Coast FIRE Number by Age: 2026 Complete Guide
Your Coast FIRE number depends entirely on your current age. The younger you are, the smaller the required amount — compound growth has more time to work. Here are complete tables for every age and scenario.
What Is Coast FIRE?
Coast FIRE is the invested portfolio amount needed so that — without contributing another dollar — compound growth alone carries you to your full retirement number by your target retirement age.
Formula: Coast FIRE = Full FIRE Number / (1 + annual return) ^ years to retirement
Once you reach your Coast FIRE number, you only need income to cover current living expenses. Retirement saving is complete.
Coast FIRE Numbers: Retiring at 65, $60k/yr Expenses, 7% Return
Full FIRE target: $1,500,000
| Current Age | Years to 65 | Coast FIRE Number |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 43 years | $74,800 |
| 25 | 40 years | $91,700 |
| 28 | 37 years | $112,500 |
| 30 | 35 years | $129,800 |
| 32 | 33 years | $150,000 |
| 35 | 30 years | $196,700 |
| 38 | 27 years | $227,400 |
| 40 | 25 years | $276,500 |
| 42 | 23 years | $320,000 |
| 45 | 20 years | $388,900 |
| 48 | 17 years | $473,000 |
| 50 | 15 years | $543,600 |
Coast FIRE Numbers: Retiring at 60
| Current Age | Years to 60 | Coast FIRE Number |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 35 years | $129,800 |
| 30 | 30 years | $196,700 |
| 35 | 25 years | $276,500 |
| 40 | 20 years | $388,900 |
| 45 | 15 years | $543,600 |
How Return Rate Changes Your Coast FIRE Number
For a 35-year-old, $1,500,000 FIRE target, retiring at 65:
| Expected Return | Coast FIRE Number |
|---|---|
| 5% | $347,000 |
| 6% | $261,000 |
| 7% | $196,700 |
| 8% | $148,800 |
A 1% difference in return assumptions changes the required amount by $64,000-83,000. Use 6% for conservative planning.
Coast FIRE for Different Spending Levels
At age 30, targeting retirement at 65 with 7% return:
| Annual Expenses | FIRE Number | Coast FIRE at 30 |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $750,000 | $64,900 |
| $50,000 | $1,250,000 | $108,200 |
| $60,000 | $1,500,000 | $129,800 |
| $80,000 | $2,000,000 | $173,000 |
| $100,000 | $2,500,000 | $216,300 |
Why Starting Early Is So Powerful
At 22, your Coast FIRE number is $74,800. At 35, the same retirement outcome requires $196,700 — 2.6x more. Every year of delay increases the required amount by approximately 7%.
If you are in your 20s, even modest monthly investments now can reach Coast FIRE in 3-7 years, permanently securing retirement without ever saving another dollar after that milestone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I want to retire earlier than 65? Use the Coast FIRE calculator with your specific retirement age. Earlier retirement means less compounding time and a higher required Coast FIRE number.
Does a pension reduce my Coast FIRE number? Yes — subtract annual pension income from retirement expenses before calculating the FIRE number, then calculate Coast FIRE on the lower number.
Should I count my 401k toward Coast FIRE? Yes — all investable assets count: 401k, IRA, Roth IRA, brokerage accounts. The number is a total portfolio target regardless of account type.
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