Coast FIRE Cheat Sheet
Look up your Coast FIRE number by age and spending. Print it, pin it to your wall, check it once a year.
1
Find your age
Look down the left column
2
Find your spending
Scan across the top row
3
Read your number
That cell is your Coast target
Baseline Scenario (7% Real Return)
Retire at 65 · 4% SWR · 10% nominal return · 3% inflation
| Age | $30K/yr | $40K/yr | $50K/yr | $60K/yr | $70K/yr | $80K/yr | $100K/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $50K | $67K | $83K | $100K | $117K | $134K | $167K |
| 30 | $70K | $94K | $117K | $140K | $164K | $187K | $234K |
| 35 | $99K | $131K | $164K | $197K | $230K | $263K | $328K |
| 40 | $138K | $184K | $230K | $276K | $322K | $368K | $461K |
| 45 | $194K | $258K | $323K | $388K | $452K | $517K | $646K |
| 50 | $272K | $362K | $453K | $544K | $634K | $725K | $906K |
| 55 | $381K | $508K | $635K | $763K | $890K | $1.0M | $1.3M |
| 60 | $535K | $713K | $891K | $1.1M | $1.2M | $1.4M | $1.8M |
Conservative Scenario (5% Real Return)
Retire at 65 · 4% SWR · 8% nominal return · 3% inflation
| Age | $30K/yr | $40K/yr | $50K/yr | $60K/yr | $70K/yr | $80K/yr | $100K/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $107K | $142K | $178K | $213K | $249K | $284K | $355K |
| 30 | $136K | $181K | $227K | $272K | $317K | $363K | $453K |
| 35 | $174K | $231K | $289K | $347K | $405K | $463K | $578K |
| 40 | $221K | $295K | $369K | $443K | $517K | $591K | $738K |
| 45 | $283K | $377K | $471K | $565K | $660K | $754K | $942K |
| 50 | $361K | $481K | $601K | $722K | $842K | $962K | $1.2M |
| 55 | $460K | $614K | $767K | $921K | $1.1M | $1.2M | $1.5M |
| 60 | $588K | $784K | $979K | $1.2M | $1.4M | $1.6M | $2.0M |
The Formula
Coast Number = FIRE Number / (1 + Real Return)Years to Retirement
Where FIRE Number = Annual Spending / Safe Withdrawal Rate, and Real Return = Nominal Return - Inflation - Fees.
Example: Age 35, spending $50K/yr, baseline (7% real return).
FIRE Number = $50,000 / 0.04 = $1,250,000. Years to retirement = 65 - 35 = 30.
Coast Number = $1,250,000 / (1.07)30 = $164,200.
Assumptions: Retirement age 65 · 4% safe withdrawal rate · 3% annual inflation · $0 investment fees · No additional contributions after reaching Coast FIRE number. Values rounded to nearest thousand. Historical returns do not guarantee future results.
coastfirehub.com/tools/coast-fire-cheat-sheet
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use this cheat sheet?▾
Find your age in the left column. Find your annual spending in the top row. The cell where they meet is your Coast FIRE number — the amount you need invested today for compound interest to carry you to full retirement by age 65. If your current portfolio equals or exceeds that number, you have reached Coast FIRE.
What assumptions does this cheat sheet use?▾
The baseline table uses a 10% nominal return minus 3% inflation minus 0% fees = 7% real return. The conservative table uses an 8% nominal return minus 3% inflation = 5% real return. Both assume a 4% safe withdrawal rate (Trinity Study) and retirement at age 65. The 7% baseline reflects 90 years of S&P 500 data.
What is the difference between the baseline and conservative tables?▾
The baseline table (7% real return) reflects the historical average of a broad US stock market index fund from 1926 to today. The conservative table (5% real return) represents a lower bound that has held true in virtually every 30-year rolling period in recorded market history. If your portfolio is mostly bonds rather than stocks, the conservative table is closer to your reality.
How accurate are the numbers?▾
The formula is exact: Coast Number = FIRE Number / (1 + real return)^years. The uncertainty is in the inputs, not the math. Use the baseline table as your planning target and the conservative table as your safety margin. The real S&P 500 return has ranged from 5% to 9% across different 30-year periods, so both tables are within historical bounds.
What if my situation does not match these tables?▾
These tables use fixed parameters (retire at 65, 4% SWR, 0% fees). If you want to retire at 55, have investment fees above 0.2%, or use a different SWR, use the interactive Coast FIRE Calculator on the homepage. It accepts custom inputs and shows three scenario projections in real time.
Want a personalized number?
The cheat sheet uses fixed assumptions. The interactive calculator lets you adjust retirement age, fees, return rates, and more.
Open Coast FIRE Calculator