IRS limits · Checked October 14, 2026
401(k) contribution limits 2026, and every year since 2009
For 2026 you can put up to $24,500 of your pay into a 401(k), plus a $8,000 catch-up if you are 50 or older ($11,250 if you are 60 to 63). The limit has risen 48% since 2009, from $16,500.
401(k) limits by year
| Year | Employee limit | Change | Catch-up (50+) | Total if 50+ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $24,500 | +$1,000 | $8,000 60 to 63: $11,250 | $32,500 | IRS Notice 2025-67 and IR-2025-111 |
| 2025 | $23,500 | +$500 | $7,500 60 to 63: $11,250 | $31,000 | IRS Notice 2024-80 |
| 2024 | $23,000 | +$500 | $7,500 | $30,500 | IRS, COLA increases for dollar limitations |
| 2023 | $22,500 | +$2,000 | $7,500 | $30,000 | IRS, COLA increases for dollar limitations |
| 2022 | $20,500 | +$1,000 | $6,500 | $27,000 | IRS Notice 2021-61 |
| 2021 | $19,500 | No change | $6,500 | $26,000 | IRS Notice 2020-79 |
| 2020 | $19,500 | +$500 | $6,500 | $26,000 | IRS Notice 2019-59 |
| 2019 | $19,000 | +$500 | $6,000 | $25,000 | IRS Notice 2018-83 |
| 2018 | $18,500 | +$500 | $6,000 | $24,500 | IRS Notice 2017-64 |
| 2017 | $18,000 | No change | $6,000 | $24,000 | IRS Notice 2016-62 |
| 2016 | $18,000 | No change | $6,000 | $24,000 | IRS Notice 2015-75 |
| 2015 | $18,000 | +$500 | $6,000 | $24,000 | IRS Notice 2015-75 (2016 limits “unchanged” from 2015) |
| 2014 | $17,500 | No change | $5,500 | $23,000 | IRS news release IR-2013-86 |
| 2013 | $17,500 | +$500 | $5,500 | $23,000 | IRS news release IR-2012-77 |
| 2012 | $17,000 | +$500 | $5,500 | $22,500 | IRS news release IR-2012-77 (2013 limit “increased from $17,000”) |
| 2011 | $16,500 | No change | $5,500 | $22,000 | IRS news release IR-2010-108 |
| 2010 | $16,500 | No change | $5,500 | $22,000 | IRS Notice 2009-94 |
| 2009 | $16,500 | $5,500 | $22,000 | IRS Notice 2009-94 (2010 limits “unchanged” from 2009) |
How the limit has changed
- The limit went up in 11 of the 17 years since 2009 and stayed flat in the rest. The IRS raises it in $500 steps when inflation adjustments add up to enough.
- The biggest one-year jump was 2023, when the limit rose $2,000 to $22,500 and the catch-up rose $1,000 to $7,500.
- Since 2025, people aged 60 to 63 get a higher catch-up of $11,250 instead of the regular catch-up.
Employer contributions and the total limit
Your employer’s match does not count toward your own limit. The cap on everything going into your account from you and your employer combined is $72,000 for 2026 ($70,000 for 2025, $69,000 for 2024, $66,000 for 2023), not counting catch-up contributions.
Roth catch-up rule for higher earners
For 2026, if your wages were more than $150,000 (up from $145,000), any catch-up contributions you make must go in as Roth (after-tax) contributions. Your employer’s plan applies this rule; check with your HR or plan provider.
What 2027 will look like
The IRS has not announced the 2027 limits yet. It usually publishes them in the fall. We will add them here, and to our 2027 paycheck changes tracker, the day they are released.
See it in your paycheck
Put your 401(k) percentage into the paycheck calculator to see how much your take-home pay changes. Traditional 401(k) contributions lower your federal income tax, but not Social Security or Medicare tax.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 401(k) contribution limit for 2026?
$24,500 for employees. If you are 50 or older you can add $8,000 (total $32,500), or $11,250 if you are 60 to 63.
What was the 401(k) limit in 2025?
$23,500, with a $7,500 catch-up for people 50 and older.
What is the 401(k) super catch-up?
Starting in 2025, people who are 60, 61, 62 or 63 during the year can make a catch-up contribution of up to $11,250 instead of the regular catch-up.
Does my employer match count toward the limit?
No. Matching and other employer contributions count toward the separate combined limit ($72,000 for 2026), not your own employee limit.
Figures from IRS notices and news releases linked in the table, checked October 14, 2026. This is general information, not tax or investment advice.