# 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026

> Check the 2026 401(k) limits: $24,500 under 50, $32,500 at 50 and older, $35,750 at 60 to 63, and $72,000 with employer money. See the Roth catch-up rule too.

Canonical: https://christianbrinkleync.com/guides/401k-contribution-limits-2026

## Quick answer

For 2026 you can defer $24,500 of your own pay into a 401(k). The limit rises to $32,500 at age 50 and older, and to $35,750 if you turn 60, 61, 62, or 63 during the year. With employer money included, the total cap is $72,000.

## The 2026 limits at a glance

The employee deferral limit is $24,500 for 2026, up from $23,500 in 2025. The standard catch-up for age 50 and older is $8,000, which brings the total to $32,500. The larger catch-up for ages 60 to 63 is $11,250, which brings the total to $35,750. The overall annual additions limit, employee plus employer contributions, is $72,000 or 100 percent of compensation, whichever is lower. These figures come from IRS Notice 2025-67, published November 13, 2025.

## The age 60 to 63 catch-up replaces the regular one

The $11,250 catch-up for people who turn 60, 61, 62, or 63 during the year replaces the $8,000 catch-up. It does not stack on top of it. So the most you can defer at those ages is $24,500 plus $11,250, or $35,750. The test is the age you reach during the calendar year, not your age on January 1. Your plan has to offer the larger catch-up, so confirm it with your plan administrator.

## The Roth catch-up rule for higher earners

Starting in 2026, if your wages from the employer sponsoring the plan were more than $150,000 in the prior year, any catch-up contribution must go into a Roth account. That means the catch-up is after tax, with no upfront deduction. The $150,000 test counts wages from that one employer only, not all of your income. If your plan has no Roth option, you may not be able to make a catch-up contribution at all. Ask your plan administrator how your plan handles it.

## How much should you contribute

The limit is a ceiling, not a target. A common first step is contributing enough to get the full employer match, since that is money your employer adds for participating. After that, many savers raise the percentage a little each year or when pay rises. What fits depends on your debts, your emergency fund, and your other goals. This guide is educational only. It does not recommend a contribution amount for your situation.

## 2026 401(k) limits by age

| Your age in 2026 | Most you can defer |
| --- | --- |
| Under 50 | $24,500 |
| 50 to 59, and 64 and older | $32,500 |
| 60 to 63 | $35,750 |
| Any age, with employer contributions | $72,000 total, or 100 percent of pay if lower |

## Checklist

- [ ] Confirm your plan's deferral limit and whether it offers the age 60 to 63 catch-up.
- [ ] Check whether your prior-year wages from that employer were over $150,000, which makes catch-ups Roth.
- [ ] Set your deferral percentage before the year's last payroll if you want to use the full limit.
- [ ] Keep your pay stubs and plan statements showing what you deferred.
- [ ] If you have two 401(k)s, remember the $24,500 limit applies across all of them combined.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does the $24,500 limit include my employer's match?

No. The $24,500 is your own deferrals only. Employer contributions count toward the separate $72,000 total.

### Can I contribute to a 401(k) and an IRA in the same year?

Yes. The limits are separate. For 2026 you can put up to $7,500 in an IRA, or $8,600 at 50 and older, in addition to your 401(k) deferrals.

### What happens if I contribute too much?

Tell your plan administrator right away. Excess deferrals generally need to come out by April 15 of the next year to avoid double taxation. Ask a tax professional how to report it.

## Sources

- [IRS: 2026 limits (IR-2025-111)](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-24500-for-2026-ira-limit-increases-to-7500)
- [IRS: 401(k) contribution limits](https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-401k-and-profit-sharing-plan-contribution-limits)

## Related

- [401(k) early withdrawal exceptions](https://christianbrinkleync.com/guides/401k-early-withdrawal-exceptions)
- [401(k) rollover after leaving a job](https://christianbrinkleync.com/guides/401k-rollover-after-leaving-job)
- [How a 401(k) works](https://christianbrinkleync.com/wealth/401k-explained)

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Educational content only, not financial or tax advice. Published by Christian Brinkley, christianbrinkleync.com.