KiwiSaver calculator 2026/27
Last verified · Methodology
This KiwiSaver calculator shows what you, your employer and the government put in each year under the rules in force from 1 April 2026, and projects your balance at 65. It takes off ESCT from your employer's share, applies the 25 cent government contribution with its $260.72 cap, and can include the step up to 4% in 2028.
You and your KiwiSaver
Your KiwiSaver
Projected balance at 65
$587,226
In future dollars, not adjusted for inflation
Added in the first year
$4,426
You put in
$153,090
Employer and government
$112,723
Investment growth
$301,413
Government contribution: 25 cents per dollar you contribute, up to $260.72 a year, nil above $180,000 of income. Contributions are added at the end of each year and returns are a steady assumption, not a forecast. Not financial advice.
| Salary | You | Employer before ESCT | ESCT rate | Employer after ESCT | Government | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,050.00 | $1,050.00 | 17.5% | $866.25 | $260.72 | $2,176.97 |
| $45,000 | $1,575.00 | $1,575.00 | 17.5% | $1,299.38 | $260.72 | $3,135.10 |
| $60,000 | $2,100.00 | $2,100.00 | 17.5% | $1,732.50 | $260.72 | $4,093.22 |
| $80,000 | $2,800.00 | $2,800.00 | 30% | $1,960.00 | $260.72 | $5,020.72 |
| $100,000 | $3,500.00 | $3,500.00 | 33% | $2,345.00 | $260.72 | $6,105.72 |
| $150,000 | $5,250.00 | $5,250.00 | 33% | $3,517.50 | $260.72 | $9,028.22 |
| $200,000 | $7,000.00 | $7,000.00 | 33% | $4,690.00 | $0.00 | $11,690.00 |
What changed in 2025 and 2026
From 1 July 2025 the government contribution was halved to 25 cents per dollar, with a maximum of $260.72, and anyone earning over $180,000 stopped qualifying. At the same time 16 and 17 year olds became eligible for it.
From 1 April 2026 the default employee rate and the compulsory employer rate both rose from 3% to 3.5%, and employers started contributing for members aged 16 and 17. The next step is 4% from 1 April 2028. If money is tight you can ask IRD for a temporary rate reduction to stay at 3% for 3 to 12 months; your employer can choose to drop to 3% as well.
How each contribution is worked out
Your contribution is a percentage of your gross pay: 3.5%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%. It comes out of your pay alongside PAYE, which you can see on the PAYE calculator.
Your employer pays at least 3.5% on top of your salary, but ESCT is deducted first. The ESCT rate depends on your salary plus the employer contributions for the previous tax year:
| Salary plus employer contributions | ESCT rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $18,720 | 10.5% |
| $18,721 to $64,200 | 17.5% |
| $64,201 to $93,720 | 30% |
| $93,721 to $216,000 | 33% |
| Over $216,000 | 39% |
The government contribution is 25 cents per dollar you put in over the July to June year. At 3.5%, you reach the $260.72 maximum on a salary of about $29,796. Below that, the contribution is smaller: on $25,000 it is $218.75. A lump sum paid to your provider before 30 June can top you up to the full amount. Employer contributions do not count.
What a 30 year old could have at 65
Take someone aged 30 on $70,000 with $20,000 already saved, contributing 3.5% with a 3.5% employer match, earning 4% a year after fees and tax, and getting 2.5% pay rises. With the rise to 4% from April 2028, the projected balance at 65 is $587,226. Without that rise it would be $530,011. Choosing 6% instead lifts it to $736,665.
These are future dollars and are not adjusted for inflation, so they will buy less than the same amount today. Returns depend heavily on your fund type: growth funds swing more but have historically returned more over long periods than conservative funds. If you are saving for a first home, the mortgage calculator shows what deposit you need under the LVR rules.
Choosing your contribution rate
Your employer only has to pay the minimum, so going above 3.5% is all your own money. It still adds up over 35 years. For the same 30 year old on $70,000, here is what each rate costs per fortnight and the projected balance at 65 on the same assumptions:
| Your rate | Per fortnight | First year | Balance at 65 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5% | $94.23 | $2,450.00 | $587,226 |
| 4% | $107.69 | $2,800.00 | $589,863 |
| 6% | $161.54 | $4,200.00 | $736,665 |
| 8% | $215.38 | $5,600.00 | $883,468 |
| 10% | $269.23 | $7,000.00 | $1,030,270 |
Choosing 4% now barely changes the balance at 65, because the default moves to 4% from April 2028 anyway; you only gain the two years before that. Contributions come out of your pay after PAYE, so a higher rate does not cut your income tax. The government contribution is already maxed out on this salary at 3.5%, so the extra does not earn more of it.
The default rate for employees and the minimum employer contribution both rose from 3% to 3.5% for paydays from 1 April 2026. They are set to rise again to 4% from 1 April 2028. You can still choose 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%, or apply for a temporary rate reduction to stay at 3% for 3 to 12 months.
Since 1 July 2025 it is 25 cents for every dollar you contribute between 1 July and 30 June, up to $260.72. You need to put in $1,042.86 to get the maximum. Members aged 16 to 65 qualify, but not if your taxable income is over $180,000.
Because employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT) is taken off first. On a $70,000 salary, 3.5% is $2,450.00 a year, ESCT at 30% takes $735.00, and $1,715.00 reaches your account.
Yes, from 1 April 2026 employers must contribute 3.5% for members aged 16 and 17 as well. They have been eligible for the government contribution since 1 July 2025.
No. It uses the return and pay rise you enter, every year, with contributions added at the end of each year. Real returns go up and down, and fees and tax vary by fund. Use it to compare choices, such as 3.5% against 6%, rather than as a promise.