529 Calculator
Project how much your 529 college savings plan will be worth when your child starts college, compare it with the future cost of tuition and see how much you need to save each month to close the gap.
Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browser · Last reviewed November 2026
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About the 529 Calculator
A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged account for education: the money grows free of federal tax and withdrawals for qualified expenses are tax-free. This calculator projects the balance from your contributions and an assumed return, inflates today's college cost to the years your child will attend, and shows whether you are on track.
How to use it
- Enter your current 529 balance, your monthly contribution and the years until college.
- Set the expected annual return, today's annual college cost, the cost inflation rate and the years of college.
- Read the projected balance, the projected total cost, the share covered and the monthly amount needed to cover 100%.
How the 529 calculator works
Future balance = current balance × (1 + r)n + monthly contribution × ((1 + r)n − 1) ÷ r, where r is the monthly return and n the number of months. College cost is today's annual cost increased by the inflation rate for each year until, and during, college.
Example: $5,000 today plus $300 a month for 13 years at 6% grows to about $81,520, of which $51,800 is your own contributions.
529 plan growth by monthly contribution
Projected balance with no starting balance and a 6% annual return, compounded monthly:
| Monthly contribution | After 5 years | After 10 years | After 15 years | After 18 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50 | $3,489 | $8,194 | $14,541 | $19,368 |
| $100 | $6,977 | $16,388 | $29,082 | $38,735 |
| $200 | $13,954 | $32,776 | $58,164 | $77,471 |
| $250 | $17,443 | $40,970 | $72,705 | $96,838 |
| $300 | $20,931 | $49,164 | $87,246 | $116,206 |
| $500 | $34,885 | $81,940 | $145,409 | $193,677 |
| $750 | $52,328 | $122,910 | $218,114 | $290,515 |
| $1,000 | $69,770 | $163,879 | $290,819 | $387,353 |
529 plan rules for 2026
- Tax treatment: contributions are not deductible federally, but growth and qualified withdrawals are free of federal income tax. Many states give a deduction or credit for contributions.
- Gift tax: $19,000 per donor per beneficiary in 2026 ($38,000 per couple) fits within the annual exclusion; five-year front-loading allows $95,000 ($190,000 per couple).
- K-12: up to $20,000 per year per student from 2026.
- Student loans: up to $10,000 lifetime per beneficiary.
- Roth IRA rollover: up to $35,000 lifetime, account open 15 years, within annual IRA contribution limits.
- Non-qualified withdrawals: earnings are taxed as income plus a 10% penalty.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I put in a 529 per month?
It depends on the cost you want to cover. At a 6% annual return, $300 a month for 18 years grows to about $116,206 and $500 a month to about $193,677. Enter your target cost and the calculator shows the monthly amount needed.
How much will a 529 be worth in 18 years?
With no starting balance and a 6% annual return, $100 a month becomes about $38,735, $250 a month about $96,838 and $1,000 a month about $387,353 after 18 years.
Is there a 529 contribution limit in 2026?
There is no annual federal limit, but contributions are gifts. In 2026 you can give $19,000 per beneficiary ($38,000 for a married couple) without filing a gift tax return, or front-load five years at once: $95,000 ($190,000 per couple). Each state also sets a maximum total balance per beneficiary.
Are 529 withdrawals tax-free?
Yes, when used for qualified education expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and room and board for students enrolled at least half-time. Earnings withdrawn for other purposes are subject to income tax and a 10% federal penalty.
Can a 529 pay for K-12 tuition?
Yes. From 2026 up to $20,000 per year per student can be withdrawn tax-free federally for K-12 expenses, up from $10,000. Some states do not follow the federal rule, so check your state plan.
What happens to unused 529 money?
You can change the beneficiary to another family member, keep it for graduate school, use up to $10,000 lifetime to repay student loans, or roll up to $35,000 lifetime into the beneficiary's Roth IRA if the account has been open at least 15 years.
Official sources
Last reviewed: November 2026. Projections are estimates, not investment or tax advice. Returns are not guaranteed and state rules differ.