What Is Your FIRE Number? The Complete Guide
Your FIRE number is the single most important figure in financial independence planning. Enter your numbers below for a personalized calculation — then read the guide to understand exactly what it means and how to reach it faster.
What the FIRE Number Means
Your FIRE number is the portfolio value at which a 4% annual withdrawal covers your living expenses indefinitely. The math: 4% of your portfolio = your annual spending. Rearranged: portfolio = annual spending ÷ 4% = annual spending × 25.
The 4% withdrawal rate comes from the Trinity Study (1998), which found that portfolios of 50–75% stocks historically survived all 30-year periods at this rate. The portfolio doesn't deplete — in most historical scenarios, it grows substantially.
The critical insight most people miss: your FIRE number is determined by your spending, not your income. A person earning $300k but spending $200k needs a $5 million FIRE number. A person earning $80k but spending $40k needs a $1 million FIRE number — and gets there in a fraction of the time.
FIRE Numbers by Income — Find Your Guide
Each guide below calculates FIRE numbers for specific income levels, including taxes, realistic savings rates, and timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a FIRE number?+
Your FIRE number is the total amount of invested assets you need to retire early and live off portfolio income indefinitely. It's calculated using the 4% rule: FIRE number = annual expenses × 25. Example: if you spend $60,000/year, your FIRE number is $1,500,000. At this amount, a 4% annual withdrawal covers your expenses.
How long does it take to reach your FIRE number?+
Timeline depends almost entirely on your savings rate. At 10% savings: ~46 years. At 30%: ~28 years. At 50%: ~17 years. At 70%: ~8 years. The math is counterintuitive: a higher savings rate both accelerates your portfolio growth AND reduces your FIRE number (because spending less means a lower target). Both effects compound on each other.
Is the 4% rule (25× expenses) accurate?+
The 4% rule has strong historical support for 30-year retirements. For early retirees with 40–50 year horizons, 3.5% (28.6× expenses) provides more safety. The choice matters: at $60k/year, 4% → $1.5M FIRE number vs. 3.5% → $1.72M. The extra $220k substantially reduces failure risk over 50 years.
Should my FIRE number include my house?+
No — your home equity should NOT count toward your FIRE number if you plan to live there. Your FIRE number represents liquid invested assets that generate the income you live on. Home equity is illiquid and doesn't produce cash flow. If you plan to downsize and release equity, or move to a lower cost-of-living area, you can factor that separately.
What counts toward my FIRE number?+
Liquid invested assets count: 401(k), Roth IRA, traditional IRA, 403(b), HSA, taxable brokerage accounts, and rental property equity (if you plan to sell or count rental income). Cash and emergency funds are separate. Home equity (if you plan to stay) doesn't count. Rule of thumb: if it generates passive income or can be liquidated to fund retirement, it counts.