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401(k) contribution limit 2026: $24,500, plus catch-up
The limit rose $1,000 for 2026. For anyone 50 or older, the catch-up is where the bigger numbers are, and the four years from 60 through 63 have a special, larger one.
Project what yearly contributions could grow toThe 2026 limits at a glance
From IRS Notice 2025-67.
| Plan and age | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457, TSP: employee limit | $23,500 | $24,500 |
| Catch-up, age 50 and over | $7,500 | $8,000 |
| Total for age 50 and over | $31,000 | $32,500 |
| Catch-up, ages 60 through 63 | $11,250 | $11,250 |
| SIMPLE retirement account | $16,500 | $17,000 |
| SIMPLE catch-up, age 50 and over (most plans) | $3,850 | $3,850 |
| SIMPLE catch-up, ages 60 through 63 | $5,250 | $5,250 |
The IRS announced the figures in news release IR-2025-111; Notice 2025-67 has the full set of retirement-plan adjustments.
Catch-up contributions
Two levels, depending on age.
If you are 50 or older, the IRS says you can generally contribute up to $32,500 to a 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plan, or the Thrift Savings Plan in 2026: the $24,500 limit plus an $8,000 catch-up. A change made by the SECURE 2.0 Act gives employees aged 60, 61, 62, and 63 a higher catch-up of $11,250 instead of $8,000, for a total of $35,750. At 64 the ordinary $8,000 catch-up applies again. Plans are not all required to offer catch-up contributions, so check your plan’s summary or ask the administrator.
What the limit covers
Your own deferrals, pre-tax and Roth together.
The $24,500 limit is on the employee’s elective deferrals — the money you choose to have taken out of pay. Traditional pre-tax and Roth 401(k) deferrals share the one limit; putting $15,000 in the Roth side leaves $9,500 for the traditional side. Employer matching and profit-sharing contributions do not count against it; they fall under a separate, larger limit on total additions to your account. The limit is per person, not per plan: someone who changes jobs mid-year and joins a second 401(k) still has one $24,500 limit across both, and the second employer’s payroll system will not know what the first one withheld.
Turning the limit into a paycheck amount
Divide by the pay periods left in the year.
| Pay schedule | Per check to reach $24,500 | Per check to reach $32,500 (50+) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly (52) | $471.15 | $625.00 |
| Every two weeks (26) | $942.31 | $1,250.00 |
| Twice a month (24) | $1,020.83 | $1,354.17 |
| Monthly (12) | $2,041.67 | $2,708.33 |
Starting mid-year, divide what is left of the limit by the checks remaining. Some plans calculate the employer match per paycheck, so reaching the limit early in the year can mean missing match in later months; your plan document says whether it makes up the difference.
An IRA on top
A separate limit, with its own income rules.
A 401(k) does not use up your IRA limit. For 2026 you can also contribute up to $7,500 to IRAs, or $8,600 at 50 and over. Being covered by a workplace plan can limit how much of a traditional IRA contribution you can deduct, and income can limit Roth IRA contributions; the income ranges rose for 2026. See APR and APY for how stated rates compound, and the compound interest calculator to see what a yearly contribution could grow to at a rate you choose.
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QUESTIONS THIS ANSWERS
Questions this answers
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
$24,500 of employee contributions, up from $23,500 in 2025. The same limit applies to 403(b) plans, most governmental 457 plans, and the federal Thrift Savings Plan.
How much is the 401(k) catch-up contribution in 2026?
Employees aged 50 and over can contribute an extra $8,000, for a total of $32,500. Under SECURE 2.0, employees aged 60, 61, 62, and 63 have a higher catch-up limit of $11,250 instead, for a total of $35,750.
What is the SIMPLE IRA limit for 2026?
$17,000, up from $16,500. The catch-up for participants 50 and over in most SIMPLE plans stays at $3,850, and the higher catch-up for ages 60 through 63 stays at $5,250.