Roth vs. Traditional IRA Calculator
The core tradeoff is when you pay tax. A Roth IRA uses after-tax dollars today and grows tax-free. A Traditional IRA uses pre-tax dollars today and is taxed when you withdraw in retirement. Which one wins comes down to your tax rate today versus your expected tax rate in retirement. Adjust the inputs below to see how the math changes.
You spend the same amount today either way. This is the fairest comparison.
Roth (after-tax)
$787,950
You won't owe any tax when you withdraw this money in retirement.
Traditional (after-tax)
$808,686
You'll pay 22% tax when you withdraw this in retirement.
Growth over time
Simplifications: ignores Required Minimum Distributions (forced withdrawals starting at age 73), state and local taxes, employer match, Roth income phase-outs ($153,000 to $168,000 single or $242,000 to $252,000 married filing jointly for 2026), and changes in contribution limits over time. Assumes constant returns and tax rates. Not financial advice.
Not sure if Roth vs. Traditional is even the right question for you?
The 2-minute quiz puts this decision in context with the rest of your financial picture so you know if it's worth focusing on at all.
Take the quizFrequently asked questions
Common questions about Roth vs. Traditional IRAs, answered plainly.
Which is better for me, Roth or Traditional?
The classic rule of thumb is simple. If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement than today, Roth usually wins because you pay tax now at the lower rate. If you expect a lower rate in retirement, Traditional usually wins because you defer tax to the lower future rate. If the rates are equal, the two are mathematically identical on an equal after-tax cost basis, and the tiebreaker becomes flexibility, such as no required minimum distributions with Roth IRAs.
What is the 2026 IRA contribution limit?
The 2026 IRA contribution limit is $7,500 if you are under 50 and $8,600 if you are 50 or older (the extra $1,100 is the catch-up contribution). These limits apply to the combined total across all of your Roth and Traditional IRAs, not each account separately.
Can I contribute to both a Roth and a Traditional IRA in the same year?
Yes. You can split contributions between a Roth and a Traditional IRA, but the total across both accounts cannot exceed the annual IRA limit. Some people split contributions to hedge against uncertainty about future tax rates.
What is a backdoor Roth IRA?
A backdoor Roth is a legal strategy high earners use when their income is above the Roth IRA contribution phase-out range. You contribute to a non-deductible Traditional IRA and then convert it to a Roth IRA. The 2026 Roth phase-out is $153,000 to $168,000 for single filers and $242,000 to $252,000 for married filing jointly. Pro-rata rules can complicate the strategy if you have existing pre-tax IRA balances, so this is worth running past a CPA.
Does my employer match change the answer?
This calculator focuses on IRAs, where there is no employer match. For 401(k)s, always contribute enough to capture the full employer match first. Match dollars are essentially a 100% return on the money you contribute, which dominates the Roth vs. Traditional question. After you have captured the match, come back to this calculator to decide how to allocate the rest.
Why do these two calculator modes give different answers?
Same out-of-pocket cost is the apples-to-apples comparison. Both strategies cost you the same take-home dollars today. Same dollar amount deposited is the simpler (and more common) comparison, but it quietly favors Roth because a $7,500 Roth contribution uses more pre-tax income than a $7,500 Traditional contribution. Use out-of-pocket cost unless you have a specific reason to compare raw deposit amounts.