Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA Calculator
Compare the after-tax outcome of contributing pre-tax dollars to a traditional IRA versus a Roth IRA.
Head to head
After-tax value at retirement
Traditional ahead by about $27,589
Directing $7,500 of pre-tax income per year for 20 years: traditional ends at $242,785 after tax, Roth at $215,196. The gap comes entirely from the difference between your 22% rate today and 12% later.
View data table
| After-tax value | |
|---|---|
| Traditional | $243K |
| Roth | $215K |
- Pre-tax balance at retirement
- $275,892
- Traditional, after retirement tax
- $242,785
- Roth, tax paid up front
- $215,196
What this may mean for you
A lower expected rate in retirement favors deferring tax (traditional) — you deduct at a high rate now and withdraw at a lower one later. Many people hedge by holding some of each.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and may not reflect your complete financial or tax situation.
Understanding this calculator
Strip away the noise and the traditional-vs-Roth choice is mostly a bet on tax rates: pay tax at today's rate (Roth) or at your future retirement rate (traditional). If the rates were identical, the math ties exactly — what matters is the difference between them.
The honest comparison starts with the same pre-tax dollars going toward retirement either way, which is how this calculator works. Real life adds wrinkles the math can't settle: Roth money has no RMDs, is friendlier to heirs, and gives tax-free flexibility; traditional contributions help more when the deduction keeps other income out of high brackets. Many savers reasonably hold both.
Assumptions and methodology
- Both options direct the same annual pre-tax amount toward retirement, growing at the same return over the same years.
- Traditional: the full amount is invested; the ending balance is taxed once at your retirement marginal rate.
- Roth: tax is paid up front at your current marginal rate; the after-tax amount grows tax-free.
- Contribution limits, income-based deduction/contribution phase-outs, state taxes, and RMD effects are not modeled.
Official sources
Last reviewed August 30, 2026. Year-specific figures show their tax or data year in the tool; data is reviewed when the IRS, SSA, and CMS publish annual updates.
Common questions
Which one wins?
Lower expected retirement rate → traditional tends to win. Higher expected retirement rate → Roth tends to win. Same rate → mathematically a tie, and the tiebreakers (RMDs, flexibility, estate plans) favor Roth for many people.
What are the 2026 IRA limits?
$7,500, plus a $1,100 catch-up if you're 50 or older (IRS, 2026). High incomes can limit Roth contributions or traditional deductibility — check current IRS rules.
Keep going
- Roth ConversionSee which federal brackets a proposed Roth conversion would fill, the estimated extra tax, and how much room remains in your target bracket.Calculator
- 401(k) ContributionsSee your annual contributions, employer match, paycheck impact, and projected balance at retirement.Calculator
- RMD CalculatorEstimate this year's required minimum distribution and see projected RMDs for the years ahead.Calculator
- The Roth Conversion Planning GuideFilling brackets, dodging cliffs, and deciding whether conversions fit your plan.Guide
- The Roth Conversion Window Most People Don't Notice Until It's Closing7 min readArticle
Want a second set of eyes on this?
If you'd like to talk through what these numbers mean for your situation, you can schedule a free, no-pressure conversation. No products, no pitch — just questions answered.