FIRE Calculator (Financial Independence)
Calculate your FIRE number (25× spending) and how many years until financial independence. Includes Lean FIRE, Coast FIRE and Fat FIRE variants.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for general information purposes only. Results are based on standard formulas and may not reflect your individual circumstances. Always consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FIRE?
What's the difference between Lean, Coast, and Fat FIRE?
Is the 4% rule reliable for Australian FIRE?
How does Australian super fit into FIRE planning?
What is FIRE?
FIRE = Financial Independence, Retire Early. The goal is accumulating enough invested capital that 4% annual withdrawal indefinitely covers your living expenses. Standard FIRE number = 25× your annual spending. The calculator shows your FIRE number across multiple variants (Lean, Coast, Fat) and projects years to financial independence.
How this calculator works
Enter target annual spending in retirement, your safe withdrawal rate (4% standard, 3.5% conservative), current invested amount, monthly investment contributions, expected return rate, and current age. The calculator computes your FIRE number using target ÷ withdrawal rate, then projects how many years your current trajectory takes you to that number.
The 4% Rule Origin
From the 1998 Trinity Study (Cooley, Hubbard, Walz): a 60/40 stocks-bonds portfolio with 4% inflation-adjusted withdrawal historically lasted 30+ years in 95% of US 30-year periods (1926-1995). The 'Trinity Study' birthed modern FIRE planning. Subsequent research (Bengen, ERN) suggests 4% is reasonable for 30-year retirement, but FIRE retirees often need 50+ year retirement — so use 3.25-3.75%.
FIRE Variants
LEAN FIRE: minimal lifestyle (<$40k/yr), small FI number (~$1M). Common for early retirees moving to lower-COL regions. COAST FIRE: invest enough today that compounding alone gets you to traditional retirement (65) without further contributions. BARISTA FIRE: partial FI plus part-time work for benefits/social. FAT FIRE: maintain affluent lifestyle ($100k+ spending), $2.5M-$5M+ nest egg. Most AU FIRE community sits between Lean and Fat ($1.5M-$3M).
Australian FIRE Specifics
Super preservation age (60) creates the 'bridge' problem: anyone retiring earlier needs non-super investments to cover the gap years. Common AU FIRE strategy: maximise low-cost ETFs (VAS/VGS/VDHG) outside super for bridge years, super takes over from age 60. Salary sacrificing into super is highly tax-efficient (15% contribution tax vs 30-45% marginal) but locks money away — balance is key.
Realistic FIRE Numbers for Australia
ASFA 'Comfortable' retirement standard: ~$73k/yr couple, $52k/yr single. At 4% that's ~$1.83M (couple), $1.30M (single) FIRE number. Sydney/Melbourne single homeowner targeting 'comfortable plus' often needs $1.8M-$2.5M. With paid-off house and modest lifestyle, $1M-$1.5M is achievable. Renters or HCOL areas should target higher.
Common FIRE Mistakes
(1) Underestimating expenses — track 12+ months of spending before setting your FIRE number. (2) Assuming current lifestyle scales linearly — health costs rise with age, kids' expenses rise then drop, mortgages eventually clear. (3) Ignoring sequence-of-returns risk — a market crash in your first 5 years of retirement can be devastating; consider a 3-year cash buffer. (4) Forgetting Medicare Levy and PHI — Australian retirees still pay these. (5) Not accounting for super preservation age — the bridge years are where most plans fall apart.
Updated for the 2025-26 financial year (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026).
Official Sources
All calculations are performed in your browser — your data never leaves your device. Results are for general guidance only and should not be considered professional financial advice.
Built and maintained by Konstantin Iakovlev. Data sourced from the ATO and official Australian government sources.