401(k) Contribution Limits for 2026, and Who Can Add More
$24,500 in 2026, and more if you are over 50, with a bigger window at 60.
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Daniel Okonkwo Editor, investing and retirementDaniel covers retirement accounts and education savings, and keeps the contribution limits current each year.
The 401(k) elective deferral limit is $24,500 for 2026, up from $23,500. Savers aged 50 and over can add an $8,000 catch-up contribution. A higher catch-up of $11,250 applies to those aged 60 to 63, and it replaces the age-50 amount rather than stacking on top.
The short version
- The 2026 elective deferral limit for a 401(k) is $24,500 of your own money across all traditional and Roth 401(k) accounts combined.
- Savers aged 50 and over can add a catch-up contribution of $8,000, taking the total to $32,500.
- A higher catch-up of $11,250 applies to savers aged 60 to 63, taking their total to $35,750.
- Employer matching and profit sharing do not count against the $24,500 employee limit; they fall under a separate and higher combined limit.
- Filling the limit early in the year can cost you employer match on later paychecks unless the plan trues up at year end.
Key figures · 2026
- Elective deferral limit
- $24,500
- IRS
- Catch-up, age 50+
- $8,000
- IRS
- Catch-up, age 60–63
- $11,250
- IRS
- Max at age 50+
- $32,500
- Calculated
Contents
How much can I contribute to a 401(k) in 2026?
$24,500 of your own money, the elective deferral limit. That is up from $23,500 in 2025.
| Your age | Deferral | Catch-up | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | $24,500 | n/a | $24,500 |
| 50 to 59 | $24,500 | $8,000 | $32,500 |
| 60 to 63 | $24,500 | $11,250 | $35,750 |
| 64 and over | $24,500 | $8,000 | $32,500 |
What is the age 60–63 catch-up?
A higher catch-up limit for savers in a four-year window before typical retirement. It replaces the age-50 catch-up for those years. It does not stack with it. At 64 you revert to the standard $8,000.
Does my employer's match count toward the limit?
No. The $24,500 limit applies only to your own deferrals. Employer contributions sit under a separate, much higher combined limit.
This matters practically: if you hit $24,500 in September, your deferrals stop but so may the match, depending on how your plan calculates it. Some plans have a true-up provision; many do not.
Should I contribute more than the match?
Capture the full match first. It is an immediate return no investment matches. Beyond that, a 401(k) competes with an IRA, which has a $7,500 limit for 2026 and usually a wider investment choice.
Does a 401(k) contribution reduce my FICA?
No. Traditional 401(k) deferrals reduce federal and state income tax, but Social Security and Medicare still apply to the full wage. Only a few benefit categories reduce both.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 401(k) limit for 2026?
$24,500 in elective deferrals, up from $23,500 in 2025.
How much extra can I add at 50?
An $8,000 catch-up contribution, taking the total to $32,500.
What is the 60 to 63 catch-up?
$11,250 instead of $8,000. It replaces the age-50 amount rather than adding to it.
Does the employer match count?
No. The limit applies to your own deferrals; employer contributions fall under a separate combined limit.
Can I contribute to a 401(k) and an IRA?
Yes. The IRA limit for 2026 is $7,500, though your deduction may phase out at higher incomes.
Does contributing lower my payroll tax?
No. Traditional deferrals reduce income tax but FICA still applies to the full wage.
Sources
Every figure on this page is attributed to a named source with the date it took effect. Our reviewers check them against the primary source before publication.
About our expert
Editor, investing and retirement
Experience
Daniel edits the investing and family-money desks: 401(k) and IRA limits, catch-up rules, Roth versus traditional, 529 plans and the gift-tax treatment that sits behind them.
Most of what he edits is annual-limit content, which means it is wrong for a predictable stretch of every year unless somebody is watching. He tracks the IRS release schedule so the pages move when the figures do, not weeks later.
Areas of expertise
- 401(k) and IRA
- Retirement limits
- 529 plans
- Capital gains
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