About the SWP Calculator
A systematic withdrawal plan, or SWP, takes a fixed amount out of an investment every month while the rest keeps growing. This calculator shows what happens to your money. Enter the amount you start with, the monthly withdrawal, the return you expect and the number of years, and it works out how much is left at the end, how much you took out in total and, if the plan fails, the month the money runs out. You can also raise the withdrawal each year to keep up with prices. A year-by-year table shows the balance as it moves. The maths happens in your browser and nothing is stored.
Updated October 2026
How to use the SWP Calculator
- 1Type the amount you invest at the start.
- 2Enter the amount you want to withdraw every month.
- 3Add the yearly return you expect and the number of years.
- 4Optionally raise the withdrawal by a percentage each year for inflation.
- 5Read the final balance, the total withdrawn and the table of years.
How a withdrawal plan works
Each month the investment first earns its return and then your withdrawal is taken out. Early in the plan the growth is larger than the amount you withdraw if the withdrawal rate is low, so the balance rises. If you withdraw more than the growth, the balance falls, and as it falls it earns less, which speeds up the fall.
That is why the starting withdrawal rate matters so much. Taking 4 percent of your starting amount a year against an 8 percent return can last for decades, while 10 percent usually runs out within about ten years.
Using the step-up
- Set it to 0 for a flat withdrawal.
- Set it near the inflation rate, such as 5, to keep your buying power.
- A higher step-up shortens the life of the money, so check the table.
- The step-up applies once a year, after each 12 months.
Related tools
To build the pot in the first place, use the SIP Calculator for monthly investing, and the Retirement Calculator for a longer plan. The Withdrawal Rate Calculator checks the rate behind your monthly figure and the Compound Interest Calculator shows pure growth without withdrawals. Treat the result as an estimate rather than a promise.
Features
- Final balance and total withdrawn
- Shows the month the money runs out
- Yearly step-up for inflation
- Year-by-year table
- Monthly compounding of the return
- Works with any currency
- Private, runs in your browser
Frequently asked questions
What is an SWP?
A systematic withdrawal plan lets you take a regular fixed amount from an investment, such as a mutual fund, while the rest stays invested. People use it for retirement income or for steady cash flow.
How is the return applied?
The yearly return is converted to an equal monthly rate. Each month the balance grows by that rate, then your withdrawal is taken out.
What happens if the money runs out?
The calculator stops the plan in that month and tells you how long it lasted, so you can lower the withdrawal or choose a different amount.
What is a safe withdrawal amount?
A common rule of thumb is about 4 percent of the starting amount in the first year, adjusted for prices after that, but it depends on returns, taxes and how long you need the money.
Does it include tax or fees?
No. Use a return after fees, and remember that capital gains tax or exit loads may reduce what you receive.
Is a fixed return realistic?
No. Real returns vary from year to year, and bad returns early in the plan hurt the most. Test a lower return as well to see how sensitive the result is.
Can I use a negative return?
Yes, down to minus 50 percent, which lets you check a bad year or a market fall.