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How long will $350,000 last?

$350,000 lasts 18 years withdrawing $25,000 a year, raised 2% a year for inflation, at a steady 5% return. Below: every withdrawal from $12,000 to $30,000, the odds in 1,000 simulated markets, the most it pays for a set number of years, Social Security, and a calculator set to $350,000.

Short answer: About 18 years withdrawing $25,000 a year ($2,083 a month), raised 2% a year for inflation, at a steady 5% return: from 65, to age 82. At the 4% rule’s $14,000 it lasts 44 years.

How long $350,000 lasts at each withdrawal

Each row is a first-year withdrawal that then rises 2% a year. The return is what the money left in the account earns; each withdrawal opens its own page with the year-by-year balance.

Years $350,000 lasts by yearly withdrawal and return
Withdrawal a yearA monthShare of balanceAt 3%At 5%At 7%
$12,000$1,0003.4%35 years60+ years60+ years
$15,000$1,2504.3%27 years38 years60+ years
$20,000$1,6675.7%20 years24 years36 years
$25,000$2,0837.1%15 years18 years23 years
$30,000$2,5008.6%13 years14 years17 years

The odds $350,000 lasts 30 years

A steady return hides the order of good and bad years. In 1,000 simulated markets, this is the share in which each withdrawal still has money left after 30 years. Sixty-five to 95 is 30 years.

Chance $350,000 lasts 30 years, 1,000 simulated markets
Withdrawal a yearTrinity-style (7%, 12%)Cautious (5%, 15%)
$12,00088%68%
$15,00069%47%
$20,00032%21%
$25,00011%8%
$30,0002%2%

How much $350,000 pays for a set number of years

The other way round: the largest first-year withdrawal, raised 2% a year, that spends $350,000 to zero in exactly that many years at a steady 5% return.

Most $350,000 can pay for a fixed number of years
YearsFirst yearA monthShare of balance
20$22,729$1,8946.5%
25$19,398$1,6165.5%
30$17,215$1,4354.9%
35$15,688$1,3074.5%
40$14,570$1,2144.2%

How long $350,000 lasts with Social Security

Say you spend $49,000 a year in total and claim Social Security at 67. Until then the portfolio pays all of it; after that, only what the benefit does not cover. Retiring later shortens the stretch the portfolio carries alone.

Years $350,000 lasts spending $49,000 a year, Social Security from 67
Benefit a monthRetire at 62Retire at 65Retire at 67
$1,50010 years12 years14 years
$2,00011 years15 years18 years
$2,50013 years20 years26 years

Estimate your own benefit on Social Security by salary.

The calculator, set to $350,000

Set to $25,000 a year from 65. Change the withdrawal, enter it monthly, add Social Security or a pension, or set your own return and inflation.

Your money lasts18 yearsRuns out around age 82
Most you can withdraw for 30 years$17,215 a year$1,435 a month, rising with inflation
Taken from the portfolio$25,000 a year7.1% of the portfolio in year one

Taking $25,000 a year ($2,083 a month) from $350,000, raised 2.0% a year for inflation, at a steady 5.0% return, the money runs out in year 18, around age 82. To make it last exactly 30 years, you could start at $17,215 a year.

Success rate7%1000 seeded paths
10th percentile ending$0
Median ending$0
90th percentile ending$0

How long other balances last

Each balance at the withdrawal its page leads with
BalanceWithdrawalLasts at 5%
How long $100,000 lasts$8,00016 years
How long $150,000 lasts$12,00016 years
How long $200,000 lasts$16,00016 years
How long $250,000 lasts$20,00016 years
How long $300,000 lasts$22,00018 years
$350,000$25,00018 years
How long $400,000 lasts$27,00019 years
How long $450,000 lasts$30,00020 years
How long $500,000 lasts$32,00021 years
How long $600,000 lasts$35,00024 years
How long $700,000 lasts$38,00026 years
How long $750,000 lasts$40,00027 years
How long $800,000 lasts$42,00028 years
How long $900,000 lasts$46,00029 years
How long $1 million lasts$50,00030 years
How long $1.25 million lasts$55,00037 years
How long $1.5 million lasts$60,00044 years
How long $1.75 million lasts$70,00044 years
How long $2 million lasts$80,00044 years
How long $2.5 million lasts$90,00055 years
How long $3 million lasts$100,00060+ years
How long $4 million lasts$120,00060+ years
How long $5 million lasts$150,00060+ years

How it is worked out

The steady-return figures are the how-long calculator’s own math: the withdrawal comes out at the start of each year, the rest earns the return, and the next withdrawal is 2% larger to keep up with inflation. Real markets do not return the same every year, so the odds come from 1,000 simulated sequences of yearly returns: Trinity-style (7% average, 12% volatility, 3% inflation) and cautious (5%, 15%, 2%). Taxes and fees are not taken out; take them from the withdrawal you enter. More on the method on the methodology page.

Frequently asked questions

How long will $350,000 last in retirement?
Withdrawing $25,000 a year, raised 2% a year for inflation, $350,000 lasts 18 years at a steady 5% return. At 7% it lasts 23 years; at 3%, 15 years. Real returns vary year to year, which the odds table on this page accounts for.
How much can I withdraw from $350,000 to make it last 30 years?
About $17,215 in the first year, raised 2% a year after that, spends $350,000 to zero in exactly 30 years at a steady 5% return. That is 4.9% of the balance. A plan that must survive bad markets usually starts lower.
How long will $350,000 last with Social Security?
Spending $49,000 a year with $2,000 a month of Social Security starting in year three leaves the portfolio paying $25,000 a year once benefits begin. On a steady 5% return that lasts 15 years, against 8 years with no benefit.