Reckonary / Finance / 2026 Contribution Limits
Your 401(k) limit for 2026
You can contribute the full $7,500 to a Roth IRA.
2026 figures from IRS Notice 2025-67. Same math, shown.
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Every fall the IRS sets how much you can put into retirement accounts for the coming year. For 2026 the headline numbers went up: the 401(k) limit is $24,500 and the IRA limit is $7,500. Enter your age and income above and this tool shows your exact limits, including the catch-up amounts if you are 50 or older and how much of the IRA limit you can actually put into a Roth.
The 401(k) elective deferral limit for 2026 is $24,500. That is the most you can contribute from your own pay across 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the federal Thrift Savings Plan. It does not include anything your employer matches — the match sits on top of your own $24,500 and counts toward a separate, much higher overall cap.
If you are 50 or older at any point during 2026, you can add a catch-up contribution of $8,000, bringing your personal 401(k) limit to $32,500. The catch-up exists because people often save more aggressively as retirement gets closer, and the rules give them room to do it.
The IRA limit for 2026 is $7,500, and it is a single shared limit across all of your traditional and Roth IRAs combined. Putting $5,000 in a Roth IRA leaves only $2,500 of room in a traditional IRA for the same year. Savers who are 50 or older get a $1,100 catch-up, for a total IRA limit of $8,600.
A traditional IRA gives you a tax deduction now (if you qualify) and you pay income tax later when you withdraw. A Roth IRA is the reverse: you contribute money you have already paid tax on, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. The contribution limit is the same dollar figure for both — what changes is the timing of the tax, and, for the Roth, whether your income lets you contribute at all.
Roth IRAs have an income ceiling that traditional IRAs do not. As your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) rises through a set range, the amount you can contribute to a Roth shrinks toward zero. For 2026 the range is:
Inside the range the calculator works out your reduced limit for you. If your income is over the top of the range, you are not shut out of Roth saving entirely — a backdoor Roth (contribute to a traditional IRA, then convert it) has no income cap. That route can have tax consequences worth reviewing with a professional first.
Say you are 52 and file single with a MAGI of $120,000. Your 401(k) limit is $32,500 (the $24,500 base plus the $8,000 catch-up). Your IRA limit is $8,600 (the $7,500 base plus the $1,100 catch-up). Because $120,000 is below the $153,000 single phase-out start, all $8,600 can go into a Roth IRA if you choose. Together that is up to $41,100 of tax-advantaged saving in a single year.
How much can I contribute to a 401(k) in 2026?
The 2026 elective deferral limit is $24,500. If you are 50 or older you can add a $8,000 catch-up, for a total of $32,500. These figures come from IRS Notice 2025-67.
What is the Roth IRA limit for 2026?
The IRA limit for 2026 is $7,500 ($8,600 if you are 50 or older), and it is shared across all your traditional and Roth IRAs combined. How much of that you can put into a Roth specifically depends on your income — see the phase-out below.
What is the income limit for a Roth IRA in 2026?
For single filers the Roth IRA phase-out runs from $153,000 to $168,000 of modified adjusted gross income. For married couples filing jointly it runs from $242,000 to $252,000. Below the start you can contribute the full amount; above the end you cannot contribute directly.
Can I contribute to both a 401(k) and an IRA in 2026?
Yes. The two limits are separate, so you can put up to $24,500 in a 401(k) and up to $7,500 in an IRA in the same year. Whether your IRA contribution is tax-deductible, or allowed as a Roth, can depend on your income and whether you have a workplace plan.
What if my income is over the Roth limit?
You can use a backdoor Roth: contribute to a traditional IRA (which has no income cap for contributions), then convert it to a Roth. There is no income limit on the conversion itself. This can have tax consequences, so it is worth checking with a tax professional.
Last reviewed June 2026. Figures are for the 2026 tax year and come from IRS Notice 2025-67. This is general information, not tax advice; your own situation can change what you are allowed to contribute or deduct.