How long will $300k last in retirement?
$300k can last 30+ years at a sustainable 4% withdrawal ($12,000/yr) — but at a heavier 6% draw ($18,000/yr) it lasts only about 22 years. How long your money lasts comes down to how much you spend, taxes, and market luck.
How long $300k lasts at each spending level
Retiring at 60 with $300k invested (60% taxable / 30% traditional / 10% Roth), 6% nominal return, 3% inflation, no Social Security:
| Rate | Spend / yr | Spend / mo | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | $9,000 | $750 | 30+ years (to 95) |
| 4% | $12,000 | $1,000 | 30+ years (to 95) |
| 5% | $15,000 | $1,250 | ~29 years (to 89) |
| 6% | $18,000 | $1,500 | ~22 years (to 82) |
| 7% | $21,000 | $1,750 | ~17 years (to 77) |
Three things that change the answer
- Taxes. A dollar in a traditional 401(k) isn't a dollar you can spend — withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. This projection accounts for that, which is why real-world longevity is shorter than a naive "$300k ÷ annual spend."
- Sequence of returns. A market crash in your first few retirement years does far more damage than the same crash later — you're selling assets while they're down. Two retirees with identical average returns can get very different lifespans from the same $300k.
- Social Security, pensions, and part-time income. Every dollar of outside income is a dollar you don't withdraw. Adding Social Security alone often turns a "runs out" plan into one that lasts indefinitely.
These figures assume you retire at 60. Retire earlier and the same $300k must stretch over more years; retire later (or add Social Security) and it lasts longer. Model your exact situation in the calculator.
Guardrails and a few years of earned income
A fixed withdrawal rule is a clean planning benchmark, but at this balance treating it as an unbreakable promise is the fragile choice. Guardrails set an upper and lower boundary around the withdrawal rate: a weak market that lifts the rate above the top rail signals a trim, and a strong market that pushes it below the bottom rail earns a raise. Adjusting a little, early and often, does far more work than picking the perfect number once.
The threat those adjustments guard against is concentrated in the opening years. Sequence-of-returns risk is greatest in the first decade, when withdrawals taken during a downturn lock in losses the portfolio never recovers from.
Part-time or consulting income in those early years is an underrated defense. Even modest earnings mean fewer shares sold while prices are down, so the portfolio enters its later, fully retired decades with its base intact. The goal is not to work forever, only to protect the years when selling hurts most.
Common questions
How long will $300k last in retirement?
At a sustainable 4% withdrawal ($12,000/year), $300k lasts 30+ years. At a 6% draw ($18,000/year) it lasts about 22 years. The exact answer depends on your spending, taxes, and market returns.
What's a safe withdrawal rate for $300k?
The classic "4% rule" — $12,000/year from $300k, rising with inflation — has historically lasted a 30-year retirement. Retiring early (a longer horizon) argues for a slightly lower rate closer to 3.5%.
Does this include taxes?
Yes. The projection applies the federal (and where relevant, state) tax you'd owe withdrawing from taxable, traditional, and Roth accounts, so the longevity figures are realistic rather than a simple division.