🏄 Coast FIRE Calculator

How Much Do You Need to Stop Saving Forever?

Coast FIRE is the milestone where your current investments — left untouched — will compound to your full FIRE number by retirement age. No more saving required.

Your Numbers

$48,000
30
60
$50,000
7%
4%
🏄
You need $X more to coast
Keep saving until you hit your Coast number
Coast FIRE Number
$0
Needed today to coast
Full FIRE Number
$1,200,000
At retirement age
Gap to Coast
$0
Still needed
Years to Coast
0
At current savings rate
Coast progress: 0% $0 current

What Is Coast FIRE?

Coast FIRE is a milestone between "just starting" and "full FIRE." You've reached Coast FIRE when your current investments are large enough that — with zero additional contributions — compound growth will carry them to your full FIRE number by your target retirement age.

At Coast FIRE, you no longer need to save aggressively. You just need to earn enough to cover your current expenses. Many people find Coast FIRE incredibly liberating — it means you can take a lower-stress job, go part-time, or pursue work you love without worrying about retirement savings.

Coast Number = FIRE Number ÷ (1 + r)^years
FIRE Number = annual expenses ÷ SWR · r = annual return · years = time to retirement

Coast FIRE vs. Barista FIRE

Coast FIRE means your investments cover future retirement — but you still need income for current expenses. Barista FIRE takes it a step further: you've also found part-time work or semi-retirement income that covers your current spending. Many people hit Coast FIRE first, then transition to Barista FIRE before achieving full FIRE.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do after hitting Coast FIRE?
You have options. You can keep saving aggressively to reach full FIRE sooner. Or you can "downshift" — take a lower-paying job you love, reduce hours, or pivot to something more fulfilling — knowing your retirement is already secured. Many people feel enormous psychological relief at Coast FIRE even though they're not fully retired yet.
Should I stop contributing once I hit Coast FIRE?
That depends on your goals. Mathematically, you don't have to — compound growth will get you to your FIRE number from here. But if you can still save comfortably, continuing to invest accelerates your full retirement date significantly. Most people treat Coast FIRE as permission to reduce financial stress, not as a reason to stop saving entirely.
Why is Coast FIRE popular with younger people?
Time is your biggest asset when young. A 25-year-old needs a much smaller Coast FIRE number than a 45-year-old because they have 35 more years of compounding. It's often realistic to hit Coast FIRE in your late 20s or 30s, which is why it resonates in FIRE communities focused on young professionals.
What return rate should I use?
7% is a standard real (inflation-adjusted) return assumption for a diversified equity portfolio based on historical market data. Using a real return means your expenses and FIRE number are also expressed in today's dollars — you don't need to separately adjust for inflation. For conservative planning, use 5–6%.

Coast Your Way to Potato FIRE 🥔

In AlgoPotato, your investment portfolio compounds in the background while you focus on farm income. Experience the Coast FIRE feeling — play free in your browser.

Play Free →

More Calculators

🔥

FIRE Calculator

Calculate your full FIRE number and years to financial independence.

📈

Compound Interest Calculator

See the compounding math that makes Coast FIRE possible.

💰

Savings Rate Calculator

How fast you save determines how soon you hit your Coast number.

📊

Net Worth Tracker

Track your investments over time. No signup required.