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The pot you need ≈ (your target income − the State Pension) × 25. The "× 25" is the 4% rule: withdraw about 4% of a pot in year one, rising with inflation, and it has a good chance of lasting ~30 years (1 ÷ 0.04 = 25).
In 2026/27 the full new State Pension is about £12,548 a year (£241.30 a week), paid for life — so it covers a big share of your income and cuts the pot you must build yourself. For a single person on a "moderate" £32,700 income, the pot needed is roughly £500,000 — not £1 million.
Sources: gov.uk (State Pension, 2026/27), PLSA Retirement Living Standards 2025, the 4% rule (Bengen / Trinity study). Figures are illustrative.
Illustrative only — not financial advice. This uses the "rule of 25" (4% guideline): pot ≈ (target income − State Pension) × 25. Real outcomes depend on tax, your home, inflation and market returns, which this doesn't model precisely — it gets the right ballpark fast. Your capital is at risk. Always do your own research or speak to a qualified adviser.
Sources: gov.uk (State Pension), PLSA Retirement Living Standards 2025. © The Base Rate · Calculators · About · @the_baserate