Project the value of your pension pot at retirement based on contributions, employer match, and investment growth.
Projections are based on assumed growth rates and are not guaranteed. Investment values can go down as well as up. Always consult a financial adviser.
Your pension pot is the total value of your defined contribution pension savings. It grows through three sources: your personal contributions, employer contributions, and investment returns. Over a working lifetime, compound growth on these contributions can transform modest monthly payments into a substantial retirement fund. For the 2026-27 tax year, the pension annual allowance is GBP 60,000 -- the maximum combined contribution (from you and your employer) that benefits from tax relief. Most employees contribute 5-10% of their salary, with their employer adding 3-10% on top. Auto-enrolment minimums are 5% employee and 3% employer. The power of compound growth means that starting early makes an enormous difference. A 25-year-old contributing GBP 200 per month with 5% annual growth will accumulate significantly more by retirement than a 40-year-old contributing the same amount, simply because the money has more time to compound. However, it is never too late to start -- even 15-20 years of contributions can build a meaningful pot. Pension charges eat into your returns over time. The auto-enrolment fee cap is 0.75% per year, but many workplace schemes charge less. A seemingly small difference in charges -- say 0.3% versus 1.5% -- can reduce your final pot by tens of thousands of pounds over a 30-year career. This calculator projects your pension pot at retirement using year-by-year compound growth. It shows both nominal values (the actual pounds) and real terms values (adjusted for 2% inflation), giving you a realistic picture of your retirement spending power. The fees impact figure shows exactly how much your charges cost over time.
To project your pension pot: 1. Enter your current age and planned retirement age. The default retirement age is 67, matching the current State Pension age for most people. You can access your pension from age 55 (57 from 2028). 2. Enter your current pension pot value. Check your latest pension statement or log into your provider's website. If you have multiple pensions, you can either combine them or calculate each separately. 3. Enter your monthly contribution. This is the amount you personally pay into your pension each month. Check your payslip for the exact figure. 4. Enter your employer's monthly contribution. Check your payslip or employment contract for this figure. Many employers match your contribution up to a certain percentage. 5. Set the annual growth rate. The default of 5% represents a moderate assumption for a mixed portfolio. Adjust higher for a more optimistic scenario or lower for a conservative one. 6. Set the annual fees. The default of 0.75% is the auto-enrolment cap. Check your pension's fund factsheet for the actual charge. Include all charges (annual management charge, platform fee, etc.). 7. Review the projection chart showing both nominal and real (inflation-adjusted) values. The real terms figure is what your pot would be worth in today's purchasing power.
The pension pot projection uses year-by-year compound growth: For each year from now until retirement: 1. The existing pot grows by the net growth rate (annual growth rate minus annual fees) 2. Annual contributions (personal + employer) are added at the end of each year Net growth rate = annual growth rate - annual fees For example: 5% growth - 0.75% fees = 4.25% net growth The formula for each year is: Pot(year) = Pot(year-1) x (1 + net growth rate) + annual contributions Real terms values are calculated by dividing the nominal value by the inflation factor: Real value = Nominal value / (1.02)^years This means a pot of GBP 500,000 in 30 years is worth approximately GBP 276,000 in today's money at 2% inflation. The fees impact is calculated by running the same projection with zero fees and comparing the results: Fees impact = Pot without fees - Pot with fees Investment growth = Final pot - Initial pot - Total personal contributions - Total employer contributions
Inputs: Age 30, retire 67, GBP 10,000 pot, GBP 300/month + GBP 150 employer, 5% growth, 0.75% fees
Inputs: Age 50, retire 67, GBP 0 pot, GBP 500/month, no employer match, 5% growth, 0.75% fees
The projection assumes a constant growth rate, which is a simplification. In reality, investment returns vary significantly year to year. Equities might return 10% one year and -5% the next. The long-term average for a diversified global equity portfolio has historically been around 7-8% before inflation, but past performance does not guarantee future results. Consider the impact of different growth rate assumptions: at 3% net growth, your pot might be 40% smaller than at 5% net growth over 30 years. Running the calculation with different rates gives you a range of outcomes. If you have a defined benefit (final salary) pension, this calculator is less relevant as your retirement income is guaranteed as a fraction of your salary. However, many people have both DB and DC pensions. The State Pension provides a baseline income in retirement. The new full State Pension for 2026-27 is GBP 241.30 per week (GBP 12,548 per year). Your pension pot should aim to provide the additional income needed on top of this. You can consolidate multiple pension pots into a single scheme to simplify management and potentially reduce fees. However, check for any exit fees, guaranteed annuity rates, or protected benefits before transferring. Remember that pension contributions receive tax relief, effectively reducing your cost. A higher rate taxpayer contributing GBP 300 per month has an effective cost of just GBP 180 after 40% tax relief.