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Pension Drawdown Calculator

See how long your pension, ARF 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 State 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 €1,500 a month, rising with prices

Most you can take to last to 95
€1,183/mo
The 4% rule would give
€1,000/mo

What this means

To make your money last to age 95, take about €1,183 a month, €317 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.

ARF withdrawals are taxed as income. From the year you turn 61, Revenue taxes at least 4% of an ARF a year, whether you take it or not.

Next step

Year by year

AgeTaken in the yearLeft
66€18,000€296,516
67€18,450€292,396
68€18,911€287,596
69€19,384€282,071
70€19,869€275,772
71€20,365€268,647
72€20,874€260,644
73€21,396€251,705
74€21,931€241,769
75€22,480€230,774
76€23,042€218,652
77€23,618€205,332
78€24,208€190,740
79€24,813€174,797
80€25,434€157,419
81€26,069€138,520
82€26,721€118,007
83€27,389€95,782
84€28,074€71,742
85€28,776€45,780
86€29,495€17,781
87€18,005€0

Ways to make it last longer

  • Take 10% less (€1,350 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.
  • Delay the State Pension if you can: since 2024 you can start it later, up to age 70, for a higher rate.
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. Pension, ARF or savings: what you have now.
  2. Monthly withdrawal: what you’ll take each month on top of the State 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

€300,000, taking €1,500 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 €1,183 a month
The 4% rule €1,000 a month
Taking 10% less (€1,350) Lasts 24 years 10 months

Making your money last

  • Delay the State Pension if you can: since 2024 you can start it later, up to 70, for a higher rate.
  • Keep fees low: 1% a year in fees can cut years off how long your money lasts.
  • Consider an annuity for the basics: it pays a guaranteed income for life, however long you live.

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

Last updated

Frequently asked questions

How long will €300,000 last in retirement?

Taking €1,500 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 €1,183 a month.

What is an ARF?

An Approved Retirement Fund: where many people keep their pension invested after retiring, taking money out as they need it, instead of buying an annuity. Withdrawals are taxed as income.

Do I have to take money out of an ARF?

From the year you turn 61, Revenue taxes at least 4% of your ARF a year, whether you take it or not (5% from 71, and more for large funds). So most people take at least that much.

Should I count the State Pension?

Yes, but not in this calculator. Enter only what you need from your pension or savings on top of the State Pension.