401(k) contribution limits 2027: the projected numbers
The 2027 401(k) contribution limit is projected at $25,000, up $500, with the age 60-63 catch-up at $11,750. The IRS confirms the real figures in late October.
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401(k) deferral / yr · Projected, IRS confirms in the fall
The 401(k) elective deferral limit is projected to rise $500 to $25,000 for 2027, with the age 60-63 super catch-up projected at $11,750 and the standard catch-up holding at $8,000. The IRS confirms official limits in late October or early November 2026.
The 401(k) elective deferral limit is projected to go from $24,500 to $25,000 for 2027.
That is the amount you can put in from your own pay. It does not include your employer’s match.
The projected 2027 numbers
| Limit | 2026 | 2027 (projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Elective deferral (401k/403b/457) | $24,500 | $25,000 |
| Catch-up, age 50+ | $8,000 | $8,000 |
| Super catch-up, age 60–63 | $11,250 | $11,750 |
| Annual additions | — | $75,000 |
| SEP-IRA | — | $75,000 |
The catch-up worth knowing about
If you turn 60, 61, 62 or 63 during 2027, you get a larger catch-up than everyone else — a projected $11,750 instead of $8,000. At 64 it drops back down.
It is a four-year window, and it is easy to miss because it is not the age most people associate with catch-up contributions.
These are projections
The IRS publishes official limits in late October or early November 2026, calculated from inflation data. Every figure above moves until then.
Practical note: if you max out, most payroll systems stop your contributions automatically at the legal limit, so an election set to the projected figure will not over-contribute if the real limit comes in lower.
All the 2027 figures we track, with the date each one becomes official, are on the 2027 numbers page.
Questions people ask
Should I change my contribution now?
You can set an election for 2027 once your plan opens the window, but the limit is not confirmed until the IRS publishes it. Most payroll systems cap contributions automatically at the legal limit.
What was the 2026 limit?
$24,500 for elective deferrals, with the IRA limit at $7,500.