You probably have a pot figure in mind and a rough retirement age. The harder questions are what actually hits your bank each year, whether tax and state pension change the picture, and whether the money lasts into your eighties.
caniretire.uk is a free UK calculator built to answer that. We got tired of tools that stop on retirement day, or quote gross numbers you cannot spend. So we centred everything on net income: the take-home pay you want, with the gross draw and tax worked out for you.
Why we built it
Most pension projections celebrate the size of your pot at 65. That is not how you live. You pay tax on withdrawals. State pension arrives later. Inflation changes what £25,000 feels like. We wanted one place to model the full path: from today through drawdown, year by year, in numbers that match your budget.
What it models
- Pot growth during drawdown, not just accumulation before retirement
- UK income tax bands and the 25% tax-free pension allowance (lump sum vs phased)
- State pension at your chosen qualifying age and amount
- Inflation on spending targets and the real value of your pot
- Year-by-year breakdowns with assumptions you can adjust
Who it is for
Anyone in the UK exploring when to stop work, how much to draw, or how lump-sum vs phased tax-free cash might play out. Use it to stress-test ideas before you speak to an FCA-authorised adviser. It is for clarity and exploration, not a substitute for regulated advice.
Important limitations
Results are estimates from the assumptions you enter and simplified tax rules (currently 2025/26). Markets, legislation, and your own scheme rules change. Always verify figures with an adviser before making decisions.
Sharing scenarios
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