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How Long Will My Super Last?

See how long your super or savings will last in retirement, and the most you can take each month for it to last.

$

What you have now

$

On top of the Age Pension

More options· Investment return, inflation and how long it should last
%

A year

%

Withdrawals rise by this

Age

Your money lasts

21 years 7 months

To about age 86, taking $2,500 a month, rising with prices

Most you can take to last to 95
$1,971/mo
The 4% rule would give
$1,667/mo

What this means

To make your money last to age 95, take about $1,971 a month, $529 less than now. The 4% rule is a common starting point: take 4% of your savings in the first year, then raise it with prices.

Super withdrawals are tax-free from age 60. An account-based pension has a minimum you must take each year: 5% of the balance from 65 to 74.

Next step

Year by year

AgeTaken in the yearLeft
66$30,000$494,194
67$30,750$487,327
68$31,519$479,327
69$32,307$470,118
70$33,114$459,619
71$33,942$447,746
72$34,791$434,407
73$35,661$419,508
74$36,552$402,949
75$37,466$384,623
76$38,403$364,420
77$39,363$342,220
78$40,347$317,900
79$41,355$291,328
80$42,389$262,365
81$43,449$230,867
82$44,535$196,678
83$45,649$159,636
84$46,790$119,570
85$47,960$76,300
86$49,158$29,635
87$30,008$0

Ways to make it last longer

  • Take 10% less ($2,250 a month): lasts 24 years 10 months, to age 89.
  • Earn 1% more a year, for example with lower fees: lasts 24 years 10 months, to age 89.
  • Check the Age Pension: as your super gets smaller, the Age Pension may pay more, so your income can fall less than this shows.
Assumptions in this estimate
  • The return and inflation stay the same every year. Real returns go up and down, and a fall early in retirement makes money run out sooner.
  • Withdrawals are before any tax, and taken at the start of each month.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us

How the calculator works

  1. Super or savings: what you have now.
  2. Monthly withdrawal: what you’ll take each month on top of the Age Pension. It rises with inflation each year, so it buys the same.
  3. Result: how long the money lasts, and the most you can take for it to last to the age you choose (95 to start with).

Example

$500,000, taking $2,500 a month from age 65, with a 5% return and 2.5% inflation:

Result
Lasts 21 years 7 months, to 86
Most you can take to last to 95 $1,971 a month
The 4% rule $1,667 a month
Taking 10% less ($2,250) Lasts 24 years 10 months

Making your money last

  • Check your Age Pension: our Age Pension calculator shows what you could get with your super and other assets.
  • Keep fees low: 1% a year in fees can cut years off how long your money lasts.
  • Get free help: Services Australia’s Financial Information Service is free for anyone.

Still saving? The super calculator shows what you could have by retirement.

Last updated

Frequently asked questions

How long will $500,000 in super last?

Taking $2,500 a month, rising with prices, and earning 5% a year, it lasts about 21 years and 7 months. To make it last 30 years, take about $1,971 a month.

Should I count the Age Pension?

Yes, but not in this calculator. Enter only what you need from your super on top of the Age Pension. As your super gets smaller, the Age Pension may pay more, so your income can fall less than this shows.

Is there a minimum I must take?

Yes. An account-based pension has a minimum yearly payment that rises with age: 5% of the balance from 65 to 74, 6% from 75 to 79, and more after that.

Are super withdrawals taxed?

Withdrawals from super are tax-free from age 60, and earnings inside a retirement-phase pension account are tax-free too.