Pension Calculator (UK)
Project your UK workplace pension pot at retirement from your salary, employee and employer contributions, and investment return — including tax relief, the 25% tax-free lump sum, and an annual allowance check.
Used to estimate tax relief on your contributions
Year-by-Year Projection
| Age | Salary | Your Contribution | Employer Contribution | Tax Relief | Growth | Ending Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | £45,000.00 | £2,250.00 | £1,800.00 | £450.00 | £2,202.50 | £46,252.50 |
| 37 | £46,125.00 | £2,306.25 | £1,845.00 | £461.25 | £2,520.19 | £52,923.94 |
| 38 | £47,278.13 | £2,363.91 | £1,891.13 | £472.78 | £2,858.95 | £60,037.92 |
| 39 | £48,460.08 | £2,423.00 | £1,938.40 | £484.60 | £3,219.97 | £67,619.29 |
| 40 | £49,671.58 | £2,483.58 | £1,986.86 | £496.72 | £3,604.49 | £75,694.22 |
| 41 | £50,913.37 | £2,545.67 | £2,036.53 | £509.13 | £4,013.82 | £84,290.24 |
| 42 | £52,186.20 | £2,609.31 | £2,087.45 | £521.86 | £4,449.35 | £93,436.35 |
| 43 | £53,490.86 | £2,674.54 | £2,139.63 | £534.91 | £4,912.53 | £103,163.06 |
| 44 | £54,828.13 | £2,741.41 | £2,193.13 | £548.28 | £5,404.88 | £113,502.47 |
| 45 | £56,198.83 | £2,809.94 | £2,247.95 | £561.99 | £5,928.02 | £124,488.38 |
How the projection works
Each year, your contribution and your employer's contribution are added to your pot, then the whole pot grows at your assumed investment return. At retirement, up to 25% can be taken tax-free, with the rest providing a taxable income.
For example, a 35-year-old earning £45,000, contributing 5% with a 4% employer contribution, growing at 5% a year, reaches £587,726 by age 66 — including £146,931 available as a tax-free lump sum.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I pay into my pension?
A common rule of thumb is to contribute half your age as a percentage of salary, starting from when you begin saving — for example, 5% if you start at 30. At minimum, always contribute enough to get your full employer match under auto-enrolment.
What is the pension annual allowance?
The standard annual allowance is £60,000 for 2025/26 and 2026/27 — the most you (and your employer combined) can pay into your pension each tax year while still getting tax relief. High earners may have a tapered, lower allowance.
How does pension tax relief work?
Under a net pay arrangement, your contribution comes out of your gross salary before Income Tax is calculated, so you automatically get relief at your marginal rate — 20% for basic rate taxpayers, 40% for higher rate, and 45% for additional rate.
How much tax-free cash can I take from my pension?
You can normally take up to 25% of your pension pot as a tax-free lump sum when you access it, capped at the Lump Sum Allowance of £268,275 for 2025/26 and 2026/27. The rest is taxed as income when withdrawn, or used to buy an annuity / drawdown income.