🎯 Pension Gap Calculator
Will my pension be enough?
Most people have never converted “I put 5% in” into “that gives me €X a year at 66”. This does the conversion, and shows the same projection at three growth rates so you can see how much of the answer is assumption.
Figures reviewed September 2026. Free, no signup, nothing stored on our servers.
What this means
The gap is the difference between what your pot is projected to reach and what it would need to reach to fund the income you asked for, after the State Pension is taken into account. A negative gap is a surplus.
The State Pension is subtracted first, deliberately. Most people forget they will have it and set a target six figures too high, then conclude the situation is hopeless and do nothing. The full-rate contributory pension is a substantial part of most Irish retirements — check what you are on track for rather than assuming.
The three scenarios are the most honest part of this page. Two percentage points of growth either side of your assumption changes the projected pot enormously over twenty years. Any tool that shows one confident number is hiding that, and the figure it shows is not more accurate for being singular.
What affects the result
- Years remaining. Time is the input that matters most — contributions at 30 do work that contributions at 55 cannot.
- Charges. A 1% annual management charge compounds against you exactly as growth compounds for you, and it is not included here.
- Whether the employer matches contributions. A match is an immediate return no market can promise.
- Your marginal tax rate. Relief at 40% means a €100 contribution costs €60 of take-home pay.
- Whether the pot is invested for growth or sitting in cash — many default funds de-risk automatically as retirement approaches.
Important assumptions
Every figure on this page rests on these. Where one does not match your situation, the answer moves — sometimes a great deal.
- Contributions stay level in nominal terms for the whole period. In reality they usually rise with salary, which improves the outcome.
- Growth is applied annually and contributions are treated as paid at the end of each year.
- Charges are NOT deducted. A typical annual management charge of 0.75%–1% would reduce the projected pot materially — subtract it from your growth assumption to allow for it.
- The withdrawal rate is a rule of thumb for a roughly thirty-year retirement, not a rule and not a guarantee.
- The State Pension figure is a default you can change. Your actual entitlement depends on your PRSI record.
- Tax in retirement is not modelled. Pension income is taxable, though the standard rate band and age credits mean the effective rate is often low.
Official sources
Where this tool applies a published rule, this is where the rule comes from. Check the source before acting on anything that matters.
- Pensions Authority — pension calculator and guidance
The statutory regulator's own pension calculator and its guidance on contribution levels and charges.
- Revenue — tax relief on pension contributions
The age-related percentage limits on contributions that qualify for relief, and the earnings cap that applies.
- Citizens Information — State Pension (Contributory)
Current State Pension rates, qualifying conditions and the Total Contributions Approach.
Common questions
How much should I be contributing?
A common rule of thumb is half your age as a percentage of salary — 15% at thirty, 20% at forty — including anything the employer puts in. It is a starting point, not a rule. The useful version is to run this calculation, see the gap, and increase contributions until it closes.
What does a pension contribution actually cost me?
Less than it appears, because contributions attract income tax relief at your marginal rate. At the higher rate, €100 into a pension reduces take-home pay by about €60. Revenue caps the relief at an age-related percentage of earnings, on earnings up to €115,000 — the pension tax relief tool works out your own limit.
Is the 4% withdrawal rate reliable?
It is a widely used rule of thumb derived from historical market data, not a promise. It assumes a diversified portfolio and a retirement of roughly thirty years. Irish Approved Retirement Funds also carry a minimum imputed distribution once you reach a certain age, which can force a higher withdrawal than you planned.
Should I include the State Pension?
Include it if you expect to qualify, because leaving it out makes the target look impossible. But check your PRSI record rather than assuming the full rate — entitlement under the Total Contributions Approach depends on the contributions you have actually made.
What to check next
What does a pension contribution really cost me?
Age-banded relief limits and the net cost of contributing at Irish tax rates.
Pension Tax ReliefWhat state pension will I get?
Your likely rate under the Total Contributions Approach and the new flexible ages.
State Pension CheckerNewWhat am I actually worth?
Everything you own minus everything you owe, with the breakdown that explains the number.
Net Worth CalculatorPopularWhat do I actually take home?
Income tax, USC and PRSI on an Irish salary, with credits and pension relief applied.
Take-Home Pay CalculatorNext steps across CheckIreland
Picked for what you just worked out — not a list of everything we make.
- What a contribution actually costsRelief at the higher rate means €100 in costs about €60 of take-home pay.
- Check your PRSI recordThe target here subtracts the State Pension. Worth confirming you will get the full rate.
- Where the money would come fromContributions come out before tax, so the net cost is smaller than the gross figure suggests.
CheckIreland is independent and is not affiliated with the Irish Government or any public body. This tool is general information built on published rules and typical costs — it is not financial, tax or legal advice, and it does not account for your individual circumstances. Confirm anything that matters with the relevant body or a qualified adviser before acting on it.