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Superannuation calculator

Project your balance to retirement — employer contributions, salary sacrifice, compound returns and fees — measured against the ASFA retirement benchmarks.

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Show amounts
Balance at 67
$892,022
in today's dollars · $2,224,121 nominal
ASFA 'comfortable' (single)142%
target $630,000
ASFA 'comfortable' (couple)122%
target $730,000

ASFA Retirement Standard lump sums at age 67 (February 2026), in today's dollars — most relevant with "Today's dollars" selected.

  • Starting balance$50,000
  • Employer contributions (12%)$714,682
  • Contributions tax (15%)−$107,202
  • Investment earnings (net)$1,566,642
  • Balance at 67$2,224,121

Your concessional contributions exceed the $30,000 annual cap in at least one year — amounts above the cap are taxed differently and aren't modelled here.

Balance milestones

Age3540455055606567
Balance (today's $)$108,006$178,216$262,975$365,074$487,837$635,215$811,913$892,022

Projection assumes contributions are paid yearly, taxed at 15%, with returns after an effective 7% earnings tax and 0.85% fees; today's dollars use 2.5% CPI. Markets vary — actual outcomes will differ. ASFA benchmarks: February 2026 Retirement Standard. General information only — not financial advice.

How the projection works

Each year, your employer pays at least the super guarantee — 12% of salary from 1 July 2025 — into your fund, where it's taxed at the concessional 15% rate. The balance then compounds: the calculator applies your chosen return (default 7.5% a year, roughly the long-run average for balanced options), subtracts an effective 7% earnings tax and your fund's fees, and grows your salary a little each year. Small differences compound dramatically over 30-plus years — half a percent of extra fees can cost tens of thousands by retirement.

The ASFA Retirement Standard gives the projection a yardstick. Its February 2026 figures estimate a single person needs a $630,000 lump sum at 67 (couples $730,000) for a "comfortable" retirement — private health insurance, a reasonable car, occasional travel — assuming a part Age Pension. A "modest" lifestyle needs far less ($110,000–$120,000) because the Age Pension does most of the work. The progress bars show how your projection tracks against the comfortable benchmarks in today's dollars.

Salary sacrifice is the main lever most employees control. Because sacrificed dollars are taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate (often 30–37%), each pre-tax dollar redirected to super arrives larger than it would land in your pocket — and then compounds. Even $50 a week from age 30 typically adds six figures by retirement. Watch the $30,000 concessional cap (2025–26), which includes your employer's contributions; the calculator warns if your settings breach it.

Why today's dollars matter: $1.5 million in 2062 is not $1.5 million today. The default view deflates by 2.5% inflation a year, which is also how ASFA expresses its benchmarks — keep that view on when judging whether you're on track.

Projections are illustrations, not predictions: markets move, careers pause, rules change. For decisions about your own super, consider advice from a licensed adviser. General information only — not financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

How much super do I need to retire comfortably?

The ASFA Retirement Standard (February 2026) estimates a lump sum of $630,000 for a single person or $730,000 for a couple at age 67 supports a 'comfortable' lifestyle, assuming partial Age Pension support. A 'modest' lifestyle needs about $110,000–$120,000 plus the Age Pension.

Is the 12% super guarantee enough?

It depends on your salary, how early you start and your fund's returns. A 30-year-old on $90,000 with a $50,000 balance and typical settings projects past the ASFA comfortable single benchmark by 67 — but career breaks, part-time years or high fees change the picture quickly. Adjust the calculator to your own numbers.

What investment return should I assume?

Balanced super options have historically returned around 7–8% a year over long periods, before fees and taxes. The calculator defaults to 7.5% with 0.85% fees and applies an effective 7% earnings tax, similar to Moneysmart's assumptions. Past performance doesn't guarantee future returns.

Why is 15% taken from my contributions?

Employer and salary-sacrificed contributions are 'concessional' — taxed at 15% inside your fund rather than your marginal income tax rate. For most people that's a significant discount, which is what makes salary sacrifice attractive.

What is the concessional contributions cap?

Concessional contributions (employer plus salary sacrifice) above $30,000 a year (2025–26) are effectively taxed at your marginal rate instead of 15%. The calculator flags when your settings would breach the cap.

What does 'today's dollars' mean?

A balance decades away sounds bigger than it will feel, because prices rise. Today's-dollars figures deflate the projection by 2.5% annual inflation so you can compare it meaningfully against benchmarks and today's cost of living.