirely.
The tables below show you the exact Coast FIRE number by age for three spending levels. If you want your precise figure based on your own inputs, calculate your exact Coast FIRE number in about 90 seconds.
New to Coast FIRE? Start with our guide on what Coast FIRE means.
What Is Your Coast FIRE Number?
Your Coast FIRE number is the amount you need invested today so that — without any additional contributions — your portfolio will grow to fully fund your retirement by your target age.
Once you hit it, you stop. Your money keeps moving. You don't have to push it anymore.
The formula:
Coast FIRE Number = (Annual Spending ÷ SWR) ÷ (1 + real return)^years to retirement
The tables below have already run this math for you at every major age. Find your row and your spending level. That's your target.
Coast FIRE Number by Age: Reference Tables
Assumptions used in all tables:
- Retirement age: 65
- Real return rate: 7% (S&P 500 historical ~10% minus ~3% inflation, source: officialdata.org)
- Safe Withdrawal Rate (SWR): 4% (Trinity Study, Cooley, Hubbard & Walz, 1998)
- All figures in today's dollars (inflation-adjusted)
If You Plan to Spend $40,000/Year in Retirement
FIRE Number: $1,000,000
| Current Age | Coast FIRE Number | Years to Grow | |-------------|-------------------|---------------| | 25 | $67,000 | 40 years | | 30 | $94,000 | 35 years | | 35 | $131,000 | 30 years | | 40 | $184,000 | 25 years | | 45 | $258,000 | 20 years | | 50 | $362,000 | 15 years | | 55 | $508,000 | 10 years |
If You Plan to Spend $60,000/Year in Retirement
FIRE Number: $1,500,000
| Current Age | Coast FIRE Number | Years to Grow | |-------------|-------------------|---------------| | 25 | $100,000 | 40 years | | 30 | $140,000 | 35 years | | 35 | $197,000 | 30 years | | 40 | $276,000 | 25 years | | 45 | $388,000 | 20 years | | 50 | $544,000 | 15 years | | 55 | $763,000 | 10 years |
If You Plan to Spend $80,000/Year in Retirement
FIRE Number: $2,000,000
| Current Age | Coast FIRE Number | Years to Grow | |-------------|-------------------|---------------| | 25 | $134,000 | 40 years | | 30 | $187,000 | 35 years | | 35 | $263,000 | 30 years | | 40 | $368,000 | 25 years | | 45 | $517,000 | 20 years | | 50 | $725,000 | 15 years | | 55 | $1,017,000 | 10 years |
The Compounding Gap: Why Starting Earlier Changes the Math
Look at the $60,000/year scenario. At age 25, your Coast FIRE number is $100,000. At age 40, it's $276,000.
Same retirement. Same spending. A $176,000 difference — because the 40-year-old has 15 fewer years of compound growth ahead of them.
This is what I call the Compounding Gap: the dollar cost of waiting. Every year you delay investing, your Coast FIRE number climbs by roughly 7%. At 25, you need $100,000. Wait until 26, and you need $107,000. Wait until 30, and you need $140,000. The math doesn't care about your reasons. It just runs.
"Start early" isn't advice. It's arithmetic.
How to Calculate Your Coast FIRE Number
The tables use standard assumptions. Your actual number depends on your specific situation. Here's how to calculate it — or skip to the calculator and let it handle the variables.
Step 1: Find your FIRE Number
FIRE Number = Annual retirement spending ÷ 0.04
Example: $55,000/year spending → FIRE Number = $1,375,000
Step 2: Calculate years to retirement
Years = Target retirement age − Your current age
Example: Retire at 65, currently 33 → 32 years
Step 3: Apply the Coast FIRE formula
Coast FIRE Number = FIRE Number ÷ (1.07)^years
Example: $1,375,000 ÷ (1.07)^32 = $1,375,000 ÷ 8.72 = $157,700
That's your number. If you have $157,700 invested at 33, you never need to save another dollar for retirement.
Want to adjust for different return rates, inflation, or fees? Use our Coast FIRE retirement calculator — it runs the optimistic, base, and conservative scenarios side by side and shows your portfolio growth as a chart.
What Affects Your Coast FIRE Number?
Four variables control your Coast FIRE number. Change any one of them and your target shifts.
1. Your current age
The younger you are, the lower your Coast FIRE number. Every year you wait, it increases by about 7%. A 28-year-old targeting $60,000/year in retirement needs $123,000. A 38-year-old targeting the same retirement needs $241,000. Ten years of delay costs over $119,000. That's real money paying for time you didn't invest.
2. Your planned retirement age
Pushing your target retirement from 60 to 65 drops your Coast FIRE number sharply. You're giving your money five more years to compound. For a 35-year-old spending $60,000/year: retiring at 60 requires a Coast FIRE number of $276,000; retiring at 65 requires only $197,000. Same person, $79,000 difference — just by adjusting a date.
3. Your expected retirement spending
This is the most personal variable, and the one most people underestimate. Your retirement spending sets your FIRE Number, which sets everything else. Cutting planned retirement spending from $70,000 to $55,000/year reduces your Coast FIRE number by about 21%. Lifestyle design isn't just about enjoyment — it's a direct input into when you're financially free.
4. Your assumed return rate
The default of 7% real return is based on S&P 500 historical data since 1926. If you use a conservative 5%, your Coast FIRE number increases by roughly 76% at a 30-year horizon — a 35-year-old spending $60,000/year needs $197,000 at 7%, but $347,000 at 5%. The calculator shows all three scenarios — optimistic, base, and conservative — so you can see the full range before committing to a number.
Real-Life Example: Two People, Same Age, Very Different Numbers
Alex, 30 years old. Plans to retire at 60, expects to spend $45,000/year.
FIRE Number: $45,000 ÷ 0.04 = $1,125,000
Years to retirement: 30
Coast FIRE Number: $1,125,000 ÷ (1.07)^30 = $148,000
Jordan, also 30 years old. Plans to retire at 65, expects to spend $75,000/year.
FIRE Number: $75,000 ÷ 0.04 = $1,875,000
Years to retirement: 35
Coast FIRE Number: $1,875,000 ÷ (1.07)^35 = $176,000
Same age. A $28,000 gap in their Coast FIRE numbers — driven entirely by retirement timing and spending choices.
Neither number is wrong. They reflect different priorities. But now both Alex and Jordan have a concrete target instead of a vague sense that they "should be saving more." The moment you have a number, the problem becomes solvable. Before that, it's just anxiety.
What to Do Once You Know Your Coast FIRE Number
If you've already hit your Coast FIRE number:
You're done saving for retirement. That doesn't obligate you to change anything today — but you now have genuine options. You can redirect your savings rate to zero and put that money toward other goals. Or you can keep investing and retire earlier, build a larger cushion, or both. The point is you're choosing, not grinding.
If you're within 20% of your Coast FIRE number:
You're close. Keep your current savings rate for another 1–3 years and you'll cross the threshold. This is the best place in the whole process to be — you can see the finish line and the math confirms you'll reach it.
If you're still far from your Coast FIRE number:
Focus on closing the Compounding Gap as fast as possible. Every dollar you invest today does more work than a dollar invested five years from now. The math rewards urgency. Not panic — urgency. There's a difference.
See the detailed guide on steps to reach your Coast FIRE number for a specific action plan based on where you stand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Coast FIRE number by age 30?
For a 30-year-old planning to retire at 65 with $50,000/year in retirement expenses, the Coast FIRE number is approximately $116,000, assuming a 7% real return rate and a 4% Safe Withdrawal Rate (SWR). Spending more or retiring earlier pushes that number higher.
What is the Coast FIRE number at age 40?
At age 40, with 25 years until retirement at 65, your Coast FIRE number depends on planned spending. For $40,000/year in retirement: approximately $184,000. For $60,000/year: approximately $276,000. For $80,000/year: approximately $368,000. The figure shifts with your return assumptions and target retirement age.
Is the 7% return rate realistic for Coast FIRE calculations?
The 7% real (inflation-adjusted) return rate is based on the S&P 500's historical average of approximately 10% nominal minus approximately 3% inflation, measured since 1926 (source: officialdata.org). It's a reasonable base-case assumption for a diversified index fund portfolio held over 20–40 years. For a conservative estimate, use 5–6%.
What if I retire before 65? Does that change my Coast FIRE number?
Yes, and the change is large. Earlier retirement means fewer years for growth and more years of withdrawals, which raises both your FIRE Number and your Coast FIRE number. A 35-year-old planning to retire at 55 — just 20 years away instead of 30 — needs a Coast FIRE number nearly twice as high as one planning to retire at 65.
How often should I recalculate my Coast FIRE number?
Recalculate annually, or whenever a major life change occurs — new income level, a shift in spending plans, a new target retirement age, marriage, or a market swing large enough to move your portfolio by 20% or more. Your Coast FIRE number is a moving target, not a one-time calculation.
Does my Coast FIRE number include Social Security?
Standard Coast FIRE calculations exclude Social Security. Most practitioners treat it as a buffer — if it's available when you retire, it extends your portfolio's lifespan. If you want to include it, subtract your expected monthly benefit from your projected annual spending before calculating your FIRE Number.
What accounts count toward my Coast FIRE number?
Any invested assets that will be available at retirement: 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, brokerage accounts, HSA (for medical expenses). Most practitioners exclude their primary home — you need somewhere to live. Cash savings accounts typically aren't counted since they don't grow at market rates.
Can I use a different safe withdrawal rate than 4%?
Yes. The 4% Rule comes from the Trinity Study (Cooley, Hubbard & Walz, 1998) and is the most widely cited benchmark. More conservative planners use 3–3.5%, especially for early retirees with 40+ year retirements. A lower SWR increases your FIRE Number and therefore your Coast FIRE number. The calculator lets you adjust the SWR to see how it moves your target.
The Bottom Line
Your Coast FIRE number is the most useful number in your financial life. It's specific. It's calculable. And unlike "save more for retirement," it actually tells you when you're done.
The tables above give you a benchmark. Your exact number depends on your age, your spending goals, and your assumptions — all of which you control.
Run the numbers for your specific situation and find out exactly where you stand against your Coast FIRE target.
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