Coast FIRE is the point where you have enough invested that, without adding another dollar, it will grow to your full retirement number by the time you retire. Once you've 'coasted', you only need to earn enough to cover your living costs — you can stop saving specifically for retirement, because compounding finishes the job. It's a popular middle ground for people who want to ease off the savings pressure without retiring early.

How is the Coast FIRE number calculated?

First you set your FIRE number — usually 25 times your desired annual retirement spend (the 4% rule). Then you discount that back to today using your expected real (after-inflation) return and the years until retirement. The result is the amount you'd need invested right now to coast. If your current investments are above it, you've reached Coast FIRE.

Does my super count towards Coast FIRE?

Yes — your super is invested and compounding, so it counts. But super is preserved until your preservation age (generally 60). If you want to stop work before then, you'll need investments outside super to bridge the years until you can access it. Many Australians are Coast FIRE for a traditional retirement age well before they realise.

Coast FIRE Calculator

Find your Coast FIRE number — the amount you need invested today so that, with no further saving, it grows to your full retirement number by the time you retire.

Last verified: 5 May 2026

Have you reached Coast FIRE?

Coast FIRE is the moment your investments are big enough to grow to your retirement number on their own — so you can stop saving for retirement and just cover your living costs. Compounding does the rest. Source: ASIC MoneySmart principles.

Worked example. Want $60,000/year in retirement? That's a $1.5M FIRE number. At 35 retiring at 60 with a 5% real return, you'd need about $443,000 invested today to coast — so $150k now means you're on the way but not there yet.

General information and estimates only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always verify with a licensed adviser or the ATO.

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