See how much you can contribute to your 401(k) in 2026, what your employer match adds, and whether you're on track to hit the IRS limit. Includes the SECURE 2.0 age 60-63 super catch-up.
No catch-up under 50
e.g. 50% = $0.50 per $1
% of salary they match up to
Your contribution
$12,000
50% of $24,000 limit
Employer match
+$3,600
free money — don't leave on the table
Total (2026)
$15,600
under $72,000 cap
| Year | Base | +50 catch-up | +60-63 super | Total cap (incl. employer) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $24,000 | $32,000 | $35,750 | $72,000 |
| 2025 | $23,500 | $31,000 | $34,750 | $70,000 |
| 2024 | $23,000 | $30,500 | $30,500 | $69,000 |
| 2023 | $22,500 | $30,000 | $30,000 | $66,000 |
| 2022 | $20,500 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $61,000 |
Your 401(k) elective-deferral limit ($24,000 in 2026) is the cap on what you contribute. But most US employer plans add a match on top — typically 50% or 100% of what you put in, up to a percentage of your salary. That's free money. Contributing less than the match cap is mathematically the same as taking a pay cut.
The calculator above shows your effective rate: if your employer matches 50% of the first 6% of salary, contributing 4% means leaving a third of your match on the table every paycheck. Bumping up two percentage points usually costs less than you think and pays back instantly.
Starting in 2025, employees who turn 60, 61, 62, or 63 during the year get a higher catch-up than the regular 50+ amount. In 2025 it's $11,250 (vs the standard $7,500); in 2026 it scales up further. Once you turn 64, you go back to the regular catch-up. If you're in this window and your plan allows it, this is the single biggest deferred-tax opportunity available to W-2 employees.
The 2026 employee elective-deferral limit for 401(k) plans is $24,000. Add an $8,000 catch-up if you're 50+. The SECURE 2.0 super catch-up adds $11,750 for ages 60-63.
Starting in 2025, employees aged 60, 61, 62, or 63 get a higher catch-up contribution — $11,250 in 2025, indexed up after that. It replaces the standard $7,500 catch-up for those ages only.
No — that limit is just the employee elective-deferral cap. Employer matches and profit-sharing are added on top, up to a combined limit of $72,000 in 2026.
Yes. The $24,000 401(k) limit is independent from the $7,000 IRA limit. If you're covered by a workplace 401(k), your Traditional IRA deduction may phase out at higher incomes.
The dollar limits are the same. Roth contributions are after-tax (no deduction now, tax-free withdrawals later); Traditional contributions are pre-tax. Most plans let you split between the two.
You have until April 15 of the following year to withdraw the excess (and any earnings on it). Miss that deadline and the excess is taxed twice.